Rockies Pulled Off 2 Insane Wins, But Can Michael Lorenzen's 9.84 ERA Past Actually Stay Gone?

Alright, Emerald City, can we talk about how absolutely bonkers baseball has been this week? The Colorado Rockies just pulled off two one-run thrillers against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and they're on the brink of a series sweep in Denver today. The drama has been OFF THE CHARTS!

Michael Lorenzen's Wild Comeback Bid

Okay, Michael Lorenzen, the veteran arm the Rockies grabbed this offseason? He was supposed to bring steadiness. His 2-8 record and 7.13 ERA say struggle. But get this: his last two starts? A wild 1.80 ERA! It's like a new pitcher just showed up as we hit the halfway point of the season. He's on the mound today against the Pirates, trying to keep that momentum rolling. Remember that brutal stretch after April 24? He went 0-6 with a 9.84 ERA in seven starts. Ouch. Then he bounced back, allowing just one earned run over five innings in *both* of his next two outings against the Cubs. Coors Field, though, has been his nemesis: 1-3 with an 8.44 ERA in seven home outings. Lorenzen gets it. "It can be frustrating," he admitted. "It can wear on your mind. You've got to show up and try to get better each and every time." That's grit. He actually owns a solid 7-3 record, 2.72 ERA, and two saves against the Pirates over 45 career games, six starts. He took a loss against them May 12 in Pittsburgh, giving up two earned runs over five innings while facing Paul Skenes, who went deep into a no-hitter in that 3-1 Pirates win. Can Lorenzen conquer Coors and keep this turnaround going?

Jared Jones's No-E

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xcuse Mentality For the Pirates, right-hander Jared Jones is on the bump, and he's got his own battles. His 1-1 record with a 6.23 ERA isn't great, and he's coming off a rough Monday, giving up five runs in four innings in an 11-2 loss to the Athletics. Jones wasn't in that May series versus the Rockies, but he faced them twice in 2024. He dominated May 4, allowing one hit over seven shutout innings for a no-decision. Six weeks later in Denver? Not so much: six runs over 4 2/3 innings, took the loss. His career ERA against the Rockies is 4.63. The big deal for Jones is innings. He hasn't pitched past the fifth *all season*, returning from right elbow surgery that sidelined him all of 2025. You'd think that's an easy excuse. Nope. "That's just an excuse, and a pretty bad one if I'm being honest," Jones declared. "I'm in the major leagues, and I'm out here to win baseball games. I haven't been doing that." That's the raw honesty we respect, even from the opposing side!

Sweep or Bust in Denver!

So, after all that craziness, can the Rockies actually pull off this sweep? They survived a nerve-wracking bases-loaded, nobody-out jam to snatch a 4-3 win Friday. Then Saturday's 2-1 victory was equally wild, ending when umpires called baserunner Billy Cook for interference with Kyle Karros as he tried to field Jake Mangum's grounder, with the bases loaded for Pittsburgh! Escaping by the skin of their teeth! Can Lorenzen keep his hot streak alive? Can Jones bounce back with that no-excuses attitude? Get ready, because this series finale in Denver is going to be appointment viewing. We're on the edge of our seats!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.