The Colorado Rockies snapped their recent struggles with a 4-3 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night at Citi Field, thanks to a masterful performance from right-hander Michael Lorenzen. The veteran pitcher induced three crucial double-play grounders in seven efficient innings, earning his second win of the season and helping Colorado improve to 11-16.
Lorenzen's performance was particularly impressive given his rocky start to the 2026 campaign. He pitched 7.0 innings while allowing one earned run, striking out three batters, and throwing 90 pitches to earn the victory against Mets starter Freddy Peralta.
Lorenzen Bounces Back From Difficult Start
The win was a much-needed turnaround for Lorenzen, who had been struggling mightily through his first month with the Rockies. Entering Friday's game, Lorenzen had the second-worst ERA among NL starters with at least 20 innings pitched this season, largely due to two dreadful starts—nine earned runs in three innings against the Phillies on April 3, and seven earned runs in 2 2/3 innings against the Astros on April 14.
The 34-year-old right-hander, who signed an $8 million one-year contract with Colorado in the offseason, showcased his trademark ability to induce ground balls. Lorenzen recorded 11 ground balls compared to just five fly balls while facing 26 batters, demonstrating the efficiency that made him an attractive free agent target despite pitching his home games at hitter-friendly Coors Field.
Rockies Offense Provides Just Enough Support
The Rockies manufactured four runs against Mets pitching, with key contributions coming from several players. TJ Rumfield drove in one run to give him 16 RBIs on the season, while Troy Johnston contributed two RBIs to bring his total to 14, and Jake McCarthy added an RBI double.
Tyler Freeman also helped the cause with a sacrifice bunt, showcasing the small-ball approach that helped Colorado scratch out runs against a Mets pitching staff that has struggled to find consistency.
Mets Continue to Struggle
The loss dropped the Mets to 9-17 on the season, extending their disappointing start to the 2026 campaign. Brett Baty provided the Mets' offense with a double and two RBIs, but it wasn't enough to overcome Lorenzen's effective outing.
Freddy Peralta took the loss, falling to 1-3 on the season, as the Mets continued to search for answers in their rotation. The defeat was particularly frustrating for a team that came into the series looking to build momentum after snapping a lengthy losing streak.
Bullpen Holds the Line
After Lorenzen exited, the Rockies turned to their bullpen to preserve the lead. Antonio Senzatela earned his second save of the season, pitching 1.2 innings with one strikeout while throwing just 10 pitches. Justin Hill also contributed with a scoreless appearance.
The bullpen work was crucial for a Rockies team that has dealt with late-game collapses earlier in the season, including a painful ninth-inning meltdown in their previous homestand.
Looking Ahead
The Rockies improved to 11-16 this season, which puts them ahead of only the Mets (9-17) and the Philadelphia Phillies (8-17) in the National League but well ahead of the pace they set last year, when Colorado didn't record its 10th win until June 2.
For Lorenzen, the performance offered a glimmer of hope that he can find success despite the challenges of pitching at altitude. His ability to generate ground balls and induce double plays will be critical as the Rockies look to avoid another historically bad season following their franchise-worst 43-119 record in 2025.
The two teams will continue their three-game series on Saturday as both clubs look to climb out of the National League cellar and find some consistency in what has been a challenging start to the season for both franchises.
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