Rockies put up valiant effort, get swept by Dodgers
If the Colorado Rockies played any other team except the Los Angeles Dodgers in their last three games, they might’ve captured their first series win in 2025. However, facing a lineup that has over 10 active All-Star players resulted in a 3-0 series sweep.
Fresh off possibly the worst series the Rockies have played in franchise history, the narratives around the season have shifted against the Dodgers. In LA, the hitting and the bullpen was better, trying to catch up from the starting pitching that surrendered 28 earned runs over the last six games. Colorado’s relief arms have given up seven.
The Rox came into the series with a 3-12 record and into the home of the defending World Series champions. In game one Antonio Senzatela struggled against the unnavigable Dodgers lineup, only pitching four and a third innings while giving up four runs. The top four of LA’s lineup combined for nine hits and all five team RBIs.
The Rockies were still without Brenton Doyle, who’s been struggling with quadriceps pain since the Milwaukee series. The offense shut down without him in Petco Park, but found sparks throughout the lineup in LA.
Kyle Farmer, the 34-year-old free agent signee, has surprisingly been the most proficient hitter when Doyle is out of the lineup. He put the Rox on the board with an RBI double in the sixth, and Hunter Goodman smashed his third home run in the seventh, to pile on two more.
The Rockies' offense couldn’t respond to the bullpen’s near five innings of shutout pitching as the Rockies lost 5-3. They left seven batters on base and were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
In game two, starter Ryan Feltner snapped his eight-game streak of pitching five innings while giving up two runs or less, which was the third-longest active streak in the MLB. The streak ended when the Dodgers scored four runs in the bottom of the third, thanks to a three-run homer from Will Smith.
Colorado responded in the fourth inning with a double off from Jacob Stallings that scored two. On the positive side, Adael Amador got his first hit after returning from the minor leagues, but it wouldn’t be enough as the Rockies lost their fifth in a row 6-2.
Game three on Wednesday, April 16 was the best loss Colorado has had on the year. Granted, it was the worst start this season, but the bullpen carried the game and Rockies hitting made it close which built up for a great series finale.
Germán Márquez couldn’t finish his first inning of work, relenting seven runs in two outs. His struggles left the game up to the bullpen, who had seen many innings during the first two games of the series. Over the next eight frames the bullpen only gave up one run and struck out nine against the reigning World Series champs.
The offense rallied, showing a very spread-out attack. They’d punch back with five runs in the third, off hits the Rockies haven’t seen all Spring. A grand slam from Micheal Toglia gave him his first bomb of the year, followed by a Mickey Moniak home run four pitches later. It was the first time they’ve had a grand slam and gone back-to-back in 2025, suddenly making it a 7-6 game.
LA added an insurance run in the fifth off an Andy Pages line drive RBI, but the Rox traded a ground ball for a run in the seventh to make it a one run game. However, even with a pinch-hit at-bat from Brenton Doyle in the ninth, Colorado fell short, losing 8-7.
The series sweep drops their record to a franchise-worst 3-15. They already set the team’s record for worst start a couple of games ago, but continue to dig themselves into a deeper hole. Granted, they haven’t had an easy schedule, playing against postseason teams like LA, San Diego, Philadelphia and Milwaukee.
A day after losing game three the organization announced that they have fired hitting coach Hensley Meulens and replaced him with assistant GM Clint Hurdle. The Rockies are dead-last in runs and RBIs in the MLB, and Bud Black’s manager position might be on the hot seat sooner than people think.
Coors Field will welcome the Washington Nationals for a three-game series beginning on Friday, April 18. Game one will unveil the new City Connect jerseys, with first pitch at 6:40 p.m. MT.