The Rockies really needed someone to make a big impact.
On Friday night, two players, one of them literally, helped the Rockies win 3-2 over the Pirates at PNC Park.
In the sixth inning, Ryan McMahon hit a 445-foot homer that landed in the Allegheny River. This gave Cal Qauntrill the support he needed to get his first win with the Rockies.
The Rockies (8-24) ended a five-game losing streak and improved to 3-14 on the road. But it was a close win. Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz hit a two-run homer in the ninth, but Jalen Beeks struck out Connor Joe and Jared Triolo to secure the win.
Quantrill pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing only three hits, all singles. His split-finger change-up confused the Pirates, and he struck out nine and walked none. Seven of his strikeouts came from his split-finger. He also got seven groundball outs. Of his 99 pitches, 66 were thrown for strikes.
Quantrill seemed like he might get his first complete game, but when he hit Joey Bart with two outs in the eighth, manager Bud Black replaced him with reliever Jake Bird.
McMahon’s huge homer got Colorado’s offense going. He hit a home run off Martin Perez’s 1-1 changeup, becoming the only Rockies player to reach the Allegheny River besides Hall of Famer Todd Helton.
McMahon became the 49th player to hit a homer into the Allegheny River, following in the footsteps of Hall of Famer Todd Helton, who did it on May 4, 2001, the first year PNC opened.
Designated hitter Elias Diaz hit a double after McMahon’s homer. Elehuris Montero then brought Diaz in with a single to left and took second on a throw to the plate. Brendan Rodgers continued the fight with reliever Hunter Stratton and eventually scored Montero with an RBI single to right after a 12-pitch at-bat.
Saturday’s pitching matchup is Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (0-2, 4.50 ERA) vs RHP Jared Jones (2-3, 3.18 ERA)
The game will be at 2:20 p.m. on Saturday at PNC Park.
It can be watched on Rockies.TV (streaming); Comcast/Xfinity (channel 1262); DirecTV (683); Spectrum (130, 445, 305, 435 or 445, depending on region).
TV: It can be listened to on 850 AM/94.1 FM
Radio: Gomber has pitched well lately but has not won a game. He’s familiar with the Pirates, having faced them eight times and not winning in any of his four starts against them.
Jones, just 22, has never faced the Rockies. He’s had seven or more strikeouts in his first five career games and has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his first six big-league starts.
Jones, just 22, has never faced the Rockies. He’s had seven or more strikeouts in his first five career games and has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his first six big-league starts.
Pitching matchups
Rockies left-handed pitcher Austin Gomber with a record of 0-2 and an ERA of 4.50 will face right-handed pitcher Jared Jones with a record of 2-3 and an ERA of 3.18 at 2:20 p.m.
On Sunday, the Rockies right-handed pitcher Ryan Feltner with a record of 1-2 and an ERA of 5.13 will face left-handed pitcher Bailey Falter with a record of 2-2 and an ERA of 4.22 at 11:35 a.m.
Monday is a rest day
