The historically bad Colorado Rockies (11-50) entered loanDept Park hoping for a win to complete a sweep, something that had seemed impossible only three days earlier.
Cal Quantrill was on the mound for the Miami Marlins, raising the question of whether familiarity would benefit the Rockies or their former pitcher.
When Quantrill left the game after the fifth innings, the Rockies had a 2-0 lead. They added one run to it and then managed to cling to a their one-run lead to take the win, 3-2.
Worth noting is that it’s been a while since the Rockies pulled off a sweep:
#Rockies looking for their 1st sweep since sweeping the #Padres at Petco Park May 13-15, 2024. Entering this series vs. #Marlins, Rox have gone a franchise record 57-straight series without sweeping an opponent in a series of multiple games.
— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) June 4, 2025
The offense got it done (with a serious hat tip to Hunter Goodman)
The Rockies got off to a quick start in the first inning. Thairo Estrada hit a double, which Hunter Goodman followed up with a triple.
They ended up leaving two runners on base, but the Rockies got out of their half of the first with a 1-0 lead.
After that, the game moved quickly with both Freeland and Quantrill mostly keeping the bases clear. The Rockies hit the ball hard, but failed to find any gaps. Quantrill retired the next 11 batters he faced until a Tyler Freeman double in the fifth inning. Jordan Beck’s ground-ruled double brought Freeman home, giving the Rockies a 2-0 lead.
After the fifth, Quantrill’s day ended. He left the game having given up five hits, two for runs (both earned), one walk, and two strikeouts on 86 pitches.
Also, can we take a minute to appreciate that pretty terrific catch Quantrill made:
#Respect
Hunter Goodman led off the sixth and — stop me if you’ve head this one before — promptly hit a double. Sacrifices by McMahon and Doyle brought Goodman home, giving the Rockies a 3-0 lead against reliever Janson Junk.
The Marlins got back in the game in the seventh on an Orlando Arcia error that led to the Marlins first run and Kyle Freeland exiting the game with one out and a two-run lead.
With Freeland’s exit, the Marlins began injecting their lefty sluggers into the lineup, and things tightened up.
It looked like things had gone terribly wrong (again) after Jake Bird entered the game, allowing Eric Wagaman to score before Liam Hicks hit a single that would have tied the game. However, a Beck-to-Arcia throw to Stallings tagged out Jesús Sánchez and ended the inning.
“Those are the margins,” manager Warren Schaeffer said, adding that it’s where games are won and lost.
Junk shut down the Rockies after the sixth inning and finished with one hit, one run, and five Ks. (The Rockies had eight strikeouts on the day.)
But there was no additional scoring, and the Rockies secured the win.
Given the series Goodman has had against the Marlins — seven hits, including three home runs, a triple, two doubles, and five RBI, making him one of only five Rockies ever to have such a series — I think we can proclaim him the King of Miami.
“You look at him in the box, and he looks like he feels good,” Schaeffer said.
Also, don’t overlook Freeman’s series. While not as flashy as Goodman’s, Freeman got the job done: five hits, and one RBI,
Freeland was dealin’
A clean-shaven Kyle Freeland (Ryan Spilborghs noted the lefty shaves his beard “about once a year”), was his best self this morning.
Over 6.1 innings pitched, Freeland surrendered four hits and two runs (both unearned earned), no walks, striking out four. Today, his four-seamer was working, and he earned his first win. (I know: Pitcher wins are meaningless. But given the season Freeland has had, let’s celebrate the win.)
What stood out?
“Freeland going strong, putting us on his back,” Schaeffer said.
Bullpen gets the job done
Jake Bird did not have his best outing, but it was good enough. In 0.2 IP, he gave up one hit, and without the remarkable defensive series that ended the seventh would have surrendered more.
The eighth went to Victor Vodnik, who retired the three batters he faced.
That left the ninth to veteran reliever Tyler Kinley who had a quick three-up, three-down inning and the save.
“The bullpen has been good pretty much all year,” Schaeffer said. “It’s nice to have options down there.”
Up next
The Rockies have tomorrow off before welcoming the New York Mets to Coors Field for a three-game series. (Dodgers, please, make sure that Mets bullpen has thrown plenty of innings.)
And, look for a Playback.tv broadcast that night. (We’ll have more details prior to the game.)
See you then.
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