DENVER – The Colorado Rockies are hesitant to officially call themselves a rebuilding team, but their recent performance suggests they are experiencing significant struggles. This was evident on Saturday night as they suffered a crushing 21-0 loss to the San Diego Padres, marking their lowest point in an already difficult season. This defeat represents their eighth consecutive loss, putting them at a dismal 6-33 record—the worst 39-game start since the 1988 Baltimore Orioles.
Things escalated quickly at Coors Field, prompting Rockies manager Bud Black to turn to catcher Jacob Stallings to pitch the final two innings. Stallings, usually behind the plate, became one of the evening’s most effective pitchers. This was the second time in three days that Black employed a position player as a pitcher, with infielder Alan Trejo taking the mound during a previous loss to the Detroit Tigers in a doubleheader.
“I hate it. I hate that big-time,” Black expressed. “It’s been necessary due to our recent schedule and our starters’ performances. Our relievers have been overworked lately, and some arms need to be spared.”
While Saturday’s game was a significant defeat, it narrowly missed surpassing the widest margin of loss this season, with the Cincinnati Reds’ earlier 24-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles standing as the most lopsided. The Rockies currently lead the majors in runs allowed (258) and have a dismal run differential of 134. Only the 2023 Athletics had a worse differential through 39 games.
Despite these setbacks, Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt has expressed support for manager Bud Black. “Buddy’s doing a good job right now. They’re showing up for work and playing with effort,” Schmidt said before the game.
The Rockies recently suffered an 8-6 extra-innings defeat to the AL-leading Tigers. Following this, they lost a doubleheader to Detroit by a combined score of 21-3. Schmidt noted the team’s offensive struggles, stating, “We’ve shown we can compete with some teams. However, we’ve been missing key opportunities and lack productivity offensively, which is disappointing.”
Scores have been lopsided, with Detroit and San Diego capitalizing on Colorado’s struggles by scoring in double digits throughout this homestand, outscoring them 63-18. The team has conceded six or more runs in their last seven games.
“We’re experiencing tough times as a team, and it’s challenging,” Stallings noted. “We’re talking as a group about finding ways to have more fun, though it’s difficult when you face large deficits.”
Defensive lapses have compounded Colorado’s issues, committing ten errors in the last five games. Padres starter Stephen Kolek capitalized on this, dominating with a five-hit shutout in his second major league start at hitter-friendly Coors Field. Kolek’s extended stays on the bench, while his teammates tallied significant runs, required him to retreat to the tunnel to stay warmed up and ready.
“Whenever they were scoring five to eight runs an inning, it tends to get cold in the dugout, so you’ve got to keep your arm warm,” Kolek explained.
San Diego’s catcher Elias Díaz expressed sympathy for his old team, the Rockies, where he spent over four seasons. “Oh yeah, 100%,” he said. “I played here for about five years and have a lot of emotion for them. But it’s baseball; we’ve got to fulfill our roles.”