The Rockies’ road trip from hell mercifully ended Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
It ended devilishly with L.A. completing a three-game sweep with an 8-7 victory at Dodger Stadium. The Rockies had their chances, but 16 strikeouts and a terrible start from German Marquez doomed them.
The 0-6 road trip began in San Diego, where the Padres took three from the Rockies, who failed to score a run. Colorado was outscored 35-12 during the road trip and outhit 54-33. The Rockies’ 3-15 start is the worst in franchise history.
Colorado’s West Coast trip included a quad injury to center fielder Brenton Doyle, who missed all six games, save for a pinch-hit appearance in the ninth inning Wednesday night. Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, battling a sore hip, was a late scratch for Wednesday’s game. Plus, the Rockies got word on Monday that veteran Kris Bryant, the oft-injured, veteran designated hitter, was going on the injured list because his chronic back issue flared up again.
The Rockies lost Wednesday night despite Michael Toglia blasting a grand slam in the third inning off right-hander Bobby Miller. It was Toglia’s first home run this season. Toglia’s slam was immediately followed by a solo homer by Mickey Moniak as Colorado sliced L.A.’s lead to 7-6.
“It was good to see Toglia square the breaking ball up for the home run,” manager Bud Black told reporters in L.A. “Hopefully that gives him a little bit of confidence going into this weekend. But, again, we struck out too much.”
Leading Colorado’s K parade was catcher Braxton Fulford, who made his major league debut. He struck out in all four of his at-bats. Third baseman Ryan McMahon also fanned four times, although he had a key double in the seventh when the Rockies scored a run to cut L.A.’s lead to 8-7. Wrapped around Toglia’s grand slam were three strikeouts.
The Rockies had to climb out of a deep hole. They took a 1-0 lead in the first on a leadoff single by Nick Martini and an RBI double by Kyle Farmer, who’s been their most consistent hitter.
But that 1-0 lead turned into a 7-1 deficit in a flash. The Dodgers ambushed Marquez, who pitched one of the worst games of his 10-year career. He lasted two-thirds of an inning, the shortest start of his career.
Marquez’s evening began with reigning National League MVP Shohei Ohtani blasting a 1-2 hanging curveball 428 feet into the stands beyond right field. Two batters later, Freddie Freeman drove Marquez’s 1-0 sinker 409 feet to the left-center bleachers. And Marquez’s meltdown was just beginning. By the time reliever Angel Chivilli rode to the rescue, the Dodgers led 7-1, and Marquez had given up six hits as his early-season ERA rose from 4.60 to 8.27.
Black said he “saw a lot of misses” in the middle of the plate from Marquez, adding that he thought Marquez’s tempo sped up too much between pitches.
Pitching Probables
The Rockies are off on Thursday
Friday: Nationals LHP Mackenzie Gore (1-2, 3.52 ERA) at Rockies RHP Chase Dollander (1-1, 5.06), 6:40 p.m.
Saturday: Nationals TBA at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (0-3, 4.88), 1:10 p.m.
Sunday: Nationals TBA at Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (0-3, 5.89), 1:10 p.m.
Originally Published: April 16, 2025 at 11:22 PM MDT
