Jordan Romano strikes out two for 14th save

Romano gave up a three-run homer to Ivan Herrera that turned a 6-4 lead for Colorado to a 7-6 deficit. The 33-year-old has pitched well prior to Friday’s scuffle, but this is was a less-than-friendly reminder of how much Romano has struggled the past few seasons. He should remain the closer for Colorado, but it’s damning with faint praise.

Romano improved to 9-for-10 in his save chances since joining the Rockies. It’s about at this point that the old Rockies would have given him a one-year, $10 million extension to lock him up for next season. We’d like to think the new front office isn’t so gullible, but the Mickey Moniak extension and the lack of activity at the trade deadline don’t bode particularly well.

Romano just keeps stacking up the saves. This was his eighth since being claimed by the Rockies in early July and he’s only blown one in that span. It’s not exactly pretty – he didn’t throw a single pitch that reached 95 mph in this outing and forced just one swing-and-miss – but being the closer counts for something, right? Proceed with caution.

Romano was summoned in the ninth inning to close out the game against the D-backs with a one-run lead. After giving up runs in each of his last two outings, he bounced back with a scoreless inning, striking out one batter to record his 11th save.

Romano was handed a three-run lead, so while the RBI single from Ryan Church sees Romano’s ERA bump to an unsightly 6.62, he still gets his 10th save of the season. He’s now 7-for-8 in save chances since joining the Rockies, and still remains the scariest closing option in baseball. Not really a compliment.

Romano got the call to close out the game with a two-run lead in the ninth against the Rays. After one quick out, he walked a batter and gave up two hits to bring the tying run home before he was able to get out of the inning. It was Romano’s first blown save in six chances with the Rockies.

Romano made quick work of the Royals here to earn yet another save. He’s now 5-for-5 in save opportunities since being picked up by the Rockies earlier this month and has only given up one run through 7 2/3 innings. It’s still worth remaining leery of this resurgence and maintaining a general distrust for closers who call Coors Field home.

Andrew Vaughn and Jake Bauers started the inning with sharp line drive singles, but Romano was able to maneuver the bottom of the Brewers order by inducing a pop up from Joey Ortiz and striking out pinch-hitter Gary Sánchez. He got Christian Yelich to softly fly out to right field to end the game. The ride is always bumpy, but the saves Romano does get look the same in the box score even if they come with an inflated WHIP and ERA.

Romano took the mound in the top of the ninth, tasked with closing out the game after the Rockies took a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth. He shut the door on the Nats, striking out two batters in a clean inning to convert his seventh save of the season.

Romano came in with a 4-2 lead to begin the ninth and walked two of the three batters he faced. Casey Schmitt then came up and hit a liner to center that Cole Carrigg couldn’t quite make a sliding catch on. Except first base ump Lance Barksdale signaled that he did. The Rockies thought the play was live and tagged the runners at second and first, which would have ended the game. However, there was a crew chief review that correctly ruled the ball a single and advanced the runners to second and third. A sac fly and a walk followed, bringing up Bryce Eldridge with two outs and the bases loaded. Romano was pulled in favor Mejia, and Eldridge hit a routine grounder on the first pitch he saw. It’s the fourth save for Mejia this season. Romano might get another chance in the ninth, but this remains a situation to avoid.