Colorado’s defense is its calling card and it lived up to the hardware expectations to sweep Texas, the defending World Series champion.

The Rockies won 3-1 Sunday at Coors Field behind standout defense and used a weekend of hot gloves to grab their first sweep and series win of 2024.

Here’s a breakdown of the club’s first winning series of 2024 and the moments that mattered most:

The Moment:

—Austin Gomber reacted to standout defensive plays the same way his team has to its first winning streak.

He leaped in the air and pumped his chest after Brendan Rodgers’ diving play, Jake Cave’s outfield assist and Sean Bouchard’s full-extension catch during his start on Friday. The thrill came from plays going the Rockies’ way, rather than the way they’ve gone so far in 2024.

Despite putting in the defensive work, the team had been unable to convert effort into results.

If only for a weekend, Colorado had its fortunes turn. And with them, multiple franchise-worst streaks came to an end.

“You should hear the dugout,” manager Bud Black said. “It’s so energizing and uplifting. We played excellent defense this series, and today was arguably one of the best defensive games I’ve seen.”

Third-base and infield coach Warren Schaeffer told Rodgers the club’s 9-for-9 effort on infield balls in Sunday’s win was the best he’s ever seen. A highlight reel from the game would include at least eight plays, possibly more.

The pitchers were fueled by the effort and held Texas to six runs in three games. And they weren’t afraid to show it, bouncing off the mound with emotion each time.

Takeaway

—Gomber’s emotions revealed how much Colorado needed a positive break.

A four-game win streak is commonplace for several other teams but had felt impossible for the Rockies until now. The team’s pitching would find a rhythm while the offense disappeared. When each unit found success, the bullpen failed to hold onto leads or close margins.

The groups were all together during Sunday’s rain storm. Around a table, Victor Vodnik, Cal Quantrill, Justin Lawrence, Jacob Stallings and others flooded a clubhouse table for a rousing card game. The gloomy weather outside hid a positive experience inside it.

After wins, the team plays music in the clubhouse and uses the short period to celebrate before moving on to the next day’s task. It’s been quiet for much of the year. The weekend offered a chance for a reset and a dose of fun in an dour season for competitors. Sunday’s music was the loudest of 2024. 

Celebrations in the dugout weren’t hard to spot, either, especially during the club’s six-run inning in Saturday’s win.

“You look for bright spots to feed off of,” Ryan Feltner said. “I think everybody’s having fun in that inning, and in that moment, and we love to feed off those types of moments.”

What went right:

—Pitching will have its ups and downs for Colorado, but good defense will go a long way towards preventing runs.

The Rockies’ series against Texas was an example and proved to be their best defensive series of the year so far. It also happened to be their first winning one.

“It makes it so much easier to go out there and pound the zone,” Ty Blach said after Sunday’s win. “When you know that you have a situation where you can get a double-play ball, and those guys are going to make it happen… it gives so much more confidence as a pitcher.”

Sean Bouchard made a diving catch before Brenton Doyle made one slamming into the wall. Brendan Rodgers’ diving play Friday gave way to a cross-body double-play flip from Ezequiel Tovar two days later. Jake Cave came off the bench to contribute an outfield assist in the series, too.

And that’s not even half of the team’s résumé entries from their best defensive series of 2024.

In any given lineup, Colorado could boast 5-6 players who could or have won a Gold Glove in their careers. Young players like Jordan Beck are still getting their footing but have shown defensive potential, too.

A pitcher’s best friend is a good defense, and it’s no surprise the rotation’s success has coincided with a highlight reel of plays behind it.

What’s up next:

—Colorado embarks on a West Coast road trip, hoping the winning continues.

The Rockies’ first stop will be a three-game set in San Diego. They went 4-9 against the Padres in 2023 and split a four-game home series with them in late April. The series included a five-run comeback to ensure a split and stands as Colorado’s largest of 2024.

***

Rockies 3, Rangers 1

What happened: Colorado used defense to lead the way on Sunday and logged a highlight reel of plays to complete a sweep of the defending World Series champions.

On the mound: Ty Blach earned the spot start and allowed one earned run across five innings. He scattered seven Texas hits and used a standout defensive effort to limit the visitors. Victor Vodnik threw two scoreless innings and lowered his ERA to 1.93. Jalen Beeks earned his third save to clinch a sweep.

At the plate: Ezequiel Tovar hit his fourth home run in Colorado’s second at-bat of the game to re-take the lead. Brenton Doyle added a bases-loaded walk in the eighth to give the Rockies insurance. They had seven hits, five walks and four strikeouts.

What’s next: Colorado Rockies (RHP Dakota Hudson, 0-6) at San Diego Padres (RHP Randy Vásquez, 0-1) at 7:40 p.m. Monday at Petco Park (Rockies.TV).