MEDIA CLIPS – July 26th, 2018 Blackmon walks it off as Rox hold Astros to 1 hit By Thomas Harding and Anne Rogers MLB.com Jul. 25th, 2018 DENVER -- Standout starting pitching works for the Rockies, eventually -- even when the opponent is the defending World Series champions. And Charlie Blackmon made sure. Jon Gray held the Astros to one hit in seven innings, but had to wait along with the Coors Field crowd of 40,948, until Blackmon's walkoff homer off Collin McHugh with one out in the bottom of the ninth gave the Rockies a 3-2 victory on Wednesday night. It was Blackmon whose 10th-inning error on Tuesday night, his first of the season, opened the door for a six-run rally and an 8-2 Astros victory. This time, Blackmon's 20th homer of the season -- and first career walk-off blast -- pulled the Rockies to 1 1/2 games behind the National League West-leading Dodgers and one game behind the second-place D- backs.. 25th, 2018 "That's the beauty of baseball," Blackmon said. "You can stink, which is OK. As long as you don't stink the next time and the next time. That's what makes baseball great. It's a long season, and we have a chance." The Rockies had lost their previous two games, but have won 16 of their last 21. The two-game split with the Astros, who lead the American League West, came after five straight series wins over teams above .500.25th, 2018 In his second straight standout start since a brief demotion to Triple-A Albuquerque, Gray struck out six and walked two. The only run off him came on the only hit -- Jose Altuve's RBI double during a fourth inning in which the Rockies committed two errors. 1 "They definitely have a lot of dangerous hitters in there," Gray said. "I knew with this team, I just tried to be as down as much as I could and be unpredictable, use variance. We used the curveball a lot tonight, and it was a really good tool to get them off the fastball." Gray's gem followed Tyler Anderson's 7 1/3-inning, two-run effort on Tuesday. Gray and Anderson allowed a total of two runs on four hits against the Astros, posting a combined 1.25 ERA over the two games. "We thought this was going to be a good test for us, going up against a good team, but on the other hand, talking to [Astros manager] AJ [Hinch], they know our talent, too," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "They know our level. It was good to see Tyler and Jon respond against two All-Star pitchers in [Gerrit] Cole and [Charlie] Morton. It was good to see our bullpen in the back end do their job.. Carlos Gonzalez's 12th homer, a leadoff blast in the second, was the only run off Morton, who gave up four hits and fanned five in six innings. The Rockies tied it on a crazy play. With the bases loaded in the seventh, Astros third baseman J.D. Daviscaught Nolan Arenado's popup in the Astros' dugout. Raimel Tapia tagged up at third, then made it home as Davis threw to the plate.. 25th, 2018 On Tuesday, Tapia fouled off two bunts before striking out, and on Wednesday, he bunted into a fielder's choice to get Tom Murphy out at second. But his heads-up, game-tying play might have made up for the recent mishaps. "I missed a bunt yesterday," Tapia said through an interpreter. "Today, I tried to bunt for a hit, and it didn't work out. But I was at first base and I said, 'Now that I'm at first base with one out, I need to go out there and make a big play to help the team out -- some way, somehow -- to help the team out." Wade Davis (1-3), who allowed five runs in the 10th and took the loss on Tuesday, struck out a pair in a hitless ninth to earn the win., 2018 SOUND SMART This was the third time in franchise history that the Rockies held their opponent to one hit. All three times have been Interleague games. They limited the A's to one hit on June 20, 2006, then the White Sox on July 9, 2017. 2 YOU GOTTA SEE THIS George Springer scowled as he took off his batting helmet to end the top of the fifth. No, he wasn't mad at the umpire for calling him out. He was mad -- stunned even -- that Rockies shortstop Trevor Story robbed him of a hit. With his speed and signature spin move, Story grabbed the ball behind second base and launched it to first before Springer could get there. As for Story's response to Springer's scowl? All he could do was flash a grin and shrug.. 25th, 2018 MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY Tapia's dash home wasn't the only crazy play. In the top of the sixth, Alex Bregman hit a long ball to the left-field fence. Gerardo Parra made it to the wall, but a fan -- wearing Astros gear -- tipped the ball enough that Parra couldn't catch it. Rockies manager Bud Black challenged the call, and it was overturned. Bregman, who originally appeared to have a triple, was called out on fan interference. More >, 2018 UP NEXT Left-hander Kyle Freeland (8-6, 3.28 ERA) will face the A's and lefty Sean Manaea (9-6, 3.38) in the opener of a three- game series at Coors Field on Friday at 6:40 p.m. MT. Freeland is 5-2 with a 2.76 ERA in eight home starts this year. 3 Rockies close deal for Jays reliever Oh By Thomas Harding MLB.com @harding_at_mlb 8:56 AM MDT DENVER -- The Rockies completed a deal with the Blue Jays on Thursday to acquire right-hander Seunghwan Oh to bolster their bullpen for a pair of prospects who were ranked on the organization's Top 30 Prospects list. Both teams have officially announced the deal. The Rockies sent outfielder Forrest Wall, a first-round pick in the 2014 MLB Draft and their No. 13 prospect; first baseman Chad Spanberger, a sixth-round Draft pick in '17 and the No. 24 prospect, and a player to be named or cash to Toronto. Oh, 36, pitched in Korea and Japan before joining the Cardinals in 2016. Entering Tuesday, he ranked fifth in the American League with 48 appearances this season. Oh is 4-3 with a 2.68 ERA, two saves, 55 strikeouts and 10 walks in 47 innings. Oh went 7-9 with a 2.85 ERA with the Cardinals from 2016-17. He is making $1.75 million this season and has a $2.5 million club option for 2019 that can automatically vest if he reaches 70 appearances. Additionally, Oh's contract is under club control through 2021. Colorado's bullpen has shown improvement after struggling for much of June. From June 26 to Tuesday's 8-2, 10-inning loss to the Astros, the relief staff has had a 4.10 ERA -- but in the 15 wins during that period its ERA was 2.66. However, the Rockies needed to beef up the group. They've relied heavily on righty setup men Scott Oberg and Adam Ottavino, as well as closer Wade Davis. While righty Bryan Shaw, who struggled early, has shown improvement since returning from a right calf strain, the Rockies still needed depth. Also, the left side of the 'pen has struggled. Jake McGee and Chris Rusin have lacked consistency, and Rusin went to the 10-day disabled list Tuesday with right foot plantar fasciitis. Oh's closing experience is impressive -- he had 19 saves in 2016 and 20 in '17 with the Cardinals. This season, Oh's slash line has been far more impressive against right-handed batters (.168/.190/.269) than lefties (.315/.413/.537). His career numbers are just as strong against righties (208/.242/.316), but not as lopsided against lefties (.257/.328/.415) 4 Wall, 22, who was drafted out of Orangewood Christian High School in Maitland, Fla., was selected as an infielder, but has transitioned to the outfield. He was hitting a combined .260 with nine homers and 31 RBIs with 28 stolen bases in 39 attempts for Class A Lancaster and Double-A Hartford. Picked as an infielder who had suffered a shoulder injury in high school, Wall moved to the outfield as the Rockies attempted to take advantage of his speed. Spanberger, who is also 22, was drafted out of the University of Arkansas. He was hitting .316 with 22 home runs and 75 RBIs for Class A Asheville. Last year, he hit .294 with 19 home runs in 60 games at Rookie-level Grand Junction. Earlier reports had first baseman Sean Bouchard, also playing first base at Asheville, in the deal. But Bouchard participated -- and hit a home run -- in the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday night, which was a clear indication he wasn't in the trade. Players who are dealt are usually removed from their game for fear of an injury scuttling all the negotiations. 5 Fan interference costs Astros at Coors Field By Thomas Harding and Brian McTaggart MLB.com 12:09 AM MDT DENVER -- For a second Wednesday night, Rockies left fielder Gerardo Parra thought his eyes or his mind had deceived him.