The offense for the Colorado Rockies continues to struggle as they get swept by the Miami Marlins who won via a walk-off in extra-innings by a score of 5-4. The Rockies have now lost five consecutive games and remain the only team without a series victory in MLB and haven’t won consecutive games.

For the 31st time to begin the season, the Rockies fell behind to extend their modern-era record as their first inning struggles continued. The Marlins jumped out from quick against Peter Lambert when Luis Arraez kicked off the bottom of the first with a double to right field. Bryan De La Cruz followed suit with a walk before Jazz Chisholm Jr. laced a single to left field to score Arraez. A one-out sacrifice fly by Jesus Sanchez scored De La Cruz finished out the scoring for the Marlins as found themselves with a quick 2-0 lead.

Lambert struggled in his start, lasting just 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts. The main blemish for Lambert came in the third when Josh Bell sent a ball into the right field seats to tie the game at three. He exited the game in the fourth after Nick Fortes hit a single to center field to score Dane Myers to give the Marlins the 4-3 lead at the time. Lambert has been excellent as a long reliever out of the pen but has struggled with his command as a starter. He threw 67 pitches, 43 for strikes, but the Marlins took advantage of balls over the plate and extended at-bats against him.

Things could have quickly gotten out of hand, but veteran Ty Blach came in and kept victory well within reach. The Colorado native ended up throwing four scoreless innings, scattering three hits and striking out two on 45 pitches, 32 of which went for strikes. He provided the Rockies every opportunity to string together offense but they continued to fall short for the majority of the game.

Facing off against Edward Cabrera the Rockies were slightly more patient as they managed to draw four walks against him in his four innings of work. The Rockies got their big hit in the second inning when Elehuris Montero drew a walk followed by a Brendan Rodgers single — part of his 2-for-4 afternoon. After striking out Jordan Beck and Jake Cave, the Rockies were in danger of wasting the scoring opportunity until backup catcher Jacob Stallings, in his return to Miami, belted a three-run home run to give the Rockies the lead at the time. For Stallings, it was just his second home run at loanDepot park.

In his first at-bat against his former club, Jacob Stallings blasts a much needed three-run home run to give the #Rockies a 3-2 lead. pic.twitter.com/rijn71KbrU

— Patrick Lyons (@PatrickDLyons) May 2, 2024

They would scratch across another run in the fifth after they loaded the bases and Ezequiel Tovar hit into a double play that did score Cave and tie the game 4-4. The Rockies struggled at the plate as they went just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and struck out 16 times with six walks. They had something cooking in the ninth inning when Rodgers and Beck reached to begin the inning. Cave then laid down a bunt to advance the runners and the catcher Fortes sailed the ball past the third baseman. Rodgers initially popped up and started hard for home but pushed the brakes and retreated to third, leaving Beck out to dry on the base path. The Rockies still had a chance with two runners in scoring position but Stallings struck out, before Charlie Blackmon was intentionally walked to load the bases so that they could get to Tovar who promptly grounded out to end the threat.

The Rockies managed to get Tovar to third to begin the 10th inning, but back-to-back strikeouts of Ryan McMahon and Montero ended the inning. A single from Sanchez to left field scored the winning run for Miami, giving them their first sweep of the year and second walk-off victory of the series.

Colorado mustered just five hits in the game and struck out a total of 37 times compared to the Marlins 14 in the series. Rodgers and Stallings each had two hits for the Rockies. Arraez had two hits for the Marlins while all but two starters in the lineup had a hit.

Up Next

The Rockies head to the Steel City to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates who got off to a strong start but have cooled off a bit more in the last few weeks.