Blue Jays Beat Rockies 14-9 After Nearly 3-Hour Hailstorm Delay In Denver

Troy Tulowitzki began a six-run fourth inning rally with a home run in his former home, and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Colorado Rockies 14-9 at Coors Field in Denver Tuesday night following a 2-hour, 41-minute pregame delay for hail, rain and lightning.

Blue Jays Beat Rockies 14-9 After Nearly 3-Hour Hailstorm Delay In Denver

Colorado starting right-hander Eddie Butler left after just 3 1/3 innings, throwing 86 pitches to 19 batters. Tulowitzki led off the fourth with his first homer at Coors Field– where he played for nearly 10 seasons– since July 20. Russell Martin then doubled, Ezequiel Carrera and Devon Travis singled, and Josh Donaldson hit a bases-clearing triple for the Blue Jays. Toronto added three more in the sixth on Martin’s RBI single and Kevin Pillar’s two-run double off reliever Yohan Flande. 

“We can strike quick,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “They have a [heck] of an offense … and they’re a tough team to face, but that’s what we do in the American League, if you don’t have an offense you have zero chance.”

The Blue Jays lost the previous night’s game, the opener of the three-game series against the Rockies at Coors Field, 9-5. They also fell to the White Sox 5-2 in Chicago on Sunday. Monday’s victory marked the Blue Jays’ first in franchise history at Coors Field.

Carlos Gonzalez’s three-run homer off Toronto starting left-hander J.A. Happ gave the Rockies an early lead on Monday before the Blue Jay’s explosive fourth inning. Happ allowed five runs over five innings, thus earning his 10th victory of the season and extending his streak to four straight wins.

Colorado nearly tied the game in the seventh against Joe Biagini. Gonzalez drove in Nolan Arenado on a single to right field and scored on an error from first baseman Edwin Encarnacion. Charlie Blackmon drove in two more on a bases-loaded single off Jason Grilli. 

Toronto’s 14 runs were the second-most the Rockies have allowed this season, behind the 16 runs allowed to the San Diego Padres on April 9.

“They’re as good as advertised,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. “It’s a potent lineup, and when they get rolling, you see what happens.”

Butler had a fine start in the first three frames, but it all came crumbling down in the fourth. After Tulowitzki’s leadoff home run and Martin’s double, Happ dropped a bunt in front of Butler. Rather than take the out at first, Butler threw the ball to second base, but the ball tailed into center field. Butler’s error could cost him his place in the Rockies’ rotation, which could change soon due to several pitchers being close to returning from the disabled list.

“I just didn’t get squared up or something and I just slung it arm-side,” Butler said. “I kind of blew that chance to at least get an out, or get out of the inning with less damage.”

Two players who weren’t supposed to play for the Rockies– second baseman DJ LeMahieu and left fielder Ryan Raburn — took the field late in the game. LeMahieu is recovering from a left knee contusion and said before the game that he expected to be ready Wednesday. Weiss, wanting to preserve LeMahieu’s knee, removed him in the ninth for Raburn, who manned first base as Mark Reynolds shifted to second. Raburn was scratched before the game because of illness, reportedly a stomach virus.

Another concern for Colorado was shortstop Trevor Story, who missed Monday’s game with a bruised right middle finger and returned Tuesday. Story went 0-for-4 and exited the game after tweaking the finger on a seventh-inning grounder. Backup catcher Tony Wolters finished the game at short.

The three-game series finale in Denver between the two teams is set for Wednesday afternoon. Right-hander Aaron Sanchez (7-1, 3.33 ERA) will start for the Blue Jays (42-37, 3rd in AL East) in what will be his first career appearance at Coors Field. Sanchez has surrendered three earned runs or fewer in all but three of his 15 starts this season.

Left-hander Tyler Anderson will take the mound for the Rockies (37-40, 3rd in NL West) for his fourth career start. His 2.35 ERA is the third-lowest among rookies with at least three career starts. He has not allowed more than two earned runs in any outing.

PHOTO: DENVER, CO – JUNE 28: Starting pitcher J.A. Happ # 33 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on June 28, 2016 in Denver, Colorado.The Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Colorado Rockies 14-9. (Photo by Bart Young/Getty Images)