Rockies squander Gomber's 'efficient' outing in Mexico City finale

MEXICO CITY -- If a pitcher has a long track record or is at the beginning of what looks to be a big season, Rockies left-hander Austin Gomber will end up facing him. More often than not, Gomber will pitch well.

But on Sunday afternoon against the Astros’ Framber Valdez, as was the case in his previous two starts, Gomber had little run support and little chance.

Gomber went seven innings, the longest outing for any Rockies starter this season, but took the loss as the Astros swept the Mexico City Series with an 8-2 decision at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú.

Gomber was the opponent in Philadelphia when Ranger Suárez shut out Colorado, 5-0, on April 16, and pitched at Coors Field on April 22 when Padres right-hander Dylan Cease fashioned a 3-1 victory.

This time, Valdez, fresh off the injured list after being scratched on April 8 due to left elbow soreness, struck out six and gave up two runs on five hits in his five innings.

In all three of those aforementioned games, Gomber accounted for himself well.

“We talked about it after the Philly and San Diego outings -- those guys are really good pitchers and they threw really well those nights,” Gomber said. “And Framber is as good as anybody in the league, especially from the left side. We knew it was going to be tough.

“If we want to figure out how to take that next step as a team, we're going to have to figure out how to beat those guys. We’re going to have to find a year to put both ends together -- pitch well and hit at the same time. We’ve been untimely, but we’re going to keep grinding.”

Gomber was solid in holding the Astros to six hits against no walks and two strikeouts. But three hits were home runs, and Gomber left trailing, 4-2.

Results-wise, it was the type of start Gomber has been used to at Coors Field. But the 7,350-foot elevation at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú is more than 2,000 feet higher than his home ballpark in Denver.

“It was different,” Gomber said. “You notice the difference. I was getting more winded, out of breath. The balls felt different.

“I am used to pitching at Coors now. I don’t notice a huge difference, there or on the road, but this is definitely different.”

But while the Astros were celebrating Kyle Tucker’s homer in the first and solo shots from Jose Altuve in the third and Jeremy Pe?a in the fourth, the Rockies couldn’t lift a ball over the wall.

The Rockies’ support for Gomber consisted of a two-run second with Sean Bouchard’s RBI single and Jacob Stallings’ sacrifice fly.

“Gomber went seven innings, was very efficient,” manager Bud Black said. “When he left it was [a 4-2 deficit] in a park that you can score some runs in. We just didn’t hit.”

It is difficult for a pitcher to make a dent, given the Rockies’ penchant for falling behind. When Tucker homered, it meant that Colorado had trailed at some point in all 28 games this year -- matching the 1910 St. Louis Browns’ record to start a season (since 1900).

One of the hitters the Rockies are trying to get going, outfielder Nolan Jones, whose double was part of the second-inning rally, left in the seventh with back tightness. It was the second time in less than a week he could not finish a contest, so the club is discussing whether to place him on the 10-day injured list.

Since the middle of last season, Gomber has given the Rockies workmanlike consistency, only without the results to match.

In his past 18 starts from last June 25 through Sunday, Gomber is 5-4 with a 3.91 ERA, 59 strikeouts and 26 walks.

“I’ve learned what my routine is, what works for me, how I go about my business -- becoming a pro," he said. I’m comfortable in what I do, how I do it, how I get outs. When I was younger, I would try to do too much, but I’ve discovered how I’m going to be successful and I don’t deviate.”