Gomber Ks career-high 9, Rockies beat Marlins 7-4

DENVER -- — Austin Gomber rebounded from his shortest start of the season to strike out a career-high nine, pitching the Colorado Rockies to a 7-4 win over the Miami Marlins on Saturday night.

The Rockies used five home runs to win 14-2 Friday night but didn’t leave the yard Saturday. They had four doubles, one by Brendan Rodgers that extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

Rodgers left in the sixth after he was hit on the right hand by a pitch from reliever Zach Pop. The team announced he had a bruised right hand and is day-to-day.

“He got hit just off the palm. Bruised, no fracture, no breaks,” manager Bud Black said. “They did an X-ray here at the ballpark and he’ll be fine.”

Gomber (9-6) threw 40 pitches in one inning Sunday at San Diego but looked strong over six innings against Miami. He allowed five hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out the last four he faced.

“It’s always good to bounce back,” Gomber said. “Obviously I threw the ball a lot better, had all four (pitches) working at times and when I have that it’s usually going to be a good day for me.”

Connor Joe drove in a career-high four runs with a sacrifice fly in the second, an RBI double in the fourth and a two-run single in the fifth. C.J. Cron, who hit two homers Friday night, had a two-run double in the fourth.

Colorado got all its runs off starter Jesús Luzardo (3-5). The Rockies scored three in the fourth and three more in the fifth to build a 7-0 lead.

“There were a lot of soft-contact hits. It’s going to happen,” Miami acting manager James Rowson said. “It’s like when a hitter hits the ball really hard and doesn’t have anything to show for it. You know they’re doing the right things. A pretty good outing with a tough ending.”

Lewis Brinson, who had three hits, doubled and scored for the Marlins. Brian Anderson had a two-run single and Jorge Alfaro added an RBI double in Miami’s four-run seventh.

”(Rowson) was preaching to us in the dugout, ‘Game’s not over yet. It’s only 7-0, especially in this ballpark.’ We didn’t give up. Came up a little short, but definitely proud of the guys,” Brinson said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: RHP Pablo Lopez (rotator cuff strain) threw his first bullpen since going on the 10-day injured list July 17, retroactive to July 14.

Rockies: Pitching coach Steve Foster was away from the team due to an illness that is not COVID-19 related. Black said Foster was feeling ill before Friday’s game and was sent home. He tested negative for the virus. “He’s got the flu — Type A — but he’s feeling better,” Black said. “It was a little rough yesterday. I think he’s got the old-fashioned flu and hopefully be back in a few days.”

SMOKY MOUNTAINS

The air quality in Denver was poor due to the fires in the West. A haze covered the area and obscured the view of the Rocky Mountains.

“I’m happy we got out there at batting practice to experience it,” Joe said. “Thankfully by game time it got a little better.”

VERSATILE FIELDER

Marlins catcher Jorge Alfaro showed he can play left field as well as call a game behind the plate. In the seventh inning, Alfaro ran down Elías Díaz’s double to the corner and fired a throw to Anderson at third. His relay to catcher Alex Jackson cut down Cron trying to score from first.

“That’s about as good a throw coming in, and Andy makes another great throw,” Rowson said. “You talk about two great throws — Jack makes a great tag – couldn’t have drawn it up better.”

TWICE THE WEIGHT

Miami minor leaguer Eddy Alvarez earned a silver medal with the U.S. baseball team at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday, entering rarefied air.

Alvarez also won silver in the short track speed skating 5,000 meter relay at the 2014 Winter Games and became just the six athlete to win a medal at the Summer and Winter Games. He is the third U.S. athlete to do it.

“It’s not too often that you can be that good in two different types of sports and help the country to a medal in those sports,” Rowson said. “Really happy for him and his family.”

UP NEXT

LHP Kyle Freeland (2-6, 4.46 ERA) starts Sunday for the Rockies despite leaving his last outing after being hit on the foot with a line drive. X-rays were negative and he has felt good enough to keep his turn in the rotation. The Marlins had not announced a starter.

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