On-the-job training can be rough.
Just ask the Rockies, who lost 6-1 to Washington Wednesday night at Nationals Park.
Rookie right-hander Tanner Gordon, making his seventh big-league start, received a few more hard lessons on a night when the Nats tagged him for five runs on eight hits over four innings. The big blow was delivered by Luis Garcia, who launched a three-run homer in the third inning. He ripped Gordon’s 1-1 slider 419 feet over the center field wall.
Gordon is 0-5 with a 7.55 ERA and has served up eight home runs. Gordon and reliever Victor Vodnik were acquired before last year’s trade deadline in a deal that shipped reliever Pierce Johnson to Atlanta.
Washington left-hander Mitchell Parker had no problems with Colorado’s offense. Parker limited the Rockies to one run on five hits over seven innings. He walked just one and struck out six. He needed just 83 pitches (61 strikes) to get through his seven innings.
In addition to Gordon, the Rockies started two more rookies. Catcher Drew Romo hit 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and is hitting .091 in (1 for 11) over his first four big-league games.
The Rockies, however, have been impressed with his work behind the plate.
Rookie right fielder Jordan Beck went 0 for 3 and is hitting .208.
Right-hander Jeff Criswell made his major debut Wednesday, getting called up when rookie closer Vodnik was placed on the 15-day injured list with right biceps inflammation. Criswell pitched a scoreless seventh inning, allowing one hit.
He became the 12th rookie to appear in a game for the Rockies in August, the most in any month for the Rockies (excluding September) since 12 appeared in a game in August of 2019.
The Rockies’ lone run came in the seventh. Ryan McMahon reached on a leadoff bunt single and scored on Brendan Rodgers’ double to right-center.
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Thursday’s pitching matchup
Rockies RHP Cal Quantrill (8-8, 4.59 ERA) at Nationals LHP Patrick Corbin (2-12, 5.92)
11:15 a.m. Thursday, Nationals 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
Quantrill leads the Rockies with 12 quality starts, half of his total of 24 starts. In his last outing, he allowed three earned runs over five innings against the Padres at Coors Field. The right-hander has two career starts against the Nationals, going 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA, eight strikeouts and two walks. He faced Washington on June 22 at Coors Field, getting a no-decision after pitching six innings and allowing three runs on seven hits in Colorado’s 8-7 victory.
The Rockies have faced Corbin for a long time, dating all the way back to his debut season with Arizona in 2012. In 28 games (27 starts) vs. the Rockies, the 35-year-old lefty is 11-8 with a 4.72 ERA. He’s searching for his 100th career victory. He pitched relatively well but didn’t get No. 100 in his last start in Washington’s 3-2 loss to Philadelphia last Friday. He gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks over 4 1/3 innings. He struck out two.
Pitching probables
Friday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (3-5, 5.97) at Yankees LHP Carlos Rodon (13-8, 4.34), 5:05 p.m.
Saturday: Rockies RHP Bradley Blalock (0-0, 2.92) at Yankees RHP Marcus Stroman (8-6, 3.82), 12:05 p.m.
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