Detroit Tigers vs Colorado Rockies Box Score on Aug 30, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Aug 30, 2017

DENVER -- Justin Verlander took the mound Wednesday at Coors Field for the second time in his illustrious career and again made pitching at that hitter-friendly ballpark look rather easy.

The Detroit Tigers' ace overmatched the Colorado Rockies in the rubber game of their series, which the Tigers won 6-2.

Verlander held the Rockies to three hits and one run in six innings with one walk and nine strikeouts. He did not face a Rockies batter with a runner in scoring position and held Colorado scoreless for five innings before Charlie Blackmon led off the sixth with his 31st home run, connecting on Verlander's hanging 1-1 curveball.

Verlander (10-8) even contributed on offense. He was 3-for-40 (.075) with 20 strikeouts when he singled home a run with two outs in the second to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead and give Verlander his first career RBI.

Nicholas Castellanos hit a solo homer for Detroit in the third, and James McCann gave Verlander more than ample breathing room when he clubbed a three-run homer in the fifth that made it 5-0.

In his only other start at Coors Field on June 9, 2011, Verlander threw a complete-game four-hitter and held the Rockies to one run.

A pitch count that reached 98 limited Verlander to six innings Wednesday. He continued his late-season surge and is 5-1 in his past seven starts with a 2.06 ERA, allowing 31 hits in 48 innings in that stretch with 10 walks and 56 strikeouts.

The Tigers are 27-42 on the road this season and just 4-11-4 in road series since May 6, losing 36 of 57 road games in that stretch.

Detroit concluded interleague play 8-12 and a 3-3 road trip, while the Rockies went 10-10 in interleague games and dropped the first series on their nine-game homestand that continues Friday with a crucial weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Rockies, who have lost 12 of their past 19 games, are 2 1/2 games behind the Diamondbacks in the National League wild-card race, pending the outcome of Arizona's game Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Rockies are three games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers in the hunt for the second wild-card spot.

Rockies starter Chad Bettis (0-2), who made his fourth start since he returned from cancer, allowed seven hits and five runs in five innings with two walks and four strikeouts. Bettis has allowed five runs in five innings in consecutive starts, both losses, raising his ERA to 4.88.

Castellanos, who finished a triple shy of the cycle, hit his 19th homer on a hanging 2-1 curveball. McCann, who worked his way out of an 0-2 hole, also took advantage of breaking ball that sat in the middle of the plate, connecting on a 2-2 slider for his 13th homer.

Verlander's hit in the second came on Bettis' 0-1 slider and scored McCann, who drew a leadoff walk. Bettis issued a semi-intentional walk to No. 8 hitter Jose Iglesias ahead of Verlander, who looped a single that fell in front of charging center fielder Blackmon.

The Rockies did not have an at-bat with a runner in scoring position until the eighth when Nolan Arenado came up with two outs and runners at the corners. Alex Wilson struck him out.

Trevor Story doubled home a run with two outs in the ninth against Tigers closer Shane Greene.

NOTES: Rockies RHP German Marquez will start Sunday on regular rest in the series finale against Arizona rather than RHP Antonio Senzatela, who will be pushed back likely to Tuesday.... Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson is scheduled to throw about 45 pitches Thursday for Triple-A Albuquerque, and is expected to have one more rehab start before the minor league seasons end... Rockies RHP Tyler Chatwood threw a season-high three innings in his sixth relief appearance of the season.... Rockies RHP Scott Oberg worked the ninth, his first appearance since Aug. 20... Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera didn't start for the second straight game due to lower back stiffness. He pinch hit in the eighth with one out and the bases loaded and bounced into a double play...Tigers SS Jose Iglesias, who went 3-for-3, has a team-high 12 three-hit games this season.