Rockies hit 3 home runs, Lambert pitches 7 strong innings as Rockies beat White Sox 13-1
DENVER (AP) — Ezequiel Tovar, Elias Díaz and Ryan McMahon all homered, Peter Lambert pitched seven strong innings, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Chicago White Sox 14-1 Friday night.
The Rockies finished with a season-high scoring total after coming in having lost seven of their past eight games and 15 of 21.
Tovar and Díaz each hit two-run home runs as part of a five-run first inning that gave Colorado a comfortable lead. Ryan McMahon got his team-leading 21st homer on a 433-foot shot in the fourth inning.
“I think the guys were feeding off each other,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “When one guy does something well, it seems to lift the guy behind him and the guy after that. That’s part of momentum in baseball or momentum in any sport. That happened tonight for us.”
Díaz had three hits after coming in .207 with just two home runs in 27 games since being named the All-Star game MVP. In the fifth-inning, the 223-pound catcher had his second career stolen base and his first since June 2017.
Lambert (3-4) gave up Elvis Andrus’ 100th career home run on the first pitch of the game before he settled in to allow just four hits and no runs over the next six innings.
“It’s important for us to see that,” Black said. “I think Peter’s mission is to get back to a place where he’s confident in his health and he’s confident in his ability to perform in the big leagues. Every time you go out there, it’s a test. Peter passed the test tonight.”
Lambert’s seven innings were a season high and the most since his first career MLB appearance in 2019.
“It’s been a while,” Lambert said. “I went through a couple of tough years. At the beginning of this year, we had a plan. We had to limit my innings, obviously, but it’s been great.”
Michael Kopech (5-11) gave up a career-worst nine runs over four innings for the White Sox, who have lost five of six and 17 of their last 24. They fell to a season-worst 26 games below .500.
Andrus finished with three of Chicago’s four hits.
BROTHERLY LOVE
This game pitted White Sox reliever Jimmy Lambert and younger brother, Peter, on opposing teams for the first time. The two played together before, most recently in high school.
Jimmy said he and his brother speak often and are helpful resources to one another.
“I’d like to say he looks up to me in ways, but there are definitely ways I look up to him,” Jimmy said. “He’s kind of shown me what’s possible in this game at times. It’s been really special this year for sure.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
WHITE SOX: OF Eloy Jiménez was placed on the paternity list and will miss the series against the Rockies. In a corresponding move, INF Lenyn Sosa was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte and was inserted into the lineup Friday at second base.
UP NEXT
White Sox RHP Jesse Scholtens (1-5, 3.20 ERA) will face off against Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (4-13, 4.94) Saturday.