And, oh yes, a 2-1 Rockies victory that clinched the series win over the Pirates. It was Colorado’s seventh series win of the season, and they have won four of their last seven series.

Now, about that funky ending. With the bases loaded and two outs and Rockies right-hander Jaden Hill on the mound, the Pirates’ Jake Mangum hit a grounder to Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros, who never got a throw off. But Karros immediately protested that Billy Cook, running from second to third, had interfered with Karros’ attempt to field the ball. Karros said that Cook’s cleat hit his glove.

The umpires huddled and called Cook out, ending the ballgame. The Pirates protested, but after the game, manager Don Kelly conceded that the call was correct.

“It was just a slow roller, and I was going to get the ball, and his cleat kind of clipped my glove,” Karros explained. “I still fielded the ball, but it was rattling around my glove, and I couldn’t really get a throw off. I knew the rule going into the play: if there is any contact, the runner is out.”

There were plenty of Pirates fans in the crowd who showed up to watch Pirates ace Paul Skenes do his thing. And he did. But so did the Rockies’ Tomoyuki Sugano, who actually outpitched Skenes.

Rockies leadoff hitter Jake McCarthy provided the night’s pyrotechnics. He hammered Skene’s fourth pitch of the game — a 95 mph fastball — into the gap in right-center. Center fielder Jake Mangum dove for the ball, and when he missed, McCarthy motored around the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

“(Mangum) almost made a really good play, but I’m always trying to take extra 90s when I can get them,” McCarthy said. “I’ve never had an insider-the-parker before. It’s usually a triple and an error, so that was cool.”

McCarthy’s inside-the-park homer was the first one for the Rockies since Ian Desmond did it on June 14, 2019, vs. San Diego. It was the second leadoff inside-the-park home run in franchise history. Eric Young Jr. also did it on Aug. 8, 2012, at Dodger Stadium.

The methodical Sugano doesn’t have Skene’s firepower, but the veteran right-hander knows how to pitch. Working like a craftsman, he kept the Pirates off-balance for six innings. His slider was particularly effective. Sugano allowed one run on four hits, struck out a season-high five, and didn’t walk a batter. He made his team-leading fourth quality start of the season.

Sugano was aware that the Rockies were facing one of baseball’s elite pitchers, but he concentrated on his game.

“It’s not that I don’t think about (competing against Skenes) at all,” Sugano said through interpreter Yuto Sakura. “But it’s not me facing Paul Skenes, in particular. I just thought, minimize the damage. I just knew that we can’t really score that much. He’s a good pitcher, so I wanted to minimize the damage.”

Skenes, last year’s National League Cy Young Award winner, gave up two runs on four hits over six innings. The right-hander struck out eight, but also walked two and plunked two.

“We didn’t get a lot of big hits against him, but I thought we made him work,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said.

The game began poorly for Sugano. Pirates leadoff hitter Spencer Horowitz planted Sugano’s fourth pitch of the game — a 2-1, 93.7 mph fastball — into the second deck in right field. Next up, Brandon Lowe laced a single to right.

But from that point on, Sugano allowed only two hits and retired the final 12 batters he faced.

The Rockies took a 2-1 lead in the third, again utilizing McCarthy’s speed. He dumped a ball into shallow center field and turned it into a hustle double. McCarthy scored on TJ Rumfield’s opposite-field single to left.

“Jake does that all of the time; that’s how he plays baseball,” Colorado manager Warren Schaeffer said. “It’s every day. That’s why he’s such a great player. That’s what he brings to the table every single night.

“It really plays up here at Coors Field with the expansive outfield. He uses it to his advantage, and he’s always hard out of the box. He set the tone tonight, no doubt about it.”

Pitching probables

Sunday: Pirates RHP Jared Jones (1-1, 6.23 ERA) at Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-8, 7.13), 1:10 p.m.
Monday: Red Sox LHP Jake Bennett (1-3, 4.79) at Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (2-2, 5.05), 6:40 p.m.
Tuesday: Red Sox RHP Sonny Gray (8-1, 3.12) at Rockies LHP Sean Sullivan (0-1, 10.29), 1:40 p.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

Not physical sight. The 11-year-old ballplayer doesn’t have that gift. He was born with several birth defects — a hole in his heart and eye issues. One of the latter, , is a condition where his eyes make repetitive, uncontrollable movements. That makes it difficult for Derek to see the baseball, much less effectively track it in the field and at the plate.

But on Wednesday evening at Douglas County Fairgrounds, in the Arapahoe Youth League playoffs for the , the casual observer never would’ve guessed what the glasses-clad Derek has gone through, and continues to go through, to play the game he loves with complete lucidity.

“In the infield, it’s a little hard to see the ball, depending on what’s behind the backstop,” Derek explained. “I know there are (limitations to my play) because of my eyes. But I usually just don’t really think about it. I’m having too much fun out there to think about that.

“I’d like to keep playing (into high school). If I can’t, then I guess I can’t, but I’m going to enjoy every second I’m out there.”

As the sun set on the day and the Thunder’s season in a 22-9 loss, Derek’s motor was relentless.

He was the loudest voice in the dugout, leading his teammates in an array of chants. He never stood still at second base, forever ready for the possibility of a ball he probably couldn’t see to get hit at him. And during a never-ending inning when the opposition plated double-digit runs, Derek was called in to pitch and quickly got his Thunder out of a jam with a strikeout.

After the umpire rung the batter up, Derek pounded his glove and sprinted off the field with a smile.

No excuses, just baseball

It’s an unrelenting enthusiasm for the game that propels Derek. His dad, Torrey — who played collegiately at the University of Kansas — says the presence of his 4-foot-6, 75-pound son on the diamond is a miracle.

Derek had two open-heart surgeries at 6 months old. One to sew the hole in his heart closed, plus replace a defective valve with a valve from a cow, and another to install a pacemaker. At 1, Derek had another serious surgery, this time on both eyes to address , a disorder where the eyes are misaligned and point in different directions.

Torrey and his wife Allyson were protective of Derek when he was a young child. But their growing son wanted no part of a padded childhood. He wanted to ride his bike. He wanted to play flag football. And, more than anything, he wanted to play baseball.

“We were really tentative letting him do a lot of different things,” Torrey Stickelman said. “Like with riding a bike, for instance, I didn’t know if he’d be able to read the road in front of him, or see potholes.

“But every time we wanted to hold him back from participating, he proved us wrong. So I’m always impressed with whatever he does. And I love that he’s overcome all of his challenges. In baseball, he doesn’t make excuses or act like he has a disability.”

A love for the game

The vision handicap that Derek, who is gifted in the classroom, plays with can’t be understated.

Even with his glasses on, nystagmus causes Derek’s vision to be 20/80 at best, meaning the ball is blurry until it gets right up on him. As Derek gets older, and the game gets faster, he knows his time as a player might be short. And following an open-heart surgery to replace his pacemaker last year, there are likely more surgeries on the horizon, including one for certain in the next couple of years to replace his cow valve.

It’s a reality that both he and his parents are already facing, which causes the family to relish every at-bat, every ground ball, and every pitch a little bit more.

“It was within the past year that he said something like, ‘Well, I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to play, but maybe I can at least be the team manager when I get to high school,'” Allyson Stickelman said. “That just touched my heart. He’s already making a backup plan, because he just wants to be around the game that badly. And he’s determined to have a place in the game, somehow, someway, long-term.”

But for now, Derek’s focused on making every moment in a uniform count.

His hits were sparse this season because of the difficulty in seeing the pitch out of the hand, but he takes silver linings out of every at-bat with an approach that his coach Justin Hackett describes as “a good, smooth swing.”

On Thursday, he fouled off a couple of pitches in his first at-bat, then on a dropped third strike, beat the throw down the line to get on base. Derek eventually scored, sparking a seven-run rally in the inning that cut into the Thunder’s deficit in the game’s waning moments.

And even with Derek’s lack of consistent balls in play this season, he’s found other ways to impact the game and help the Thunder win. Over the final month of the season, Derek ended one game with savvy baserunning when he stole third, popped up from his slide on an overthrow, and dashed home for the winning run. As soon as he crossed the plate, his teammates mobbed him.

To win another game, Derek laid down a bunt on a walk-off safety squeeze.

“Right before his at-bat, I told Derek, ‘You know, you’re doing great on the bunting in practice, so you think you can win us a game with one?'” Hackett recalled. “And he’s like, ‘Oh yeah, I got it.’ Not a lot of kids at this age can bunt. But he put down a perfect one.

“That moment was even more special to me because I’ve used Derek as an example all season about positive body language, about a positive attitude. It didn’t matter if he struck out two or three times; he doesn’t let it affect his outlook on the game. He always brings the good energy, and our kids feed off that.”

Savoring every moment

That “good energy,” Derek says, comes from his obsession over a sphere with red seams.

He and his dad are constantly going to practice at the park across the street from their Littleton home. When his birthday and Christmas roll around, all Derek asks for is baseball gear and apparel. Allyson’s Amazon order history is simply a long list of those types of items. Derek builds baseball stadiums on Minecraft. He draws baseball stadiums on paper. He hit so much in the backyard against the fence that he was breaking pieces off of it, so Allyson had to go back on Amazon and order protective netting.

One day, likely sooner than Derek would like, that backyard fence will be safe from a relentless barrage of batted balls. The park grass where Derek and Torrey play catch will be empty. Allyson’s Amazon order history will not recommend “Buy It Again” for every piece of baseball equipment you could think of.

But Derek will always have his drawings. His memories of the plays he made despite limited vision. And Derek’s teammates will always have No. 3’s achievements as a north star to look towards in a game defined by one’s ability to grow through failure.

“I’m so proud of Derek for what he’s been able to do even though he can’t really see,” said Thunder catcher Logan Hackett, tears dropping to the pavement beyond the backstop after the final out and most of the fans had gone home. “We all are. And I love baseball so much, I don’t want the season to be over; I don’t want to go home. A big part of that is playing with a teammate like Derek.”

Fulford hit a two-run, two-out, pinch-hit double in the eighth inning off Mason Montgomery to lead the Rockies to a 4-3 win over the Pirates at Coors Field in front of a Friday night crowd of 33,596.

Fulford drove in Tyler Freeman and Cole Carrigg, who scratched out back-to-back two-out singles off Montgomery.

“I had been warming up in the cage for that at-bat for a couple of innings, so I felt pretty prepared,” Fulford said. “I got an advantage count (3-1) and I knew he was going to come with the heater and I was all over it.”

Fulford caught Montgomery for three seasons at Texas Tech, so he knew the left-hander’s tendencies.

“It’s kind of unfortunate for pitchers that you catch, because you kind of get to see their stuff,” Fulford said. “You kind of understand more of who they are. So I do feel like I had the advantage there.”

In the ninth, the Pirates loaded the bases against Senzatela with no outs on a single by Marcell Ozuna and an error on a groundball by shortstop Ezequiel Tovar. But Senzatela struck out pinch-hitter Tyler Callihan and induced Jared Triolo to ground to Tovar, who started the game-ending double play.

“It was kind of a crazy ending to the game — bases loaded and no outs,” Freeland said. ” ‘Senza’ got a big punchout in that situation, picks up Tovar. Then Tovar gets another opportunity to turn a double play, and he gets it done.”

Before all of the late-game drama, Freeland pitched his best game of the season: 7 1/3 innings, two runs allowed on four hits, no walks, and eight strikeouts. It marked the fourth time in his career that he pitched 7 1/3 or more innings.

“Tonight, I thought he was absolutely exceptional,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “I thought his body language was impressive. He attacked the strike zone — relentlessly. His heater had good ‘vert’ tonight. The breaker was good. It seemed like he was in control all night.”

“Gritty” is the word often used to describe Freeland. Dominant was a more apt description on Friday night. History-making works, too. Freeland’s eight Ks gave him 1,001 for his career, joining right-hander German Marquez (1,069) as the only two pitchers in franchise history to eclipse 1,000. Freeland struck out Marcell Ozuna in the seventh for No. 1,000, and then promptly fanned Brandon Lowe for 1,001.

The hard-core Rockies fans behind the dugout gave Freeland a standing ovation.

“I’m very grateful for the fans always supporting me, and for making it this long in my career to reach some of these milestones, especially with one ballclub,”  said Freeland, who struck out eight and walked none for the second time in his career. “I definitely hear those fans when I pop out of the dugout after every inning.”

The 33-year-old Denver native blanked the Pirates for the first seven innings, giving up just two hits. Pittsburgh finally got to Freeland in the eighth, putting up back-to-back doubles by Esmerlyn Valdez and Triolo to cut Colorado’s lead to 2-1. Up to that point, it looked as if Freeland had the juice to throw a complete game, especially since he threw just 81 pitches.

Freeland was pulled in the eighth for right-hander Jaden Hill, who gave up an RBI single up the middle to pinch-hitter Bryan Reynolds, tying the game, 2-2. Then Hill hit leadoff hitter Spencer Horowitz, and Nick Gonzalez scorched a triple off the right-field wall, scoring Horowitz and giving the Pirates a 3-2 lead.

Colorado staked a 1-0 lead in the third against hard-throwing right-hander Bubba Chandler. Willi Castro’s single scored Ezequiel Tovar, who reached on a bunt single.

The Rockies extended their lead to 2-0 in the fourth on rookie first baseman TJ Rumfield’s leadoff homer. He sent Chandler’s first-pitch slider 427 feet into the right-field seats. It was Rumfield’s 11th homer and his 38th RBI.

Pitching probables

Saturday: Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (6-6, 2.85 ERA) at Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (7-4, 4.54), 7:10 p.m.
Sunday: Pirates RHP Jared Jones (1-1, 6.23) at Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-8, 7.13), 1:10 p.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

Rookie center fielder Cole Carrigg, the club’s 24-year-old “wild stallion” who made his debut on June 9, hit three home runs in his first seven big league games. Third baseman Kyle Karros, 25, entered Friday night’s game against the Pirates hitting .370, four doubles, one triple, one home hun, five RBIs in June.

The two are best buddies and lean on each other, but their personalities are fire and ice.

“I’d say I’m way more calm, cool, and collected than he is,” Karros said. “I’m more of a mellow, chill guy. He’s more the exact opposite, but I think it works well.”

Carrigg, who’s said he plays “with my hair on fire,” concurs.

“Most of the people I get along with well, and all of my best friends from home, are a lot like Kyle,” said Carrigg, who grew up in Turlock, Calif., near Modesto. “I think we bring the best out of each other. He kind of calms me down, and I bring him up.”

After a six-game road trip through Las Vegas and Chicago, the Rockies got the day off on Thursday. Karros figured he’d enjoy a laid-back, solitary day. Then he remembered that Carrigg had recently moved into the same downtown Denver apartments.

“We live in the same complex, but different units,” Karros said. “That’s necessary. I couldn’t live with the guy.”

But having Carrigg as a neighbor has its perks.

“Prior to him getting here, my off day would just be lying around and just doing nothing,” Karros said. “Now that he’s here, it’s just go, go, go. We got up, got breakfast, came back, went to the pool at our apartment complex, and then we went out and got dinner together.

“I was ready to call it a night and go to bed. But we have a pool table up in our common space at the complex. He wanted to play pool, so we stayed up for a while and played pool.”

Karros said it was good to shake up his routine.

“I think so many times, you get sucked into the baseball stuff,” Karros said. “And if the off days are just me, alone, chilling by myself, I get into my own head too much. It’s definitely good to get out of the house yesterday.”

The buddies have other plans, too.

“We are both pretty into house music … EDM (electric dance music),” Karros said. “It’s very popular here in Denver. So if we have any off days here, that would be cool to do. And we’ll probably go to Red Rocks at some point. But really, anything to get away from baseball for a little while.”

The Rockies drafted both players in 2023, Carrigg in the second round out of San Diego State and Karros in the fifth round out of UCLA. The buddies played together at Single-A Fresno, High-A Spokane, and Double-A Hartford. They roomed together every year during spring training in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Now that they are both in the majors, they have a built-in support system.

“It can help, big-time,”  manager Warren Schaeffer said. “This whole game is all about relationships. It was huge for Cole to have Kyle already up here. I mean, it was big for me, as a coach, to come to the big leagues and know guys like “Giddy” (assistant bench coach Ron Gideon) and Andy (Gonzalez, the third base coach); guys that I had known before. It just makes you more comfortable. And when you are more comfortable, you can do your job better.”

Carrigg and Karros leaned on each other often while riding the minor league rollercoaster.

“He definitely talked me off the ledge sometimes when I wasn’t hitting or whatever the case may be,” Carrigg said. “There were a lot of incidents like that.”

Karros said that Carrigg’s emotional playing style has rubbed off on him.

“I know a focus of mine, this year, has been to play with more emotion and not just be here,” Karros said, holding out his hand to display steadiness. “I know a lot of people think it’s good to be even-keeled in this game, but I think playing with a little bit more fire is sometimes good for me.”

And it works the other way, too.

“Sometimes, in the minors, he would be riding the rollercoaster too much,” Karros said. “I would tell him, ‘Dude, this doesn’t matter. It’s not the end of the world if you have a bad day. Don’t put too much weight on it.”

Fans saw him on Saturday’s probable list and began hitting up friends or searching online for tickets.

At the same time, a question arrives via email and text: Will the Rockies ever have their version of Skenes?

They did. In 2010.

Ubaldo Jimenez posted a 19-8 record with a 2.88 ERA.

He threw a no-hitter at Atlanta. In the span of seven starts, he allowed fewer than two hits four times.  He started the All-Star Game in Anaheim when he was 15-1 with a 2.20 ERA.

His four-seam fastball averaged 96.1 mph, per PITCHf/x data. His sinker — a bowling ball with devil’s horns — averaged 96.6 mph. For comparison, Skenes’ heater checks in at 97.1 mph this season.

Jimenez became Kevin Brown with Greg Maddux’s command, working 221 2/3 innings in 2010, third-most in Rockies’ history.

It is no coincidence that Colorado made the playoffs in 2007 and 2009 with Jimenez in the rotation. Because of an awkward exit in a trade, Jimenez remains one of the most underappreciated Rockies ever. He went 56-45 with a 3.66 ERA in six seasons, including 30-19 with a 3.66 ERA at Coors Field in 67 games.

The Rockies need a fire-breathing dragon.

They thought they had one in Chase Dollander, but he is facing elbow surgery.

With Skenes set to pitch at Coors Field — he is comfortable in Colorado after starring at Air Force — I figured it was a good time to catch up with Jimenez.

He still follows the Rockies — he took the mound in Denver last August when the Savannah Bananas were in town — and has ideas on how to help.

His first suggestion: stop letting starters run from the problem.

“In my opinion, they have to develop pitchers for Coors Field. They should avoid the mistake of emulating what the rest of MLB organizations are doing when it comes to preparation. They have to implement their own way,” Jimenez said. “To be a consistent starter in Colorado, your body requires endurance to resist the hardships of altitude and adaptations of going on the road. All the pitchers who were consistent in any kind of way — Pedro Astacio, Jorge De La Rosa, Jhoulys Chacin, German Marquez, myself — we all ran distance the day after our games. I am an avid believer in running distance to stay healthy. And I always tell people who go against it, check baseball history and see how the all-time great ones lasted — running distance! ”

Jimenez understands that his advice jogs against the grain.

Today’s pitchers typically use short bursts and explosive movements in training to mimic moves made on the mound. There is no denying it has spiked velocity. It is impossible to watch a game and not see a pitcher flirt with triple digits or, in the case of Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski, live there.

But at what cost?

Dollander, if and when he has surgery, will miss the remainder of this season and possibly all of 2027.

“I know. It’s so bad to think about that. I saw him pitch a couple of games,” Jimenez said. “And he has great stuff.”

Though the upcoming draft could change things, there is no other Dollander in the Rockies’ system. Brody Brecht, drafted in 2024, brings heat, but is struggling with command at Class-A Spokane.

Jimenez prescribes “an attitude for altitude.” He looks across the sport and connects injuries to training.

Brian Jordan, a former Rockies strength-and-conditioning coach in the majors and minors for 15 years, saw firsthand how Jimenez’s program paid dividends.

“He was very gifted and a very hard worker. I would agree that his running and lifting helped with his durability, while he was still explosive,” said Jordan, the owner and director of sports performance at Peak 303 in Englewood. “While not every pitcher could or should do the program he did, I absolutely agree that generally speaking mistakes are being made with how pitchers are being trained. When you sell out solely for performance, the trade-off is less durability. We are definitely seeing that at all levels, not just at the professional level.”

The Rockies raced off to a surprising start in April because of their pitching — 4.17 staff ERA — but the transmission dropped. Due to injuries to Jose Quintana, Kyle Freeland, Ryan Feltner and Dollander, they have been forced to lean on younger arms and too hard on the bullpen. Colorado is 14-29 since May 1 with an ERA well north of 6.

“It has been a reminder that Coors Field games have more hits. And there are more home runs in the warm weather. The toll is a hard test,” Rockies general manager Josh Byrnes said on returning to work in Colorado for the first time since 2002. “We have looked at how many days off the (relievers) have had, and how many multiple-inning games they’ve had. We are still exploring and learning.”

There is no perfect formula. Even in seasons when the Rockies have pitched well, they have struggled to repeat their success.

But Jimenez is adamant that Colorado’s environment demands the proper baseline.

“I know that we should adapt to new times and use every resource to get better. And that pitchers must adjust preparation to what works for them. But you can’t eradicate the foundation of pitching longevity. Why do boxers run distance when preparing for a fight when they don’t run in the ring? To have the endurance to throw punches for 12 rounds,” Jimenez said. “In 50, 100 years from now the next generation will examine how pitching in this era changed so dramatically, and they’ll be asking who was the ‘genius’ who came up with developing every pitcher as a reliever.”

No power pitcher has ever pitched better in Denver than Jimenez. Even Skenes allowed four runs in five innings in his lone start at Coors Field last August.

It remains a baseball tragedy that Jimenez failed to become the Rockies’ first 20-game winner in 2010, a milestone missed because of bad luck, including a dropped popup, and meager offensive support.

That he remains the zenith explains the problem. The Rockies need more like him. It has been 19 years since Jimenez, along with left-hander Franklin Morales, was promoted from the minors and helped Colorado win 21 of 22 games to reach the World Series.

The Rockies have made significant year-over-year progress this season, but are still losing more games than anyone else.

This can change. But not without better starting pitching.

They need another Ubaldo. Or two.

“They have one of the greatest fan bases who support them and wait for the team every year (to improve),” Jimenez said. “They have many staffers in the organization who have worked so hard to reach the goal of winning a championship in Denver. Hopefully, they put it all together soon and God opens the door once again.”

Toss out that ugly inning and an 8-6 loss to the Cubs on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field could have been a much different story.

Because the Rockies did so many things right after falling behind 7-0, beginning with rookie outfielder Sterlin Thompson hitting the first two home runs of his career. Then Hunter Goodman’s two-run homer in Colorado’s three-run eighth put the Rockies within rally distance.

In the end, it wasn’t enough, and the Cubs took two of the three in the series, and Colorado finished its road trip 2-4.

Key Moments: In the second innings, Chicago teed off on Sullivan, who was making his second big league start. The inning included a leadoff walk by Alex Bregman, a two-run triple by Matt Shaw, a two-run homer by Dansby Swanson, and an RBI double by Seiya Suzuki.

Pete Crow-Armstrong’s leadoff homer down the right field line in the fourth compounded a tough night for Sullivan. However, Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer told reporters postgame that he was certain the home run should have been ruled a foul ball. 

Thompson’s first career homer was a one-out shot to left in the third off Javier Assad. His second was a one-out blast to right-center off Assad in the fifth.

Who’s hot: Thompson, who added a double in the seventh for a 3-for-4 night that raised his average from .207 to .242.

Third baseman Kyle Karros hit a solo home run in the ninth, his fourth of the season. He’s hitting .359 (23 for 64) with five doubles, one triple, three home runs, and nine RBIs over his last 21 games.

Goodman’s home run was his 21st. The catcher is one of three rookies in franchise history with 50-plus hits and 10-plus home runs in the first half of the season, joining Todd Helton and Trevor Story.

Who’s not: Sullivan, who gave up eight runs on nine hits, including two homers, in four innings.

Worth noting: Thompson became the first visiting player to hit his first two career home runs in the same game at Wrigley Field since the Astros’ Orlando Miller on July 10, 1994.

Pitching probables

Thursday: Off day
Friday: Pirates RHP Bubba Chandler (2-7, 4.76 ERA) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-7, 7.98 ERA), 6:40 p.m.
Saturday: Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (6-6, 2.85) at Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (7-4, 4.79), 7:10 p.m.
Sunday: Pirates RHP Jared Jones (1-1, 6.23) at Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-8, 7.13), 1:10 p.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

The winner, who will be announced next week, receives a trophy, a $1,000 scholarship, an honorary luncheon, and recognition at a Colorado Rockies game.

Position: RHP/MIF GPA: 4.02 College: Vanderbilt

The Raiders’ centerpiece helped the program reach four straight Class 5A state tournaments, including three consecutive title games, as Regis Jesuit returned to the mountaintop with a championship this year. Alpert batted .449 with 33 RBIs, 12 doubles, four homers and a .500 on-base percentage this spring. He returned pitching midseason from elbow surgery and posted a 1.91 ERA in seven games, with a 1.98 career ERA in 38 games. He put in 127 hours through Regis Jesuit’s community service program, including volunteering at the Denver Rescue Mission and serving as a buddy in the Miracle League.

Position: SS GPA: 4.26ÌýCollege: Navy

Carver led the Panthers to the Class 3A state tournament during a season in which he dominated in all three phases. He hit .580 with 46 RBIs, 13 doubles, four triples and seven homers with a .649 on-base percentage. A career .501 hitter, the speedster who won Intermountain League Player of the Year multiple times finished with 105 stolen bases over four seasons. He volunteered as a youth baseball coach at a local assisted living home and at his elementary school, where he handled various tasks, projects, and fundraisers. He also tutored fellow students and was an assistant athletic trainer at MCHS.

Position: RHP/1B/OF GPA: 4.0 College: McLennan Community College

Jaquez was the headliner on a Falcons team that returned to the Class 4A state tournament and finished runner-up to Pueblo County. A dominating arm with a low-90s heater and a plus sider, Jaquez was capable of shutting down any lineup he faced. He could also rake, as evidenced by his .620 average, 45 RBIs, 20 doubles, three homers and a .682 on-base percentage. He had 56 Ks as a pitcher and just five as a hitter. He helped create a stronger culture within the Falcon program, including serving as a mentor and role model to younger players on the team and participating in school activities.

Position: 3B/1B/RHP GPA: 4.17 College: Arkansas State University Mid-South

Durango made consecutive Class 4A state tournament appearances behind the play and leadership of Romero, a pillar in the lineup and corner infield for the Demons who also contributed on the mound. Romero batted .412 with 23 RBIs and a .479 one-base percentage, and finished his career with a .409 average plus a 4.85 ERA in 35 games. His impact beyond the diamond was profound: Romero founded the school’s Unified Sports Club, serves on the leadership team for the local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is heavily involved with DECA, and has tutored his peers in financial literacy.

±Ê´Ç²õ¾±³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô:Ìý¸é±á±ÊÌý³Ò±Ê´¡:Ìý4.1Ìý°ä´Ç±ô±ô±ð²µ±ð:ÌýWake Forest

The Wolves’ ace with a 100-mph heater is a Top 100 prospect entering next month’s MLB Draft, when he may have the chance to bypass Wake Forest to go straight to the pro ranks. He had a 2.10 ERA in nine games in 2026, including two complete games and a no-hitter against Mullen. Opponents hit just .159 against him as he racked up 66 strikeouts to only 14 walks. He also hit .467 with 13 RBIs in 34 plate appearances. Wachsmann volunteered at youth baseball camps for two local clubs and helped the Wolves’ coaching staff organize camps at Grandview.

Honorable Mention

These players also received votes from the award’s 15-member selection committee: Zach Mediavilla, RHP/OF/SS, The Classical Academy; Matthew Hegerle, SS, Bear Creek (UC Davis); Peter Worth, C, Northfield (Washington University in St. Louis); Brayden Reiner, C/RHP, Arvada West (Newman University); Sawyer Tipton, RHP, Mountain Vista (Lehigh University); Ben McLean, SS/RHP, Forge Christian (Colby Community College); Hunter Howard, SS/RHP, Palisade (Glendale Community College); Christian Ramirez, SS/RHP, Adams City (Northwestern Community College); Hazen Weber, LHP/1B/OF, Platte Valley (York University).

Cole Carrigg’s off to a pretty solid start in his MLB career, but why was he promoted instead of Charlie Condon or Zac Veen? Was he just playing that much better than them? Is it to manage their service time in the majors? A little of both? Thanks.

— Marshall, Parker

Marshall, since you submitted your question, Carrigg has been sensational. It’s not about service time.

In the Rockies’ excruciating loss to the Cubs on Monday night, he drove in all four runs and hit an eighth-inning, three-run home run that should have stood as the game-winner.

Carrigg plays with a swagger and an edge, and in that regard, he reminds me of Troy Tulowitzki as a rookie. I asked one of Tulo’s former teammates if he shared my opinion.

“I see some,” the teammate responded. “Tulo wasn’t on the razor’s edge of out of control like Carrigg.”

Anyway, to your question, the Rockies front office sees a lot of things that fans don’t see, and that I don’t see or consider. Paul DePodesta, the president of baseball operations, recently told me that they take a hard look at “the process” a player has in the minors as a major part of their decision on when to promote a player.

Carrigg has proven that he was ready. I think promotions for Condon and Veen could very well depend on what happens as the trade deadline nears.

Patrick, I heard you’re leaving soon. It’s been a pleasure reading your coverage all these years. The Denver sports community is losing an absolute legend. What are some of the most memorable moments of your career?

— Ryan C., Aurora

Ryan, thanks for your kind comments.

Leaving The Post after nearly 28 years is a hard and emotional decision, but it was time. The buyout I was offered made me accelerate my retirement timeline. The baseball beat, particularly covering a losing Rockies team over the last few years, has been a grind. Plus, the industry is changing fast, and I’m becoming a bit of a dinosaur.

I have far too many memories to mention here in any detail, so I will list a few: Rocktober; covering all three of the Broncos’ Super Bowl title wins; watching Nolan Arenado play third base; spending time in the dugout talking baseball and music with Bud Black; being at Todd Helton’s house in Tennessee when he got the call that he was elected to the Hall of Fame; working with some incredible colleagues, especially Kyle Newman and Troy Renck; crazy, fun times in the press box with the crew; covering games at all 30 major league ballparks; having Coors Field as my office on perfect summer nights; and forming a friendship with MLB.com’s Thomas Harding, with whom I’ve had a bromance for 25 years.

I’ll be writing a farewell story soon, so keep an eye out for it.

Did you expect T.J. Rumfield to be our breakout star this season? I certainly didn’t, but, boy, is it nice to have a solution at first base after so many years of failed experiments. Do you think he’ll win the Rookie of the Year award?

— Mike, Denver

Mike, I was excited about Rumfield after seeing him play in spring training and reading the reports on his skill set. As I wrote in February: “T.J. Rumfield was a big-league first baseman trapped in Triple-A limbo.”

But I have been surprised by the quality of his at-bats; he’s been hitting like a seasoned veteran. His glove work at first base has been outstanding.

However, I don’t think he’ll be named the National League’s top rookie, for a few reasons.

First, he plays in Colorado for a team with the worst record in baseball and he’s not going to get much attention from the baseball writers who vote for the award.

Second, he plays his home games at Coors Field, which will automatically disqualify him in the minds of some voters. That’s a shame, because he’s hit just as well on the road as at home. At Coors, he’s slashing .263/.353/.449 (.802 OPS), with five homers and 22 RBIs. On the road, he’s slashing .287/.359/.465 with four homers and 12 RBIs.

Third, there are several strong candidates, led by Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt, Reds first baseman Sal Stewart, and Mets right-hander Nolan McLean.

Are you surprised, disappointed, or comfortably numb by how the Rockies have performed so far this season?

— Ed Helinski, Auburn, N.Y.

Comfortably numb? You must be a Pink Floyd fan.

Anyway, I’m not sure my characterization is on your list. I would say mildly encouraged, but the state of the pitching staff is a huge concern.

Hey Patrick! Who do you think has the best shot at becoming our lone representative at the All-Star Game? I thought it was going to be Mickey Moniak before he went on IL. I feel like our best shots are Hunter Goodman, Antonio Senzatela or Tomoyuki Sugano.

— Ryan, Aurora

Ryan, the Rockies will have only one representative, and it’s going to be Goodman for the second consecutive season. As I write this, he’s slashing .255/.327/.537 (.864 OPS) with 27 RBIs.

The Rockies rode rookie first baseman TJ Rumfield’s two-run home run in the fourth inning to beat the Cubs 5-2 and snap a 10-game losing streak at Wrigley Field.

Colorado’s bullpen, which suffered a nightmarish meltdown in a 5-4 loss to the Cubs on Monday night, delivered 4 1/3 scoreless innings, and Jaden Hill pitched a perfect ninth to record his first career save.

Key moments: The fourth inning was huge. Trailing 2-0, Colorado got a leadoff single from Jake McCarthy, an RBI double from Willi Castro, and Rumfield’s homer to take a lead it didn’t relinquish.

Who’s hot: Outfielder Jake McCarthy, finally healthy after a stomach illness, hit 3 for 4 and scored a run in the fourth. He’s hitting .291 with a .784 OPS.

Starter Ryan Feltner rebounded from a poor start in his last game and a rocky start on Tuesday night to put Colorado in a position to win. The right-hander gave up two runs on six hits, with three walks and seven strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.

In Colorado’s 9-3 loss to the Cubs at Coors Field last week, he gave up six runs on four hits across 4 1/3 innings. Tuesday night, Feltner served up a leadoff homer to sizzling-hot Pete Crow-Armstrong and gave up another run in the second before settling in.

Rookie center fielder Cole Carrigg made a terrific catch in center field in the eighth, going into the ivy to rob Michael Busch of extra bases.

Who’s not: Carrigg, at the plate. He went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts, though he did draw a walk and steal second base in the eighth.

Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar continues to play excellent defense, but his struggles at the plate continue. He went 0 for 3 with a K, though he did draw a walk and score a run in the fifth. Tovar has struck out at least once in 16 straight games, the second-longest streak of his career. He fanned in 18 consecutive games from Aug. 8-29, 2024.

Worth noting: Outfielder Mickey Moniak is on the road back from injury. He’s been on the 10-day injured list since May 22 with right ankle tendinitis, but he’s making progress. He’s scheduled for Triple-A Albuquerque rehab games on Thursday through Saturday. He’ll return to Denver on June 21 to be evaluated by the medical staff, manager Warren Schaeffer told reporters in Chicago.

Pitching probables

Wednesday: Rockies LHP Sean Sullivan (0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Cubs RHP Javier Assad (4-1, 3.99), 6:05 p.m.
Thursday: Off day
Friday: Pirates RHP Bubba Chandler (2-7, 4.76) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-7, 7.98), 6:40 p.m.
Saturday: Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (6-6, 2.85) at Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (7-4, 4.79), 7:10 p.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

Monday night at Wrigley Field, they wasted a fantastic game by rookie Cole Carrigg and lost 5-4 to the Cubs on a walk-off walk by Matt Shaw off reliever Seth Halvorsen.

The ninth inning was a Titanic-like disaster for the Rockies, who walked nine — count ’em, nine –in a game that was perhaps the worst loss of the season. Juan Mejia issued a leadoff walk to Seiya Suzuki and then threw the ball into centerfield for an error on Ian Happ’s grounder back to the mound. Mejia packed the bases by walking Nico Hoerner.

Enter Halvorsen, who gave up an RBI single to Pedro Ramirez, tying the game 4-4. Then Halvorsen walked Shaw, and the Rockies lost their 10th consecutive game at Wrigley.

Before the Rockies literally threw a victory away, it was a dramatic, entertaining evening.

The Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong hit for the cycle, but the dynamic Carrigg nearly eclipsed him.

Carrigg, who drove in all of Colorado’s runs and hit a three-run home run in the eighth. Carrigg drove lefty Caleb Thielbar’s 0-1 fastball 401 feet to left for what looked to be the game-winner. Since making his big-league debut last Tuesday, Carrigg has hit 7 for 27 with three home runs, one triple, and eight RBIs in seven games.

Armstrong’s “reverse cycle” was extremely rare — just the 11th in the Modern Era (since 1900). He hit a leadoff homer in the first, a triple in the third, a double in the fifth, and a single in the seventh. He added a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Key moments: There were almost too many to count.

The craziest arrived moments after Crow-Armstrong clinched his cycle. As the Cubs fans cheered him, he promptly got picked off first base by Colorado lefty Brennan Bernardino.

The Cubs broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth on a two-out RBI triple to right by Shaw off right-hander Antonio Senzatela. Shaw drove in Moises Ballesteros, who drew a two-out walk from Senzatela. Shaw’s triple touched down in the extreme right-field corner. The Rockies challenged the call, believing that the ball was foul, but to no avail.

Chicago threatened to blow the game open in the seventh, loading the bases with one out when reliever Jaden Hill walked Seiya Suzuki, but Hill buckled down and struck out Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner.

The Rockies tied the game, 1-1, in the sixth when Carrigg put together a terrific, eight-pitch at-bat to draw a bases-loaded walk to score Tyler Freeman.

Who’s hot: Rockies starter Michael Lorenzen, who has struggled much of the season, put together his second solid game in a row. The right-hander pitched five innings, allowed one run, walked one, and struck out five. His one big mistake came on his fourth pitch of the game, a 2-1 cutter that Crow-Armstrong walloped 434 feet to center.

Who’s not: Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar went 0 for 2 with a strikeout, and his average sits at .217. He was removed for pinch-hitter Troy Johnston in the sixth, and Carrigg moved from center field to shortstop.

Worth noting: Cubs lefty starter Shota Imanago was not invincible after all. He was charged with a run in the sixth inning, even though it was reliever Phil Maton who hit Carrigg to drive in a run. Imanago entered Monday’s game having made two career starts vs. the Rockies, including last Wednesday at Coors Field when he pitched five scoreless innings, striking out seven. He also faced the Rockies on April 1, 2024, when he made his major league debut. He pitched six scoreless innings at Wrigley Field, striking out nine in a 5-0 Cubs victory.

Pitching probables

Tuesday: Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (2-2, 5.20 ERA) at Cubs RHP Edward Cabrera (4-3, 4.86), 6:05 p.m.
Wednesday: Rockies LHP Sean Sullivan (0-0, 0.00) at Cubs RHP Javier Assad (4-1, 3.99), 6:05 p.m.
Thursday: Off day