The second-place Houston Astros of the AL West and last-place Colorado Rockies of the NL West met on Tuesday and Wednesday for a quick two-game series in Denver.

It is the first time these interleague western squads have matched up since 2021, so let’s take a look at how the Rockies were able to hold off a respectable Astros lineup one day, but could not buy a hit the next.

Game One:

The Rockies put pitching responsibilities in the arms of their bullpen and RP Jake Bird was given the start. Bird started the night by with a leadoff hit-by-pitch on Astros 2B Mauricio Dubon. Four pitches later, 3B Alex Bregman put Houston on the board first with an RBI double. After getting to two outs in the top of the first, Bird would go on to give up back-to-back two-out RBI hits to LF Chas McCormick and C Yainer Díaz.

Heading into the bottom of the first inning already down 0-3, the Rockies lineup came ready to play against the reigning World Champions who placed SP Hunter Brown on the mound. After, LF Jurickson Profar started things off for the Rockies with a single, DH Kris Bryant hit a two-run home run to quickly trim the Astros’ lead to one run. Then, to go back-to-back in home runs, Rockies 3B Ryan McMahon sent a moonshot over the wall for 461 ft. 

The Rockies scored their winning run, which would be the last by either team, in the fourth inning. 1B C.J. Cron took first base after being hit by a pitch, which then brought up rookie SS Ezequiel Tovar to drive in Cron with a go-ahead RBI triple. The Astros were held scoreless after their three-run first inning thanks to six arms from the Colorado bullpen: Doyle, Abad, Hollowell, Johnson, Bard, and Lawrence. The win was earned by Fernando Abad, his first major league win in six years.

Game Two:

The second and last game of this quick series looked more like a turn-around game for Houston than it did a tough loss for Colorado. The Rockies sent SP Austin Gomber to the mound to start things off and after two scoreless innings, he gave up an RBI single in the third inning to put Houston on the board first. The Astros would take this early lead and never look back. 

The Rockies were held completely in check for most of the game. This is a result of the phenomenal pitching displayed by Astros SP Brandon Bielak, who only gave up one hit through 5.2 innings, and the flashy infield defense of both Houston SS Jeremy Peña and C Martin Maldonado. The Rockies’ only run of the game would come in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a 444 ft. home run from Cron. 

The Astros scored their last three winning runs in the sixth inning. Their eventful inning began with an RBI single from José Abreu and was followed by a two-run home run by McCormick. Bielak picked up the pitching win for the Astros and the Rockies were outhit by Houston 8-2.

After going 1-2 against a respectable opponent, the Rockies now have three games on the road against the Miami Marlins. Colorado is looking at a last-place finish in the NL West for the second year in a row and will at least be looking to stay better than 20 games behind. However, Miami is eagerly looking to get ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East for a Wild Card opportunity.