Rockies blank Cardinals 6-0 on July 24, 2025, as rookie Tanner Gordon shines. Colorado ends its historic 220-game shutout drought with a dominant win.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's over. The streak is finally, mercifully over. For 220 consecutive games, the Colorado Rockies failed to shut out an opponent, a franchise-record run of frustration. But on a beautiful Wednesday night at Coors Field, that all changed. Behind an unexpected gem from a rookie pitcher and a relentless offensive attack, the Rockies silenced the St. Louis Cardinals 6-0, washing away a statistic that has haunted the team and its fans for far too long.
220 games. That's how long it had been since the Rockies last shut out an opponent, a franchise-record streak of futility that finally came to a glorious end.
The hero of the night wasn't supposed to be on the mound. Just hours before the game, the Rockies delivered some tough news: ace Germán Márquez was headed to the 15-day IL with right biceps tendinitis. Stepping into the void was rookie Tanner Gordon, who did more than just fill in. The right-hander was masterful, delivering six scoreless innings while scattering four hits and striking out three. Gordon (2-2) kept the Cardinals off balance all night, setting the tone for a dominant performance. The bullpen backed him up flawlessly, with Jimmy Herget and Tyler Kinley completing the combined five-hit shutout, a sight for sore eyes at 20th and Blake.
The offense gave Gordon all the support he would need in a decisive second-inning rally. The Rockies hung a four-spot on the board, fueled by an incredible string of five consecutive singles from Austin Nola, Kyle Farmer, Adael Amador, Tyler Freeman, and Mickey Moniak. It was a textbook display of contact hitting and putting pressure on the defense. For good measure, Jordan Beck added an RBI double in the fifth, and Ezequiel Tovar blasted a solo home run in the eighth, putting an exclamation point on the victory. The win clinched back-to-back series victories for the first time since September of last year, a clear sign of a team finding its groove.
This recent surge (4-2 since the All-Star break) isn't the only reason for optimism. Down on the farm, the next wave of Rockies talent is making serious noise. Outfielder Zac Veen is tearing up Triple-A, hitting a scorching .413 with 15 RBI over his last 19 games. He's joined by Aaron Schunk (.353 average, 3 HR in his last 14) and Sterlin Thompson, who leads the PCL in triples. This talent infusion is getting noticed, as the Rockies' farm system jumped to 19th in recent rankings following the drafting of superstar prospect Ethan Holliday. With Holliday now ranked the No. 17 prospect in all of baseball, the future in Colorado is suddenly looking much brighter.
While the loss of Germán Márquez is a definite blow, Wednesday's victory felt like more than just a single win. It was a statement. A young pitcher stepped up, the offense clicked, and a frustrating record was shattered. With the team playing its best baseball of the season and a wave of talent rising through the minors, there's a palpable sense of momentum building. The question now is, can they keep it going? For the first time in a long time, it feels like the answer might be yes.
