Troy

Johnston

It was the only scoring the Rockies could muster against a pair of openers and Carmen Mlodzinski. Johnston managed to misplay a Spencer Horowitz fly ball that he thought would carom off the wall but instead landed on the track after he’d already stopped. So it goes. Johnston still qualifies as a success story for the Rockies, he’s up to a .326/.387/.465 seasonal line with two homers.

The Rockies will go with an entire line shift with left-hander Jesus Luzardo toeing the slab for the Phillies, with Edouard Julien, Troy Johnston and Jake McCarthy joining Moniak on the bench for this one. We could see a similar lineup against Cristopher Sanchez on Sunday, which makes the 27-year-old slugger a tough start in leagues that utilize bi-weekly moves for hitters.

Johnston’s emergence as a viable heart-of-the-order option for the Rockies this season has been a fun development as he’s hitting .320/.376/.460 with two homers, 16 RBI and one steal through 29 games. The 28-year-old is in a groove right now, batting .370 (10-for-27) with six RBI over his last seven games.

With his Rockies up one, Johnston delivered a clutch, two-run knock to stretch their lead out. The Mets wound up responding with a rally of their own, but fell one run short. Just as he and his teammates have done all season, Johnston attacked a first-pitch fastball from Sean Manaea to get his big hit. On the season, he has a .317 batting average and .834 OPS as a pleasant surprise in the middle of the Rockies’ order.

Johnson also singled. His second of the double of the contest was a big one; a two-run two-bagger that gave the Rockies a 4-3 win to help Colorado to an upset win. Johnston has looked the part in his first chance as a regular, and is now slashing .305/.359/.492. At the very least, he’s played well enough to be monitored; especially when you consider his home park.

Johnston was hit by a Spencer Arrighetti pitch in the first inning Wednesday, though he remained in initially. If he can’t play Thursday, then it’s more likely Jake McCarthy will be in the lineup.

Freeman has been on the bench since being scratched from Sunday’s game with lower back tightness. The 26-year-old outfielder is presumably available, if needed, but the Rockies are trying to give him some extra time to put the issue to bed. It’ll be another turn in right field for Troy Johnston in this one.

Johnson also drove in a run with a double to give Colorado a 4-3 lead. His homer came in the sixth off a completely-ineffective Ryan Weiss to extend that cushion to 9-4. Johnston has swung the bat well to begin the season, and the 28-year-old has a chance to earn regular playing time for the (obviously) rebuilding Rockies.

No surprise here after Freeman was scratched from Sunday’s series finale against the Phillies with lower back tightness. The 26-year-old will get some extra time off to rest the issue with Troy Johnston patrolling right field.

Beck will get a night off with Troy Johnston getting the start in right field and hitting sixth. So far, Beck has hit just .182 with a .580 OPS over his 13 plate apperances.