Boston @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 14, 2023 ) Colorado 3, Boston 6
The Red Sox coming to Denver reminds Colorado fans of the magical 2007 season. The Rockies made an improbable run to the World Series, winning 21 of 22 games to capture the National League pennant, only to be swept by Boston.
Those memories will be plentiful when the Red Sox and Rockies start a three-game series at Coors Field on Monday night.
The Rockies will send lefty Austin Gomber (2-6, 4.61 ERA) to the mound while Boston will counter with right-hander Tanner Houck (8-6, 2.54).
Colorado is coming off a series win against the San Francisco Giants but missed a chance to sweep them after Sunday's 3-2 loss. A win Monday would ensure at least a .500 homestand coming out of the break, and Gomber will be tasked to hold down the Red Sox lineup.
Gomber has faced them just once, June 14, 2023, at Boston and took the loss after allowing three runs on six hits over six innings.
Colorado's bats have heated up in July despite going just 8-9. The Rockies have homered in nine straight games, including Brendan Rodgers' two-run shot on Sunday.
"We're swinging the bats better," manager Bud Black said. "The power is starting to show up, which we talked about the first half not being there. Since the middle part of June, the homer has shown up. You've got to homer in this park to be a winning team."
Colorado batters also strike out a lot, too. They racked up 15 on Sunday and lead the NL with 960 on the season.
The Red Sox were swept at the Los Angeles Dodgers to open the second half of the season after winning 10 of 13 games before the All-Star break. They trailed 9-3 entering the ninth on Sunday night, rallied for three runs and had the tying run to the plate before falling 9-6.
Monday was supposed to mark shortstop Trevor Story's first game in Denver since signing with Boston after the 2021 season. Story broke in with the Rockies in 2016 and hit 158 homers over six seasons with the club before leaving.
However, Story suffered a left shoulder injury a week into the season and had surgery that was expected to keep him out six months. He told reporters there is a chance he could return in 2024.
"It's too early to say if that's going to happen or not, but always in my mind, it's something that, obviously, if there's a chance to play in the playoffs, this is why I came to Boston," he said.
He won't be in the lineup on Monday to help Houck, who is putting together a solid season. He is slated to make his 20th start of the season, and his team is 13-6 in his outings. Houck, who has never faced Colorado in his five-year career, has failed to pitch into the sixth inning just twice.
He is coming off an impressive outing against Oakland on July 11 when he tossed six shutout innings and allowed just two hits.
--Field Level Media