When Nolan Arenado was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals before the 2021 season, the big name the Colorado Rockies got in return was left-handed pitcher Austin Gomber.
The Rockies also got prospects in the deal, and one of them is showing his stuff. Rookie Elehuris Montero came to Colorado in the trade and made his major league debut May 1 of this year.
He has been productive in his first season in the majors — a .247 batting average with three homers and 12 RBIs in 28 games — and has been a catalyst in some of the Rockies’ wins.
He hit two home runs and drove in five runs Friday night in a 7-4 victory over the visiting San Francisco Giants in the first game of a three-game series between the teams in Denver.
Game 3 will be Sunday afternoon. Colorado took the second game 4-3 in 10 innings on Saturday night to extend San Francisco’s losing streak to four games.
In the series finale, the Giants will send right-hander Jakob Junis (4-3, 3.53 ERA) to the mound against lefty Kyle Freeland (7-8, 4.82).
Freeland is slated to make his 19th career start against the Giants. He is 7-4 with a 3.98 ERA against them, his lowest ERA against any NL West opponent.
Meanwhile, the Rockies are impressed with the early results on Montero.
“We’re watching every pitch that goes across the plate when he’s hitting, and there’s a poise to him,” manager Bud Black said. “He’s confident in his ability to hit. That hasn’t wavered.”
Montero has bounced between Colorado and Triple-A this year. Black has stuck with him through struggles, and Montero said he feels like he is going to show what he can do.
“I feel comfortable at the plate,” he said through an interpreter. “I’m getting some at-bats, and I feel confident.”
Junis will try to get San Francisco back on track after four straight losses followed five straight wins.
Junis has only one start against Colorado and didn’t factor into the decision in that game. He allowed just one run in 5 1/3 innings and has a 1.69 ERA against the Rockies.
Junis struck out seven when he faced the Diamondbacks on Tuesday but didn’t get a decision.
Sunday will be his first start at Coors Field, and for a pitcher who relies on his breaking ball, it might be tougher to use his best pitches at high altitude.
However, Giants manager Gabe Kapler said he isn’t worried.
“I think it will affect Jake like it does all of our other pitchers,” he said. “Junis relies on horizontal and vertical movement to his slider.”
Pitching hasn’t been the only problem for the Giants during their losing streak. The offense has just nine runs in four games and hasn’t put up more than four runs since beating Arizona 6-1 on Monday.
–Field Level Media