In the first game of the Warren Schaeffer era, Chase Dollander dazzled like the ace he’s proclaimed to be.
But a new manager and the most promising outing yet from the rookie right-hander weren’t enough to flip the script for Colorado. With the offense mostly a no-show, the Rockies lost 2-1 to Texas to drop to 7-34 and continue their pace to becoming the worst MLB team ever.
Dollander held the Rangers hitless through 5 2/3 innings at Globe Life Field to start the Rockies’ six-game road trip. The one hit Dollander surrendered was a two-run homer to Wyatt Langford, but then he eventually struck out Adolis García to end the frame. The Langford homer, plus three walks, were the lone blemishes in an otherwise outstanding game by Dollander.
“I felt a lot of energy tonight,” Warren Schaeffer told reporters in Arlington, Texas. “Dollander brought it. You couldn’t ask for anything more from him. The boys battled. … One swing from Langford changed the game.”
Unfortunately for the Rockies, Rangers right-hander Tyler Mahle was even better than Dollander, who had seven strikeouts. Mahle allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings, scattering four hits and a walk.
Colorado’s only damage against Mahle came in the second. Hunter Goodman led off that inning with a single, and he was eventually driven home by Nick Martini’s two-out single to give Dollander an early cushion.
Dollander ran with the lead, using a steady diet of fastball and curveball with occasional cutters and changeups mixed in. He hit as high as 99 mph with his heater over an 85-pitch effort in which he showcased supreme command for a significant stretch, setting down 15 hitters in a row at one point following a walk to his first batter.
“(His fastball) played tonight, and the breaker was really good,” Schaeffer said. “He was erratic at times, but was able to bring it back in.”
Jake Bird, who leads major league relievers with 33 strikeouts this season, spelled Dollander in the seventh. The right-hander continued his All-Star-caliber season with a scoreless inning, lowering his ERA to 1.78. Tyler Kinley then took care of business in the eighth to keep it at a one-run deficit for Colorado.
“TK was great, and Birdman kept us right there,” Schaeffer said. “That’s pretty much all you can ask for.”
The Rockies threatened in the ninth. Ryan McMahon, amid a red-hot May following a dismal April, led off with an infield single. McMahon roped a liner off Luke Jackson’s back, forcing the pitcher from the game. Two batters later, Michael Toglia singled off Jacob Webb, and then Webb walked Sean Bouchard to load the bases with one out.
But Kyle Farmer grounded into a double play to end the game, wasting Dollander’s gem and ending Schaeffer’s managerial debut on a sour note after Bud Black was fired on Sunday. The Rockies finished 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position, and lost despite notching six hits to the Rangers’ three.
Tuesday’s pitching matchup
Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (0-5, 6.41) at Rangers RHP Jack Leiter (2-2, 5.09)
6:05 p.m. Tuesday, Globe Life Field
TV: Rockies.TV (streaming); Comcast/Xfinity (channel 1262); DirecTV (683); Spectrum (130, 445, 305, 435 or 445, depending on region).
Radio: 850 AM, 94.1 FM
Trending: Colorado’s schedule has stiffened up. The Rockies are amid a stretch of 29 consecutive games against clubs with records either above .500 or just below (Texas is 20-21) during the month of May. They are 2-8 so far during that gauntlet.
Pitching probables
Wednesday: Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (1-6, 5.77) at Rangers LHP Patrick Corbin (2-2, 3.13), 6:05 p.m.
Thursday: Off day.
Friday: Rockies TBA at Diamondbacks RHP Corbin Burnes (2-1, 2.95), 7:40 p.m.
— Kyle Newman, The Denver Post