Despite late drama, Bird records first career save in win

DENVER -- Rockies reliever Jake Bird had the answer that mattered on Monday night.

The Rockies took a three-run lead over the Diamondbacks into the ninth and gave Nick Mears the opportunity for his first Major League save. But one run, two outs, three walks and loaded bases later, it was time for Bird.

On his second pitch, Bird got Eugenio Suárez to fly out to uncomfortably deep right field. The Rockies had a 7-5 victory at Coors Field, and Bird had his first Major League save.

But when Bird, who has several baseballs from big moments in a Major League career that began in 2022, was asked where the ball was, he looked into his locker and said, “Hmm. I don’t know.”

Maybe others were collaborating to track down the keepsake for Bird. That’s how the Rockies’ bullpen suddenly finds itself operating in early 2024. Somebody, anybody, even everybody could receive an important task -- even if it wasn’t in their job description as the season began.

“As a bullpen, we’ve got to pick each other up,” Bird said. “When there’s trouble, you’re just staying ready, no matter what. I was staying on my feet just in case he [Mears] needed help getting out of there.”

In the three-game series against the Rays to open the home schedule, the Rockies blew a four-run ninth-inning lead only to win on Ryan McMahon’s walk-off grand slam. Colorado threw away a five-run lead in the second game but wasn't able to recover.

The Rockies believe they have the makings of a solid bullpen, a unit composed mostly of relievers who have been introduced to the Majors over the last three seasons. But without Daniel Bard, who is rehabbing knee and forearm injuries, there is little ninth-inning experience. Mears would have closed on Sunday, but the Rockies lost, 3-2.

On Monday, Mears got his chance, entering the game having held opposing hitters to two hits across 4 2/3 innings on the season. After Charlie Blackmon’s solo homer in the bottom of the eighth made it 7-4, Mears had a comfortable lead to work with.

“Mears, with a three-run lead, he’s been throwing well, we felt good about it,” Black said.

Mears had some misfortune. The right-hander began his night by walking Jace Peterson and Kevin Newman. He retired Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll, but with two down, shortstop Ezequiel Tovar had no play as he backhanded Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s soft grounder, allowing a run to score. Mears then walked Christian Walker, although there was a check-swing during the at-bat that the Rockies thought should have been a strike.

But the walk loaded the bases and threatened all the good the Rockies had done:

• Blackmon helped the Rockies eliminate some dubious history in the bottom of the first, tripling off Zac Gallen and scoring on a single for a 1-0 lead, ending a club-record 16-game streak (dating to last September) in which the opponent scored first.

• The Rockies absorbed 10 Gallen strikeouts in five innings, but managed three runs. Following Gallen’s departure, they sent nine men to the plate in the sixth against relievers Scott McGeough and Joe Mantiply. McMahon, whose error led to two unearned runs in the Diamondbacks’ four-run fourth, drove in the go-ahead run on a bases-loaded infield single.

• Starting pitcher Kyle Freeland had given up 17 earned runs and 19 hits across 5 2/3 innings in his first two starts, including 10 runs and 10 hits in 2 1/3 innings at Arizona on Opening Night. On Monday, Freeland was solid for five innings, allowing four runs but only two earned on six hits.

After six batters, 31 pitches, two outs (including a strikeout of Ketel Marte), three walks, one hit and one run with Mears on the mound, Bird was called upon to prevent another bullpen collapse.

“Jake came in very aware of the situation … he looked calm,” Black said. “I said, ‘Go get him with your best stuff.’”

Suárez’s drive of Bird’s second pitch took defensive-purposes right fielder Jake Cave to the edge of the warning track.

“When I pitch, there’s not too many balls hit in the air,” Bird said. “So I felt pretty good about it.”

Having made sure the Rockies didn’t lose the lead, Bird was fine with the fact no one could immediately find the baseball for his keeping.