PHOENIX — The Rockies are experiencing difficulties that will be painful.
What was already suspected became clear in the first series of the season, as the Rockies lost three of four games to the Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
Colorado’s 5-1 loss on Sunday was painful because the result could have been different, but the Rockies played poorly in defense and missed a good opportunity to score runs.
The crucial breakdown occurred in the Diamondbacks’ two-run fifth inning. Despite starter Ryan Feltner giving a leadoff walk to Tucker Barnhart and Barnhart stealing second base, Feltner managed to get out of trouble. However, left fielder Nolan Jones dropped a routine, two-out flyball hit by Ketel Marte, allowing Barnhart to score, followed by Rockies killer Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hitting an RBI single into the left-field corner.
Gurriel went 2-for-4 and brought in two more runs. He finished the four-game series with a .471 batting average and 10 RBIs.
Feltner deserved a better outcome. He recovered from a tough, three-run first inning that included a throwing error by catcher Jacob Stallings, a failed pickoff play at second, and a solo homer by Christian Walker.
But Feltner improved after that and pitched through the fifth inning, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits. He struck out four and walked two.
Stallings brought in Colorado’s only run with an RBI single in the fifth off Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt, scoring Michael Toglia, who led off with a walk. However, Colorado missed an opportunity for a big inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Jones only managed an infield popout, and Elehuris grounded out to shortstop.
Pfaadt puzzled the Rockies early, striking out five of the first hitters he faced — four of them looking. Pfaadt gave up one run on five hits over five innings. He struck out six and didn’t walk a batter.
