Photo credit: @Athletics

By Matthew Harrington

There was a traffic jam on the basepaths versus the Colorado Rockies in Denver Friday night and the Oakland Athletics are still trying to get home.

Boasting one of the most potent offenses in baseball, one would expect the A’s tol feast in the Mile High City, but the Green and Gold stranded 13 runners to fall to the Rockies 3-1. The A’s remain a game back of the Mariners for the second Wild Card spot.

A’s ace Sean Manaea gave up three runs, including a solo homer to potential NL MVP Nolan Arenado and Rockies ace Kyle Freeland pitched six shutout innings to snap the A’s win streak at six games. Adam Ottavino picked up his fourth save to end the run of dramatic finishes the A’s found themselves on.

The Rockies first run came on a bit of small ball after rookie Garrett Hampson squared up for a bunt with a runner on third in the bottom of the second. The sure-handed Matt Chapman couldn’t come up with the ball cleanly, but it was eventually ruled a hit and not an error.

The Rox tacked two more in the fifth after Ian Desmond singled in a run and Arenado mashed his league-leading 26th homer. It was the Gold Glover’s 100th career Coors Field blast. Manaea would finish the inning, but exited the game after five innings.

After Freeland exited the game the A’s thought they had an opportunity. Jed Lowrie would double a run in in the top of the seventh, but otherwise no damage was done, despite four hits off the Rockies’ pen in three innings. Oakland would end the night 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Up Next: The A’s will look to start a new streak in Denver Saturday, sending former Rockies pitcher Brett Anderson to the hill. He’ll face Antonio Senzatela.

The A’s and Rockies will face off Saturday at 5:10 pm PDT.