The 2025 Rockies have no margin for error. Or errors.
The Nationals edged Colorado, 3-2, in the first game of Sunday’s split doubleheader at Coors Field. Two critical throwing errors by rookie catcher Braxton Fulford in the second inning turned out to be the difference.
“Braxton has one of our strongest arms, and he’s probably our best thrower (among catchers) in the organization,” manager Bud Black said. “I’m not in his body, but younger players put a lot of pressure on themselves. And we are seeing it firsthand with a lot of our young guys. … That might have something to do with it.”
The errors took some of the shine off the day for Fulford and for rookie right fielder Zac Veen, both of whom hit the first home runs of their careers. Fulford and Veen became the second pair of teammates in franchise history to hit their first major league home run in the same game, joining Edgard Clemente and Curtis Leskanic on June 9, 1999, vs. Seattle.
The Rockies have lost eight straight games and have opened the season with a 3-17 record. The Rockies had not lost eight consecutive games since June 14-21, 2023.
The Rockies had a chance to tie the game in the ninth with Ryan McMahon on third, but Nick Martini grounded out to end the game.
Veen led off the third with a 412-foot blast to right field off Washington’s Jake Irvin. Fulford led off the sixth with a 433-foot monster shot to left off Irvin, for the first hit of his career.
But those two homers were the extent of Colorado’s scoring. Irwin limited Colorado to three hits, struck out nine and walked none.
Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland pitched only two innings, forced from the game by a finger blister on the middle finger of his left hand. Finger blisters have plagued Freeland from time to time throughout his career.
“For the most part, it’s manageable,” Black said. “But I know that this week it was a little tenous. Unfortunately, today, the blood blister formed and it was starting to get a little raw. I felt that if he kept going, it would compromise the ensuing start.”
Freeland was charged with three runs, but only one of the runs was earned. He walked on and struck out two.
The second inning was a disaster, but not of Freeland’s making. The two throwing errors by Fulford led to all three Washington runs. Dyan Crews stole third base and jogged home when Fulford threw the ball into left field.
The Nationals then loaded the bases when Freeland walked Jacob Young and Trey Lipscomb reached on an infield single. It looked like Freeland would escape the inning with minimal damage when Nasim Nunez chopped the ball back to Freeland, who threw to home for the force out, only to see Fulford blow the tailormade double play by sailing the ball over the head of first baseman Michael Toglia, allowing two runs to score.
Fulford had a third error in the ninth when his throw sailed into center field, and Jacob Young stole second base. Young advanced to third but was stranded as Rockies reliever Seth Halvorsen shut down the inning.
The second game of the doubleheader is scheduled for 6:10 p.m.
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