Rodgers, Rockies 'keep fighting' in improbable late comeback win

DENVER -- Brendan Rodgers marveled Sunday afternoon about the ebbs and absolute rushes of time in this sport played (save for the pitch timer) without a clock.

It seemed like such a long day when he struck out to open the eighth inning. Yet, the eighth inning was still alive when Rodgers delivered the two-out, two-run double, giving the Rockies an improbable 9-8 victory over the Braves at Coors Field.

“Getting that second at-bat that inning definitely came upon me quick,” Rodgers said. “Seven runs in an inning. ... I know I drove in the last two, but it felt like five minutes in between at-bats.

“The previous at-bats, I think I was the last out of the fifth. I didn’t hit until the eighth, and I got two at-bats. That was a weird game, but we kept fighting.”

The National League East-contending Braves (61-56) came to Coors looking to homer out of a rough patch. Their 11-8 victory on Saturday ended a losing streak at six games. They hit four home runs Sunday, including two by Jorge Soler -- a three-run blast off Justin Lawrence and a solo shot off winning pitcher Josh Rogers in the eighth for an 8-2 lead.

But the Rockies (44-75) emerged with a series win, a 3-3 homestand, and, most importantly, a day when they showed themselves what’s possible as they try to find the path to winning ways. It’s a trail Rodgers, two days past his 28th birthday, would be OK with traveling with the Rockies a little longer. That depends on the offseason, though.

Rodgers’ name was the subject of trade speculation from the start of Spring Training. And for a good reason, coupled with Colorado's expected struggles, it was questioned if the club would be compelled to deal him by the July 30 Trade Deadline. But the clock struck with nothing having happened -- a happy development for Rodgers.

The Rockies control his contract for another season, and there could be levels of smoke and fire during the winter -- when general manager Bill Schmidt will be called upon to build a roster to win in 2025.

Jake Cave delivered a two-run homer off Braves reliever Luke Jackson with one out. After his homer, Jackson struck out Jacob Stallings for the second out.

But from there, the Rockies lashed six straight hits, including three run-scoring hits off Joe Jiménez -- singles by Charlie Blackmon (three hits) and Ryan McMahon and Rodgers’ winning double.

“I just saw something that said that’s the second time ever we’ve come back six runs or more in the eighth inning or later,” Rodgers said. “Baseball has been around for a long time, and so have the Rockies.”

The holes on the current roster suggest that there is a ways between now and a team that can bring back what they used to call “Coors Magic.” Can those be filled with healthy starting pitching, a continued influx of younger players and the fortification of a bullpen -- which got a scoreless ninth and an eighth save from rookie Victor Vodnik?

That will be known in time. But Cave, who has appeared in the postseason with the Twins and Phillies, believes things can happen uniquely at Coors.

“The big fly is always in the back of somebody’s mind,” Cave said. “It possibly could make or break a game. I’ve been on the defensive side. I’ve been on the offensive side, too.

“It’s cool when I hit that homer, but then everybody was chipping away.”

The run-up to Rodgers’ winner came in a hurry. Blackmon’s RBI was on an 0-1 pitch, Ezequiel Tovar singled on a 1-0 pitch and McMahon lashed his hit on the first pitch.

Rodgers won the game on Jiménez’s first pitch, but he found time to prepare his mind.

“Thankfully, I got an at-bat against him last night -- he struck me out,” Rodgers said. “The first four pitches he threw me last night were sliders and the heater was late. I had a feeling he was going to do the same thing, especially with runners in scoring position.”

“It was the same first-pitch slider he threw me last night. I felt I was a little bit jumpy, because he’s got good extension and throws 95-96. I got a back-up slider in the middle, took a nice-easy swing and found a gap.”