The glow of a three-game sweep and a string of close games went out this weekend, as the Colorado Rockies were swept by the formidable New York Mets and outscored 24-6. Even “Banana Ball” rules wouldn’t have made things much closer. The ball refused to stay in the yard, as the Mets hit six home runs against Rockies’ pitching. And the Rockies offense could not score with runners in scoring position once again in the lopsided loss.

Dollander struggles

Chase Dollander had a bright start to his MLB career, but has struggled as of late. He felt tightness in his forearm after his start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 18 and was placed on the 15-day IL on May 22, retroactive to May 19. Dollander came off the IL on June 3 and has struggled a bit in his return. In his first outing back, he pitched only three innings, allowing two runs on two hits with three walks and a strikeout, but threw 59 pitches through three innings.

This afternoon, Dollander threw another three innings and threw 78 pitches before being lifted for Juan Mejia. He allowed five runs on eight hits with two homers (a solo shot to Jeff McNeil and two-run shot to Pete Alonso), one walk and three strikeouts. He ran his pitch count up by throwing a seven-pitch at-bat to Fransico Lindor to start things off, and ended up having a 17-pitch first inning. He threw 36 in the second and then 23 in the third. There were also two stolen bases in the third, and Dollander made an error on a pickoff attempt.

Overall, it was a rough outing for Dollander.

Singled and homered to death

The Mets hit six home runs off Rockies’ pitching. McNeil hit two, Alonso hit two, Brett Batty hit one and Francisco Alvarez also hit one. McNeil has six total homers this year, and four have come against the Rockies. With his two homers, Alonso moved into second place all-time in homers for the Mets, and is just nine shy of Darryl Strawberry.

And it wasn’t just the homers that killed the Rockies. They allowed 10 runs by the fourth inning (and four of their homers), and gave up 17 hits overall. McNeil and Tyrone Taylor hit doubles, but otherwise the other nine hits came on singles.

Rockies score with RISP challenge

Tell me if you’ve heard this before: The Rockies struggled once again to score with men in scoring position, especially early in the game. They ended up going 5-for-18 and left nine on base, but they still had plenty of opportunities to blow things open.

Tylor Megill allowed back-to-back walks in the second, but then Orlando Arcia struck out and Braxton Fulford flew out to end that threat. In the fifth, Sam Hilliard broke up the no-hitter with a double and was knocked in by Fulford.

Tyler Freeman walked and Jordan Beck doubled to score Fulford. Ryan Ritter was then hit by a pitch to load the bases down 8-2, but then Hunter Goodman and Thairo Estrada flew out to end that threat.

In the sixth, Ryan McMahon and Hilliard got on base back-to-back again, but then Arcia grounded into a double play and Fulford struck out swinging to strand McMahon at third.

Of the five runs scored with RISP, three of them came in the ninth when Freeman tripled, Beck doubled and then Ritter singled (and recorded his first MLB RBI). But then the final three Rockies were retired to end the game.

Hilliard and Freeman continue to produce

Two positives today were Sam Hilliard and Tyler Freeman. Hilliard went 1-for-2 with a double and two walks today after going 1-for-3 with a double and a strikeout yesterday. He has a three-game hitting streak, and has only failed to reach base in one game this year — a pinch hit appearance against the Marlins. Overall, Hilliard is slashing .368/.455/.789 in eight games.

Meanwhile, Freeman has an eight-game hitting streak going. Today, he went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple and a walk. During this streak, he has gone 12-for-25 (.480) with three doubles and a triple.

Up Next

The Rockies have an off-day tomorrow before the San Francisco Giants come to town for a three-game set. Carson Palmquist (0-4, 8.50 ERA) will face Giants’ lefty Kyle Harrison (1-1, 4.34 ERA). First pitch will be at 6:40pm MT on Tuesday. See you then!