Stallings helps fuel Rockies' franchise-tying offensive outburst

DENVER -- Doing damage or keeping the peace, catcher Jacob Stallings was the Rockies’ man on Wednesday afternoon.

Stallings helped break open the Rockies’ record-tying 20-7 victory over the Red Sox on Wednesday with a three-run homer in the third inning as part of a four-RBI day.

The Rockies reached a record 20 runs for the fourth time in franchise history -- and the first since a win over the Giants on Sept. 18, 2006 -- and their 21 hits marked a season high.

Stallings also was the first cooler head to douse disaccord between Rockies pitcher Cal Quantrill (six innings, six hits, three runs, two earned) and the Red Sox’s Reese McGuire between the top and bottom of the fourth inning. Stallings also singled and doubled. The slow-moving Stallings has a Triple-A cycle to his credit, but no danger in the 93-degree daytime heat, complete with smoke from faraway wildfires.

“I've already got my one cycle for my life,” Stallings said. “I’m not gonna get another one. My double [in the second off center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela’s glove] wasn’t even a hit there for a little while.”

Add in his throw to prevent David Hamilton from stealing second, and end the top of the third, and Stallings touched many corners of the box score.

Stallings also received a good bruise, when he was hit on the left arm by Sox lefty reliever Brennan Bernardino in the bottom of the seventh.

The Rockies used plenty of power to win the decider of a three-game series. Ezequiel Tovar led off the first with a homer, Ryan McMahon ended an 83 at-bat drought with a two-run shot in the fourth, and Brenton Doyle parked his first career grand slam in the sixth during a five-RBI performance. Tovar and Doyle, rookies last season who have grown, lead the team with 17 home runs apiece.

The Rockies have begun the second half with series wins over the Giants and the Red Sox.

Stallings, 34, continued a quiet leadership mantle he has undertaken since signing a one-year, $2 million contract with a mutual 2025 option.

Stallings’ .272 batting average with five home runs and 24 RBIs stems from two areas of improvement: eye tracking, with a consultant noticing and correcting some issues, and a slight change in his setup. With the Marlins last season, Stallings received advice from then-teammate and two-time National League batting champ Luis Arraez (now with the Dodgers).

“I tried to really lower my right elbow in my load,” Stallings said. “I used to have a really high elbow and created length and inconsistency in my swing.

“Being around Luis Arraez last year, talking with him, helped clear up what I needed to do in the offseason.”

By signing with the Rockies, Stallings reunited with Elias Díaz, a catching partner earlier in their careers with the Pirates.

Stallings won a Gold Glove Award with the Pirates in 2021 before spending the next two seasons with typically solid defense but less-than-ideal offense with the Marlins. Díaz never found solid footing with the Pirates, but he joined the Rockies in '20 and was an All-Star last season.

It has worked out fine, with Díaz (active but battling calf injuries) able to serve as designated hitter when not catching and Stallings playing regularly.

“There's still a long way to go, but I feel good,” Stallings said. “I’m really thankful to the players and coaches here. Even when I got here in the spring, everybody made me feel confident and believe in some of the adjustments that I made in the offseason.

“Little comments from your peers here and there go a long way.”

But with the Trade Dealing approaching next Tuesday, they may be parted again.

Going rumor mill wisdom has a contending team snapping up Díaz, which would mean Stallings could continue playing regularly. Rookie Hunter Goodman is serving as backup catcher. He can play first base or the corner outfield, but the Rockies have had to keep him on the bench because of Díaz’s nagging injuries.

If Díaz -- in his contract year -- is dealt, Goodman could play some catcher, plus return to his other duties if the Rockies bring up a catcher from Triple-A Albuquerque -- either 2020 35th overall pick Drew Romo or '21 Futures Game participant Willie MacIver.

But if teams back off on Díaz, could Stallings find himself with a contending club?

“I don't really like the Deadline to be honest,” Stallings said. “I think it should be an off-day, league-wide. It's a hard day to play.

“There’s rumors a lot of times about guys getting traded and nothing happens. The one time I got traded, I heard nothing until I got traded [from the Pirates to the Marlins on Nov. 29, 2021,] and found out on Twitter.”