Blalock labors in short start at Mariners prepare for the playoffs
The Colorado Rockies learned what it means to play a playoff-caliber team as they fell 6-1 to the Seattle Mariners in yet another sweep in a rough season.
Bad start for Blalock
Looking to finish the season on a high note, Bradley Blalock suffered the opposite as he labored in a short start. Blalock lasted just 3 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on six hits with one strikeout and two walks while throwing 73 pitches. It was clear Blalock was laboring through the outing, running into deep counts and battling his command.
The big hit came in the second inning when Eugenio Suárez blasted a hanging curveball for a two-run home run to give the Mariners the early 2-0 lead. He ran into more trouble in the fourth inning as Blalock issued multiple walks, had a hit by pitch, and the Mariners strung together enough hits to score three runs. He exited the game after intentionally walking Cal Raleigh, leaving Anthony Molina with the task of escaping the inning, which he did.
It was yet another uneven start for Blalock as he battled his command, leaving mistakes over the plate that the M’s offense took advantage of. He will likely get a chance to fight for a rotation spot next season, but Blalock has a long way to go, like so many of the other Rockies pitchers.
Molina settles down
After relieving Blalock, Molina delivered a solid 2 1/3 innings to help save the bullpen. He allowed just one run on three hits, collecting two strikeouts against one walk. The lone run came in the fifth inning after Suárez laced a single to left field to score Josh Naylor, who had doubled to start the inning.
Molina is another candidate who could try to fight for a rotation spot in 2026, but the Rockies have seemed to enjoy his work as a long reliever out of the bullpen as he continues to develop as a young pitcher. Facing a potent Seattle lineup, Molina managed to navigate and mitigate the damage to settle things down a bit more for the pitching staff.
Setting career highs
Speaking of pitching, Emerson Hancock enjoyed a good night on the mound for the Mariners. Working just four innings, Hancock made quick work of the Rockies on 51 pitches. He allowed just two hits while setting a career-high with seven strikeouts. He became the 32nd pitcher this year to set or tie a season high in strikeouts while pitching against the Rockies.
Offensive lull
The Rockies struggled against Hancock, and while they fared a little bit better against the bullpen, the lineup was still unable to generate any sort of meaningful offense.
The first run came in the sixth inning against Carlos Vargas. Blaine Crim laced a one-out double and came in to score on a single from Ezequiel Tovar. Despite collecting nine hits, the Rockies went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position. They had managed to get two runners on base with no outs in the eighth inning, but a groundout and two strikeouts ended the threat.
Their second run came in the ninth inning when Hunter Goodman notched his 90th RBI with a single to score Kyle Karros. Crim and Goodman each had doubles while Ryan Ritter went 3-for-4 out of the nine hole in the lineup. The Rockies drew three walks while striking out 13 times.
Welcome back, Zach Agnos
Not much went right for the Rockies, but one major highlight was the return of Zach Agnos to the mound. Agnos went on the injured list at the end of July with a right flexor strain and was just activated on Wednesday. He managed to toss a clean inning with a pair of strikeouts.
Up next
The Rockies head out to San Francisco to kick off the final series of the 2025 season. Germán Márquez will take the mound for what could be his last time as a Rockie, while Trevor McDonald makes the start for the Giants.
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Category: General Sports
