Rox blank Cards to end longest span between shutouts in Modern Era

DENVER -- The receiving end of the last two Trade Deadlines paid off for the Rockies in the last two games.

On Wednesday, Tanner Gordon -- part of the package from the postseason-bound Braves for reliever Pierce Johnson in 2023 -- pitched around four hits and three walks but held the Cardinals scoreless for six innings of a 6-0 victory at Coors Field.

The performance came a day after Bradley Blalock, who arrived in a deal last year that sent reliever Nick Mears to the Brewers, pitched around eight hits in 5 1/3 innings and held the Cardinals to two runs in the Rockies’ 8-4 victory.

However, the performance by Gordon -- called up from Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday because Germán Márquez was placed on the 15-day injured list with right biceps tendinitis -- spearheaded club history. Or, at least, it put some club history in the past.

It was not only the first shutout of the season for the 26-76 Rockies, but Colorado ended a span of 220 consecutive games without a shutout, a record in the Modern Era. Its last shutout was May 15, 2024, an 8-0 win at San Diego. It is the third-longest streak all-time, behind only the 1893-96 Washington Senators (383) and the 1897-99 St. Louis Browns/Perfectos (298), according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

“I did not know that,” Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. “That’s a long time -- 220 games. I’m glad we shut them out today behind Gordon.”

Another futility milestone fell. The Rockies emerged from the homestand having taken two of three from the Twins and the Cardinals to win consecutive series for the first time in 2025.

With another Trade Deadline approaching on July 31, the Rockies again will be hoping to score big. They have a better chance this year.

The last two years, the Rockies didn’t have the same level of bargaining power that they do this year. Third baseman Ryan McMahon went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in -- what indications are -- his potential last home game with the Rockies. The club travels to Baltimore starting Friday and Cleveland on Monday in the team’s final road trip before the Deadline.

General manager Bill Schmidt has devoted his Deadline activity to building pitching depth. Gordon and Blalock are considered starting depth at the least -- possibly more if they take advantage of opportunities the way they have the last two games.

“I’m huge fans of both of those guys -- they compete really, really well,” Rockies pitching coach Darryl Scott said. “They both have a great mentality out there. They execute pitches and go about their work.”

Gordon (2-2 in four Major League starts this year) struck out 10 in his last Triple-A start at Round Rock, then waited 13 days (through the All-Star break) before being called up. He demonstrated the ability to mix pitches necessary for success at this level. His changeup, his best pitch, set up the putaway strategy.

It started in the first, when he walked two -- “It was just a little bit of adrenaline,” he explained. Then he beat Willson Contreras on a fastball for a strikeout and worked a grounder from Nolan Arenado on a slider.

His slider was also responsible for a double-play grounder from Jordan Walker in the second and a weak pop from Yohel Pozo after Walker’s two-out double in the fourth. Contreras doubled when his liner ticked off the glove of diving left fielder Jordan Beck with one out in the sixth, but Gordon’s slider forced a grounder from Arenado, and he got the same result against Masyn Winn on a fastball to end the frame.

“Both the [changeup and slider], I think the way I sell them make them good,” Gordon said. “I’ve got to throw them just like my fastball and keep the same arm speed.”

Schmidt is working through talks with other clubs. The Yankees, Mariners, Phillies and Cubs -- all with a need at third base, either for this year or the long term -- were among the teams to scout the homestand. Various Major League sources say veteran reliever Jake Bird, second-year reliever Victor Vodnik and rookie relievers Seth Halvorsen and Juan Mejia have drawn scouting eyes.

Two-time Gold Glove-winning center fielder Brenton Doyle and outfielder Mickey Moniak, a Schmidt pickup just before Opening Day who is having a career year, also are players other clubs are watching should the Rockies make them available.

With the Rockies trying to build their way out of 100-plus loss seasons in 2023 and 2024 and history-threatening struggles this year, most of what they’ll receive will be help for the future. It’s nice for them to begin getting returns on past trades.

“Definitely, when I got traded, it almost felt like a fresh start -- new faces, new environment,” Gordon said. “I think it’s what I needed, almost -- my second wind to my career.”