Rockies ripped again by red-hot Tigers

The Rockies have shown some occasional growth spurts lately. Emphasis on occasional.

Over the weekend, they won two of three games in Milwaukee to capture just their third road series win of the season.

But their growth has been stunted in Motown against a red-hot Tigers team still hunting for a wild-card playoff berth. After a historic 11-0 blowout loss to Detroit on Tuesday night at Comerica Park, the Rockies responded with a 7-4 defeat on Wednesday.

The Tigers buried Colorado right-hander Tanner Gordon with a six-run, six-hit avalanche in the first inning. The Rockies were never able to recover.

The Tigers lined up for batting practice against Gordon, who was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque to replace veteran lefty Austin Gomber, who was out on paternity leave.

The avalanche began when Riley Green lined a one-out homer to right. Then Kerry Carpenter ripped an RBI triple into the right-field corner, and Trey Sweeney crushed a three-run homer to deep right.

Gordon is a strike-thrower, and he didn’t issue a walk Wednesday night, but he threw meatballs. Over 3 1/3 innings, he gave up seven runs on 10 hits. He fell to 0-6 and his ERA soared to 8.65.

The Rockies’ bright spots came from third baseman Ryan McMahon, shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and a bullpen that blanked Detroit for four innings.

McMahon led off the second with a homer to right off right-hander Casey Mize, McMahon’s 19th homer.

Tovar ripped a two-run double to right-center in Colorado’s three-run fourth inning. Tovar’s 43 doubles are the third-most in the majors and the most by a Rockies player since Charlie Blackmon recorded 42 in 2019.

Tovar’s 43 doubles also set a franchise record for a shortstop, bypassing Trevor Story, and he has hit the most doubles since Nolan Arenado hit 43 doubles in 2017. The last Rockie with more than 43 doubles in a season was Matt Holliday with 50 doubles in 2007.

The Tigers, meanwhile, continue to roll. They improved to 20-8 since Aug. 11, the best record in the majors over the last month.

Senzatela close. Right-hander Antonio Senzatela, returning from Tommy John surgery, has made five injury rehab appearances and could make his first start with the Rockies this weekend vs. the Cubs.

He last pitched on Sunday for Double-A Hartford, going 3 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on five hits, with five strikeouts and one walk. He rejoined the Rockies in Detroit on Tuesday and threw a bullpen session.

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Thursday’s pitching matchup

Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (2-10, 4.96) at Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal (16-4, 2.53), 11:10 a.m.

11:10 a.m. Thursday, Comerica Park

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

Feltner’s 2-10 record doesn’t show it, but he’s made some solid starts for the Rockies, especially on the road where he’s posted a 3.99 ERA in 14 starts. Last Friday at Milwaukee, Feltner posted his first victory since April 10. He allowed one run on two hits over six innings. He walked three and struck out six for his 10th quality start (seven on the road). Thursday’s marks his first career start vs. the Tigers.

Skubal, the leading contender for the American League Cy Young Award, was not sharp in his last start. Pitching for the final time in Oakland, near where he grew up, the lefty gave up two runs on nine hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over 5 2/3 innings. It marked the 10th time in his last seven starts that he struck out at least seven. Skubal, who already has 208 Ks this season, has faced the Rockies once. He dominated them, pitching six scoreless innings, giving up five hits, striking out six and walking none.