Charlie Blackmon loves baseball like an 8-year-old kid, works out with the energy of a teenager and views the game through the eyes of a gnarly veteran.
All of those characteristics were on display Monday afternoon at sun-splashed Coors Field.
Blackmon, who turns 38 on July 1, hit a three-run homer and two doubles and drove in four runs to lead the Rockies to an 8-6 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. As a reminder that he’s still got something left, “Chuck Nazty” made a sliding, shoetop catch in foul territory in the sixth inning to retire Cleveland’s Kyle Manzardo.
After winning a weekend series against Philadelphia, owners of the best record in the National League, the Rockies cooled off baseball’s hottest team.
The Guardians, who entered Monday with the best record in the AL, came to Denver riding a nine-game winning streak. It was their longest streak since Aug. 24-Sept. 14, 2017, when the club set the American League record with 22 straight victories.
Colorado Rockies’ Sean Bouchard (12) and Elehuris Montero, left, greet Charlie Blackmon (19) at home plate after being driven in on Blackmon’s three-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 27, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
While Blackmon took center stage, the game’s co-star was lefty reliever Josh Rogers, who was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque before the game and provided the Rockies with five solid innings. He was charged with two runs on four hits.
When left-hander Austin Gomber was scratched before the game because of arm soreness, Colorado started Anthony Molina, the Rule-5 draft acquisition. But Molina was gone quickly, giving up three runs on two hits and three walks in 1 2/3 innings. Enter Rogers, who provided some much-needed bullpen stability.
Colorado’s breakout inning was the six-run fourth. It sent nine men to the plate and got a two-run single from Elehuris Montero, immediately followed by Blackmon’s three-run, line-drive homer to right. It was only Blackmon’s second homer of the season and his first in 114 at-bats, dating back to April 8.
Blackmon added an RBI double in the sixth, scoring Sean Bouchard, who walked and stole second.
Want more Rockies news? Sign up for the Rockies Insider to get all our MLB analysis.
Link to original article