The Colorado Rockies endured one of their worst months in franchise history when they finished April with 20 losses. They were well on their way to their first 100-loss season before the calendar flipped to May.
Since losing 14 of 17, Colorado has reeled off eight wins in its last 10 games and wrapped up a 4-2 road trip with a 4-3 win over Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
The Rockies will try to keep that momentum going when they open a six-game homestand against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.
Colorado will send Austin Gomber (3-4, 6.75 ERA) against righty Taijuan Walker (3-2, 5.97) in the first of three games.
Gomber has turned his season around at the same time the team has flipped the switch. The lefty lost his first four starts of the season; he was effective in his first outing of the year, notching a quality start in a loss to San Diego, but then got hit hard.
He hit bottom when he allowed nine runs in two innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates and saw his ERA rise to 12.12, but things have improved quickly. In his last three starts he has allowed just three runs over 17 innings to cut his ERA nearly in half.
Gomber said one reason for his improved outings was acknowledging he felt tremendous pressure to meet expectations after he was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in the Nolan Arenado deal on Feb. 1, 2021.
“I think once I got that off my chest, felt like I was able to get to a spot where I’m just more free, mentally, and I think better physically,” Gomber said. “And then having the support from the organization and all the guys in this room was the other piece of that. So I feel good about where I’m at.”
Gomber is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against Philadelphia.
Expectations are high with the Phillies after they reached the World Series last fall. Philadelphia made a surprising run to the National League crown but began this year without Bryce Harper (elbow). He has returned and they have won three straight, including a 2-1, 10-inning win over Toronto on Wednesday to sweep a two-game series.
Wednesday’s win was impressive and showed some toughness. The Phillies tied it in the ninth and won it in the 10th when a throwing error allowed Edmundo Sosa to score from second on a play at the plate.
“That’s what this team does,” Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said. “They’re resilient and just keep fighting.”
The Phillies had lost six straight before their current streak.
Walker will try to keep that going Friday night. Because of two off days since his last outing, Walker will make his second start in the last four games. He bounced back from a bad game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 1 to toss six innings of one-run ball against Boston on Sunday.
He has fared well in seven career starts against the Rockies, going 3-1 with a 2.05 ERA. His last outing against them came when he pitched seven scoreless innings while beating them 2-0 on May 22, 2022, for the New York Mets.
–Field Level Media
