Jake McCarthy homers, knocks in four in victory

Talk about stuffing the stat sheet. McCarthy was an unstoppable force here. He started the game off with a loud 440 foot homer on the first pitch Logan Webb threw and smashed a 427 foot grand slam later on in the fifth inning. Between those, he was in the middle of a couple more rallies and has been scalding hot for a while now with seven home runs, five stolen bases, and a .347/.379/.621 slash line over his last 30 games. He’s also hit lead-off against the last 13 right-handed pitchers his Rockies have faced. That’s not too shabby!

McCarthy led off the sixth inning with a double off of Taj Bradley but never advanced past second base. He then singled and scored on an RBI single by TJ Rumfield during the Rockies’ three-run rally in the eighth inning. He then clubbed a two-run homer during a five-run ninth inning. For the season, the 28-year-old outfielder is now hitting an impressive .303/.343/.486 with six homers, 34 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 239 plate appearances.

Incredibly, the Rockies collected hits in their final eight at-bats tonight. The first four of those, off Garrett Whitlock in the eighth, proved irrelevant, as the Rockies had two runners thrown out on the bases and failed to score. In the ninth, though, they opened up with four straight hits against Aroldis Chapman. The first of those might have been handled by Caleb Durbin at third, and the third was a sac bunt attempt on which the Red Sox were late to cover first base. McCarthy then ended the game with a slapper down the third base line that Jarren Duran kicked around in the left field corner for a triple, handing Chapman his first blown save of the year.

McCarthy’s home run was his fifth of the season. He smashed a line drive to centerfield and after Jake Mangum couldn’t come up with the ball on a dive, McCarthy turned on the jets. The 28-year-old outfielder practically flew around the bases for his fifth home run. McCarthy’s bat against right-handed pitching and speed could help a contender, making him a potential trade chip for the Rockies.

McCarthy has managed to hit .290/.332/.448 for the Rockies, with Coors Field playing a big role; he has an .877 OPS at home and a .696 OPS on the road. The Rockies shouldn’t wait until the trade deadline to move him if anyone is willing to offer up a decent prospect, but it remains to be seen how aggressive they’ll be there. They already probably missed out on the high point of Antonio Senzatela’s trade value.

McCarthy returns to Colorado’s lineup following a five-game absence due to an undisclosed illness. The 28-year-old outfielder made an appearance as a pinch-runner over the weekend against the Athletics in Las Vegas. He’s back in center field and hitting seventh on Monday night at Wrigley Field.

It could just be in part because the Rockies are facing a left-hander in Jeffrey Springs, but it’s the fifth consecutive game that McCarthy has missed due to illness. Sterlin Thompson will once again start in his place in left field and bat ninth for the Rockies on Sunday afternoon in West Sacramento.

McCarthy was scratched from Wednesday’s lineup due to illness and still isn’t well enough to return to action. Sterlin Thompson will once again start in his place in left field and will bat eighth for the Rockies on Friday evening against Gage Jump and the Athletics.

It’s cost him two days now. Sterlin Thompson is starting in left field against RHP Edward Cabrera and the Cubs in McCarthy’s place today.

McCarthy will get some time off to rest and recover with top prospect Cole Carrigg in center field and Willi Castro heading out to patrol left field in his place.