For just the 10th time this season, the Colorado Rockies won a series, but nobody cares about the winning they did, but rather the loss they had. All over social media, the loss has been plastered, rightfully so, as the Los Angeles Angels won in blowout fashion.
It is just another cog in the wheel that has been a forgetful 2023 season, as all good has been overshadowed by dramatic bads. The Rockies won two games but were outscored. The bullpen has been outstanding but is usually in low-leverage situations. All positives with the Rockies come with a caveat.
The Rockies Win Series, but Nobody Cares
Blowout loss
Everything looked fine at first, a 0-0 game through the first frame—nothing out of the ordinary as of yet. The second came and went, with the Angels scoring a pair of runs. Nothing too serious as of yet. But then the third inning opened the floodgates.
The starter of the game, Chase Anderson, tallied just two outs in the third inning before he started to get hit around the ballpark. The man replacing him, Matt Carasiti, got out of the inning only after giving up six earned runs.
When all was said and done, the Angels scored 13 runs in the third, giving them a 15-run lead. Yet still, that was not enough. In the fourth inning, they added eight runs to give them 23 on the night, not even halfway through.
Maintaining that pace would have destroyed the record for runs in a game, but the Angels showed Colorado mercy by taking out Mike Trout after four. Trout was 3-for-3 with a HR, but there was no reason to risk injury with such a monumental lead.
Three out of the four pitchers on the day for the Rockies gave up at least six earned runs, and after adding insurance runs in the sixth and eighth innings, the Angels had a total of 25 on the day. A Brenton Doyle HR in the bottom of the eighth saved a shutout, but social media had already blown up from the first four innings.
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 25, 2023
Pouring salt in the wound, word spread after the game’s conclusion that the two teams actively playing in a series made a trade. Heading to the Angels was Mike Moustakas, only adding fuel to the fire that was the social media reaction.
A Rockies’ Series Win
Despite being outscored 32-12, the Rockies won two of the three games. Against a playoff-caliber team in the Angels that would usually get more fanfare. However, there obviously was something more on people’s minds.
Game one was a 7-4 Colorado victory. Kyle Freeland went five strong giving up just three runs and the offense put up 15 hits. Five Rockies hitters had multi-hit games, with three having three hits a piece. Even with just four extra-base hits, the same amount as the Angels, they had more clutch in their bats than their counterparts.
Colorado’s bullpen, just as it has been all season, was shut down as well in game one. Four pitchers had an inning of work, with none giving up more than just a single hit.
In the rubber match, the Rockies were somehow able to forget about their blowout loss to win a close game 4-3. Austin Gomber went five strong with just two earned runs and the bullpen was strong once again. Four relievers and four innings of good ball. Justin Lawrence was the only bullpen arm to give up a run, but he still locked up the save in the ninth inning.
As unfortunate as the loss was, there was good in this series, but the 2023 season is still one like a boulder on a slope. It will only continue to go downhill.
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Social Media Onslaught
A collection of some of the best:
Imagine a dad took his son to his first ever Rockies game tonight. pic.twitter.com/yGcmRL7f72
— Trent Attyah (@BookitWithTrent) June 25, 2023
The Angels tonight against the Rockies: pic.twitter.com/7gBYc1TfuL
— Dustin Brewer (@dstnbrwr) June 25, 2023
The Rockies scored a runpic.twitter.com/8HcPygxMyd
— Mark Springer: Radio Machine (@MarkAMark) June 25, 2023
Mike Moustakas going from the Rockies clubhouse to the angels clubhouse pic.twitter.com/47GZI1DDTD https://t.co/qSKPELAgWl
— Sam (@TreIindor20) June 25, 2023
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) June 25, 2023
Main photo credits:
John Leyba-USA TODAY Sports
Players mentioned:
Chase Anderson, Matt Carasiti, Mike Trout, Brenton Doyle, Mike Moustakas, Kyle Freeland, Austin Gomber, Justin Lawrence
