For the first time since 2022, the Colorado Rockies received their fourth consecutive quality start from the starting rotation on Wednesday, but a struggling bullpen gave away the lead late and the offense couldn’t get the big hit as they dropped the final game of the series 5-3.

Austin Gomber, who had failed to pitch five complete innings in his previous two outings, delivered his best start of the season in front of an afternoon crowd of 18,311 as he threw six innings, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out four and walking two in a no-decision.

The Diamondbacks were able to quickly add a run in the first inning after Corbin Carroll hit a one-out double and scored on a Lourdes Gurriel Jr. single to give the Snakes a 1-0 lead. It was the 12th time in 13 games this season that the Rockies have failed to score first.

After the Rockies manufactured a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI single from Elehuris Montero to score Ezequiel Tovar to tie the game 1-1, the Diamondbacks jumped back out front in the top of the second courtesy of Blaze Alexander’s second long ball of the season off of Gomber.

That would be all that Arizona was able to muster against Gomber as he shut them down for the next four innings. Gomber was able to scatter the hits and also enjoyed web gem-level plays from his infield to get outs, such as a barehanded snag by Tovar early in the game and an incredible play by Brendan Rodgers near the end of Gomber’s outing to end an inning.

It's beautiful 🤩#Rockies x @ShaneCompany pic.twitter.com/jLJ37nkAt7

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 10, 2024

As has been the case during the homestand, the performance from the starting pitcher gave the Rockies a chance to claw their way back into the game. Diamondbacks starter Tommy Henry entered the game looking to bounce back after his past two starts, particularly his last one against the Rockies at the start of the season. For five innings, Henry was well in control, striking out six batters and issuing three walks while scattering four hits. However, the Rockies were able to make the most of their lack of offense in the fourth inning.

Arizona’s defense struggled during the game, committing two errors, with one in the fourth that proved crucial for the Rockies. On a groundball to Alexander at short, Rodgers was able to reach safely when he couldn’t field it cleanly. Michael Toglia then stepped up to the plate and deposited a 2-1 fastball at the top of the zone 426 feet to dead center for his third home run of the season to put the Rockies ahead 3-2. For Toglia it was a his second home run of the season right-handed, a positive sign for the Rockies as the improvements he made during the offseason are paying dividends from both sides of the plate for the switch-hitter.

That's outta here 🚀 pic.twitter.com/AyfqrDV1Dt

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 10, 2024

Following Gomber’s departure from the game, the Diamondbacks were able to capitalize against the Rockies bullpen, who have struggled during the homestand. Jake Bird entered the game in the seventh and gave up a one-out single to Ketel Marte. He then got Carroll to ground into a force out when the Rockies got the lead runner in Marte. Unfortunately, thanks to Carroll’s speed, a Gurriel double to center field was enough to easily score the run and tie the game 3-3.

The Rockies wouldn’t get their next hit until the bottom of the eighth when Rodgers hit a double down the right-field line with two outs, but the team was unable to come up with a clutch hit to drive him in.

Manager Bud Black decided to turn to Justin Lawrence to pitch the ninth which proved fateful as Lawrence’s early season struggles continued. Battling his command, Lawrence issued a leadoff walk to Marte before striking out Carroll and getting Gurriel to ground out. With two outs and a runner on second, Lawrence issued a walk to Christian Walker who extended his 16-game on-base streak against the Rockies earlier in the game. Eugenio Suarez, who was 0-for-4 on the day, then delivered a shallow fly ball to left field that fell just out of reach of a diving Nolan Jones for a double that scored two runs to give the Diamondbacks a 5-3 lead.

The Rockies managed to load the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but a strikeout of Kris Bryant, who went 0-for-5 on the day, and a lazy flyball to center field by Jones secured the save for Diamondbacks reliever Kevin Ginkel.

The Snakes had Colorado’s number offensively as they struck out 11 times, but still managed six walks. However, they surrendered just six hits with Tovar going 3-for-5 at the top of the lineup. The struggles of Jones and Bryant to begin the season have been a problem for the Rockies as both are hitting in the middle of the order and both are hitting below .200 to start the season.

On the Diamondbacks side of things, they had multi-hit days from Marte, Gurriel, and Alexander as part of a 10-hit effort from the team as Randal Grichuk was the only starter to not have a hit in the game.

Up Next

The Rockies head north of the border to take on the Toronto Blue Jays starting on Friday. Ryan Feltner looks to build upon his last outing in which he allowed two runs over six innings and a career-high 10 strikeouts against the Tampa Bay Rays. He’ll face off against Colorado native Kevin Gausman who allowed five runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings in his last outing on April 6 against the New York Yankees.