This one went to 11, but that was quite all right with the Rockies, who notched perhaps their most satisfying — and unlikely — win of the season on Sunday afternoon.
Utility outfielder Kyle Farmer ripped a single up the middle off Grant Anderson to score Brenton Doyle, who opened the inning at second base, lifting the Rockies to a 4-3, 11-inning victory over the Brewers.
The Rockies avoided a three-game sweep, snapped a five-game losing streak and claimed the first extra-inning win of their “This is Spinal Tap” season. The Rockies’ record stands at 19-65.
Farmer, who replaced Mickey Moniak off the bench in the seventh inning, went 2 for 3.
“Coming off the bench is probably the hardest thing to do in all of sports, besides hitting a baseball in general,” Farmer told Rockies.TV in Milwaukee. “But coming off the bench cold, facing a reliever that can throw 98 (mph) is the hardest job in the world. It’s good to get a hit, but it’s even better to put a good at-bat together.”
Veteran right-hander Tyler Kinley blanked the Brewers in the bottom of the 11th, striking out two and getting Caleb Durbin to fly out to left fielder Jordan Beck to secure his third save of the season.
Interim manager Warren Schaeffer wasn’t around to soak it all in. In the third inning, he was ejected for the first time in his brief major league career. But he talked about the victory after it was over.
“I loved the way the boys fought today,” he told reporters. “That’s more of what we’ve been seeing recently. It was a fantastic job by a lot of guys, and a fantastic job by the bullpen guys shutting the door. It was good stuff, late in the game, against good pitchers.”
The crowd of 30,037 at American Family Field undoubtedly thought the Brewers were going to notch their fifth straight victory until an unlikely hero rescued the Rockies in the ninth. Orlando Arcia, the nine-hole hitter and former Brewer, hit a two-out, solo homer to left-center off closer Trevor Megill’s hanging curve, tying the game 2-2. It was Arcia’s second homer and just the second homer Megill has surrendered this season.
“I’m very happy for him,” Farmer said. “He’s a great guy, great teammate and a great addition to the team. You could see the energy we had for him (in the dugout), and it was awesome to see him do that against his former team.”
Milwaukee loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame, and another gut-punch defeat was imminent. But closer Seth Halvorsen got Jose Ortiz to pop out in foul territory to first baseman Michael Toglia, sending the game into extra innings.
Thairo Estrada’s RBI single scored Sam Hilliard to put Colorado ahead, 3-2, in the 10th, but the Brewers tied up the game in the bottom of the frame on a wild pitch by reliever Victor Vodnik. But Vodnik hung tough. With runners on second and third, he induced William Contreras to pop up to shallow right, and then Vodnik struck out Brice Turang to send the game to the 11th.
Colorado’s dormant offense finally came alive late. The Rockies had been shut out for 17 consecutive innings, going back to the eighth inning of Friday night’s game, until they scored a run in the eighth on Doyle’s RBI double to score Ryan McMahon.
Right-hander German Marquez, Colorado’s prime trade candidate, almost pitched a gem. His outing was marred by solo home runs by Sal Frelick and Christian Yelich in the sixth inning. Marquez gave up two runs on three hits, struck out five and walked two. Over his last eight starts, he’s posted a 2.70 ERA with 40 strikeouts and 10 walks.
Schaeffer and leadoff hitter Tyler Freeman were ejected for arguing balls and strikes. Freeman struck out looking when home plate umpire Ramon De Jesus called a ball low in the zone for strike three. Freeman got mad. Schaeffer, upset that De Jesus ejected Freeman so quickly, went ballistic.
The manager tossed a wad of gum out of his mouth, flipped his cap off his head and gestured with his hand to show De Jesus how low the pitch was. Bench coach Clint Hurdle took over for Schaeffer.
“There wasn’t really much of a conversation there,” Schaeffer said. “I just didn’t like the fact that (De Jesus) got rid of Freeman so quick after Freeman didn’t cuss at him, didn’t show him up, didn’t do anything to him.
“I like Ramon, but that was way too quick to get rid of one of our best players in the third inning. That’s ridiculous.”
Schaeffer also explained why he got rid of his gum.
“It was intentional,” he said. “I’ve spit on an umpire before in my career and gotten fined — big time. So I just wanted to make sure to get whatever’s in my mouth out of it.”
Pitching probables
Monday: Off day
Tuesday: Astros LHP Colton Gordon (3-1, 3.98 ERA) at Rockies RHP Chase Dollander (2-8, 6.06), 6:40 p.m.
Wednesday: Astros RHP Hunter Brown (8-3, 1.74) at Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (0-1, 6.14), 6:40 p.m.
Thursday: Astros LHP Brandon Walter (1-1, 3.34) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-9, 5.56), 1:10 p.m.
— Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
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