The Rockies lost 4-3 to the Reds on July 13, 2025, after a costly throwing error by Nolan Jones led to a walk-off defeat. Read how missed chances doomed Colorado.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a game that felt destined for extra innings, a gritty Sunday battle on the road. But instead of a shot at redemption, the Colorado Rockies were dealt a gut-punch, falling 4-3 to the Cincinnati Reds on a walk-off throwing error in the bottom of the ninth. A promising start and a late-game rally were erased in a single moment, leaving fans to wonder what could have been.
'Bradley gave us a chance to win, but we just couldn't get the big hit when we needed it.'
The game was knotted at 3-3 heading into the final frame, a tense backdrop for a series finale. But the drama turned to disaster for Colorado. The Reds' Will Benson led off with a triple, putting immediate pressure on the Rockies' defense. The very next play, a throw from left fielder Nolan Jones sailed errantly, allowing Benson to scamper home with the winning run. It was a brutal way to lose, snatching defeat from the jaws of a hard-fought contest.
While the final error will dominate the headlines, the loss was truly written in the box score's 'Left on Base' column. The Rockies stranded a staggering 10 runners, going a dismal 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Manager Warren Schaeffer pointed to the squandered chances post-game, a sentiment that echoed throughout the afternoon as inning after inning ended with purple pinstripes left on the basepaths.
Amid the disappointment, there were significant bright spots for the future. Rookie right-hander Bradley Blalock was fantastic, delivering his third consecutive quality start. He went 5.2 innings, allowing just two runs while striking out six and lowering his ERA to 4.18. On the offensive side, shortstop Ryan Ritter continued his torrid July. He blasted a solo home run in the 7th inning to tie the game, his eighth of the season and second in as many days.
Losing on an error is always a tough pill to swallow, especially when young players like Blalock and Ritter show so much promise. The Rockies have to shake this one off quickly. The challenge moving forward is clear: clean up the defense and find a way to capitalize on scoring chances. If they can start turning those stranded runners into runs, the strong starting pitching they're getting could lead to a much different outcome in the next series.
