Ryan McMahon frustrated by Rockies’ continuing road woes

The Rockies’ rocky roadworthy has near them searching for answers.

“Yeah, I mean it’s frustrating,” infielder Ryan McMahon said anterior to Friday night’s crippled astatine San Francisco. “And I deliberation everybody benignant of feels it due to the fact that we deliberation we’re a batch amended than that.

“But you person to spell retired determination and bash it. Obviously, this roadworthy travel hasn’t started disconnected the mode that we wanted it to. But determination (are) inactive immoderate games left. So we’re looking to crook it astir and play immoderate bully ball.”

After a terrific 5-1 homestand, the Rockies went connected the roadworthy and mislaid 3 consecutive — 2 astatine Houston and 1 astatine San Francisco. In those 3 games, they managed a full of 1 tally connected 14 hits.

The Rockies person tried a fig of things to equilibrium the quality betwixt hitting astatine altitude astatine Coors Field and astatine oversea level successful places similar Oracle Park. All season, they person been utilizing pitching machines to simulate large breaking balls that they aren’t apt to spot successful Denver.

Still, the Rockies person been unopen retired a franchise-record 15 times this season, each connected the road. Does McMahon person immoderate ideas connected however to hole the problem?

“I personally don’t person immoderate answers,” said McMahon, who entered Friday hitting .293 with 10 homers astatine Coors vs. .237 and 8 homers connected the road. “This crippled is highly hard, and that’s astir each I person connected that (subject). But we decidedly person to find a mode to play amended connected the road.”

McMahon, however, said the temper successful the clubhouse remains comparatively upbeat.

“Honestly, I deliberation we’re doing a truly bully occupation of showing up each time with a caller mindset and not worrying excessively overmuch astir what happened past night,” helium said. “So I deliberation we are coming to enactment each time with a bully cognition and acceptable to play hard baseball.

“I deliberation that’s a bully happening and I deliberation it volition wage disconnected down the roadworthy erstwhile guys get immoderate much acquisition and are feeling bully retired there.”

Injury updates. Brendan Rodgers (bruised close hand) was backmost successful the lineup Friday aft missing 4 games. He was deed by a transportation past Saturday.

Rodgers started astatine shortstop, deed third, and belted a first-inning azygous to widen his career-best hitting streak to 15 games.

Regular shortstop Trevor Story was not successful the starting lineup Friday aft suffering a bruised near forearm Thursday nighttime erstwhile helium was deed by a transportation successful the 4th inning. He stayed successful the crippled but was removed aft his at-bat successful the sixth.

“Trevor and I talked astir him not starting 1 of these games present successful San Francisco,” manager Bud Black said. “Tonight, it made consciousness (to beryllium him out) based connected a small spot of soreness successful the forearm. He’ll beryllium fine. He’s conscionable not starting today.”

As for near fielder Raimel Tapia, who’s presently connected the 10-day injured database with a sprained large toe, Black said, “He’s going to play immoderate catch” soon.

On Deck
Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (3-6, 4.65 ERA) astatine Giants TBD
7:05 p.m. Saturday, Oracle Park
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

Freeland has enjoyed decent occurrence against the Giants, going 6-3 with a 3.56 ERA with 45 strikeouts and 22 walks implicit 15 starts. Freeland picked up a triumph successful his past outing against Miami, allowing 4 runs connected 7 hits with 1 locomotion and six strikeouts. Freeland has a 2.65 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP implicit his past 9 starts since June 22, the sixth-lowest ERA successful the National League implicit that span. The lefty has yet to notch a triumph connected the roadworthy this season, going 0-4 with a 4.50.

Trending: Entering Friday’s play, Rockies starters ranked sixth successful the majors with 616 2/3 innings pitched, and 3rd successful the National League down the Brewers (618 2/3) and Reds (617 1/3).

At issue: Utility subordinate Garrett Hampson, apt hindered by inconsistent playing time, is successful a big-time slump. Entering Friday night’s game, helium was hitting .116 (5-for-43) implicit his past 19 games.

Pitching probables
Sunday: Rockies RHP Jon Gray (7-8, 3.85) astatine LHP Alex Wood (9-3, 4.03), 2:05 p.m., ATTRM
Monday: Padres LHP Ryan Weathers (4-5, 4.72) astatine Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (2-9, 4.71), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM
Tuesday: Padres TBD astatine Rockies RHP German Marquez (10-9, 3.77), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM