Live Updates: Kansas City Royals at Colorado Rockies (Game Two)
The Royals look to rebound and even up the series at Coors Field on Saturday.
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The Colorado Rockies may be sitting dead last in the NL West, but that didn't stop them from taking game one of the weekend series against the Kansas City Royals at Coors Field on Friday night. Now, rather than having the chance to lock up the series in Saturday's encore, the Royals can only tie the three-game set with a win.
Leading the way on the mound will be right-hander Seth Lugo, who has put together an All-Star caliber season since joining Kansas City (48-42) last offseason. His 11 wins so far this season are matched only by Chris Sale of Atlanta, in the midst of a resurgent year of his own. Lugo also brings a 2.17 earned run average into the contest.
Facing him will be Austin Gomber, whose record stands at 1-5 with a 4.72 ERA. The Rockies (31-57) have had their share of struggles on the mound, which has conversely been a surprising strength for the visiting Royals. Even so, Kansas City is just 1-3 in the month of July thus far. With a comeback win in the series overall, that mark would turn even. First pitch is set for 8:10 p.m. CT.
Live Updates (most recent at top):
Top 9:
- Massey grounds out, and that'll do it. FINAL: Rockies 3, Royals 1.
- Fermin walks. Two on, two gone. Michael Massey comes in to pinch hit for Hampson. Dairon Blanco will run for Fermin.
- Melendez flies out sharply to center.
- Renfroe singles to left field. Tying run to the plate.
- Perez strikes out swinging.
- Victor Vodnik is on to try and get the last three outs against Kansas City. If successful, he and his team will clinch the series. Jacob Stallings is now in at catcher.
Bottom 8:
- After a mound visit, the second of the inning, Stratton gets Cave to line out to Hampson. He works out of a huge pressure spot. However, it's now last call for the Royals, down 3-1.
- Doyle, who has Colorado's home run tonight, is walked on four pitches. Runners on the corners. Cave, who's 0-3, is up next.
- Rodgers grounds into a double play. McMahon is at third, representing a big insurance run, but those were two big outs for Stratton. It's now down to Doyle to get the run across.
- Diaz singles, and it's back-to-back hits for the Rockies. First and second with nobody out.
- McMahon leads off with a single.
- Chris Stratton replaces Long on the bump for the Royals.
Top 8:
- Pasquantino grounds out. The pickoff could well loom large. Clean first frames for both Long and Kinley. Colorado leads 3-1.
- Witt Jr. gets picked off on a throw to third. Two out.
- Witt Jr. gets aboard with a single.
- Garcia grounds out. He hasn't been able to get it going offensively.
- Tyler Kinley is now on to pitch for Colorado.
Bottom 7:
- Tovar flies out to end the inning. Long strands the runner. The score remains 3-1 Rockies.
- Blackmon hits a two-out double.
- Hilliard strikes out swinging.
- Toglia goes down looking on a payoff pitch.
- Sam Long is now pitching for the Royals.
Top 7:
- Isbel flies out. What a night for Austin Gomber. He's through seven innings and his day is presumably done. His Rockies lead the Royals 3-1.
- Hampson pops out to second base. Huge second out for Gomber, who remains out there.
- Fermin loops a single into right. Two on for the Royals, and now the tying run is at first. Melendez to third.
- Melendez grounds into a fielder's choice. Renfroe is forced out. One down for Gomber in the seventh.
- Renfroe leads off the frame with a single into center.
Bottom 6:
- Cave lines out to Isbel, and Lugo completes a quality start: six innings and exactly three runs. It's 3-1, Colorado.
- Doyle lines out to center.
- Rodgers strikes out swinging. First leadoff batter retired for Lugo since the third inning.
Top 6:
- Perez flies out to Cave, but Kansas City musters some offense. It is now a 3-1 game.
- Pasquantino gets to Gomber, putting the Royals on the board with his 11th home run of the season. A two-out solo shot.
- Witt Jr. flies out to Cave.
- Garcia grounds out to second.
Bottom 5:
- Diaz grounds out to end the inning, but the Rockies get one more and stretch the lead to 3-0. Top of the Royals order due up.
- McMahon attacks the first pitch he sees, singling home Hilliard. It is now 3-0, Colorado.
- Tovar lines out.
- Blackmon goes down swinging on a payoff pitch. Hilliard steals second.
- Hilliard singles his way aboard... with a bunt. That'll bring up the top of the order.
Top 5:
- Isbel goes down looking to retire the side.
- Hampson flies out to center.
- Fermin fouls out to Tovar.
Bottom 4:
- Toglia grounds out, and Lugo works out of trouble to keep the score steady at 2-0 Rockies.
- Cave makes the first outs of the home half by grounding into a double play. He and Doyle are retired, while Rodgers is at third.
- Doyle works a walk after a nine-pitch at-bat. Two on with nobody out.
- Rodgers leads off the half-inning with his 15th double of the season.
Top 4:
- Melendez strikes out swinging. Gomber works out of the jam and the score remains Rockies 2, Royals 0.
- Renfroe doubles, his 13th of the year, and now they're on second and third. A base hit by Melendez could tie the game.
- Perez singles to left on a ball below the zone. One on for Kansas City.
- Pasquantino keeps Cave busy with a lineout. Two away.
- Witt Jr. flies out to Cave.
Bottom 3:
- Diaz lines out to short. Lugo is back on track, but the Royals still trail 2-0.
- McMahon singles to center. One on, two gone.
- Tovar grounds out to short.
- Blackmon strikes out swinging.
Top 3:
- Garcia lines out. Gomber is rolling, and now has a 2-0 lead. On to the bottom half.
- Kyle Isbel grounds out.
- Garrett Hampson flies out to center field.
Bottom 2:
- Sam Hilliard strikes out swinging, but the Rockies get on the board. Colorado 2, Kansas City 0.
- Michael Toglia flies out to short.
- Jake Cave lines out to Melendez.
- Brenton Doyle hits his 11th home run of the season on a ball to right center. Colorado now leads it 2-0 with one big swing.
- Brendan Rodgers gets aboard to start the bottom of the inning, courtesy of a throwing error by Garcia.
Top 2:
- Freddy Fermin grounds out to third to retire the side. Can't ask for a much cleaner inning if you're Austin Gomber.
- MJ Melendez pops out to third base. A quick first two outs in the frame for Gomber.
- Hunter Renfroe grounds out to short.
Bottom 1:
- Elias Diaz strikes out swinging. No score in the game through an inning.
- Lugo issues a four-pitch walk to Ryan McMahon. First Rockies baserunner of the game.
- Ezequiel Tovar grounds out to Pasquantino.
- Charlie Blackmon grounds out to start the home half.
Top 1:
- Perez grounds out, ending the inning without any damage. A good start to the night for Gomber.
- Vinnie Pasquantino grounds into a fielder's choice, and Garcia is forced out on the play. Two gone now for Salvador Perez.
- Bobby Witt Jr. strikes out swinging.
- Garcia leads the game off with a single to right.
- First pitch at 8:10 CT is a ball to Maikel Garcia.
Pregame:
Kansas City lineup (P: Seth Lugo [R]):
- Maikel Garcia, 3B
- Bobby Witt Jr., SS
- Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B
- Salvador Perez, C
- Hunter Renfroe, RF
- MJ Melendez, LF
- Freddy Fermin, DH
- Garrett Hampson, 2B
- Kyle Isbel, CF
Colorado lineup (P: Austin Gomber [L]):
- Charlie Blackmon, DH
- Ezequiel Tovar, SS
- Ryan McMahon, 3B
- Elias Diaz, C
- Brendan Rodgers, 2B
- Brenton Doyle, CF
- Jake Cave, RF
- Michael Toglia,1B
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