The Colorado Rockies fell to 6-33 after a 21-0 loss to the San Diego Padres on Saturday night in Denver, matching the 1988 Baltimore Orioles’ worst 39-game start in the majors since 1900.
Fernando Tatis Jr. and Xander Bogaerts homered in the fifth inning, contributing to San Diego’s five-homer game, while Stephen Kolek (2-0) pitched a shutout in his second major league start. It was the Padres’ biggest shutout win in franchise history, and it tied for the third-largest shutout win in MLB since 1901.
The Rockies have lost eight straight games and are on track for their seventh consecutive losing season and a possible third straight 100-loss season under manager Bud Black.
Despite the struggles, Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt defended Black before Saturday night’s game, telling The Denver Post that he believes the season can still be salvaged.
“I think our guys are still playing hard, and that’s what I look at,” Schmidt told the Post. “Guys work hard every day, and they generally bring a lot of energy. I do not believe we are [at the point of firing Black]. Guys are still confident in what we’re doing and where we’re going. “We’re all frustrated.”
Colorado has lost its last four games by at least eight runs, and they are the first team to allow ten or more runs in four consecutive games since the Orioles in 2021.
Schmidt said he expects “growth” as the season progresses.
“I feel for the fans, I feel for the people around here,” he went on. “I know we are better than we have previously played, but we are not good right now. We must persevere and emerge victorious.
“There are still plenty of games left. I believe we can turn things around, but it will require the efforts of the entire group. “The guys are working to improve.”
