Brenton Doyle’s three-run triple leads Rockies over Blue Jays

Brenton Doyle is quickly gaining a reputation as the best young defensive outfielder in the majors. His historic 105.7 mph throw on Saturday night will only enhance that reputation.

But the Rockies’ rookie center fielder wants to be so much more.

So it was completely understandable when Doyle pumped his fist after sliding into third with a bases-loaded triple in the fifth inning. Doyle’s three-run missile off the right-field wall was the key hit in Colorado’s white-knuckle, 8-7 victory over the Blue Jays at Coors Field.

“That was huge, especially not coming through with the bases loaded (in the second inning),” Doyle said. “I knew that I couldn’t let that happen again. It was a really good feeling.

Doyle entered the night with a .196 batting average and a strikeout rate of 36.7%. In fact, Toronto lefty Yusei Kikuchi fanned Doyle twice in his first two at-bats. But Doyle ambushed reliever Yimi Garcia’s first-pitch fastball and turned on the jets. Doyle scored on Charlie Blackmon’s single to right.

“That was big for Brenton,” manager Bud Black said. “He had those two strikeouts before but he came through. That (will build) his confidence. He has work to do in the offseason, but that was good to see.”

Doyle’s Saturday night Superman act included his ninth outfield assist of the season, a 100.9 mph throw to third base in the first inning to nail Daulton Varsho and end the inning. It was the fastest outfield assist in the majors this season and is the fastest-tracked outfield assist by a Rockies player in the Statcast Era (since 2015).

But that was nothing. In the ninth, Doyle let loose with his 105.7 mph throw to home to hold Davis Schneider on third base, preventing a sacrifice fly. It was the hardest recorded outfield throw in the Statcast Era.

“That was probably the best throw I’ve made all year, too bad the guy didn’t run,” Doyle said with a grin. “I had really good momentum behind the throw, I had a perfect four-seam grip and it was a bullet to the plate. I knew it was one of my hardest throws but I didn’t expect it to be almost 106.”

Blackmon had quite a night himself, hitting 3 for 4 (including a double in the eighth) and driving in three runs. Also, in the fifth, the 37-year-old Blackmon swiped second base for his first stolen base of the season. Oh yeah, it was also Charlie Blackmon bobblehead night, part of the reason a raucous crowd of 40,445 showed up.

Colorado’s bullpen, which has been so shaky lately, nearly collapsed again.

Gavin Hollowell and Matt Koch each pitched a scoreless inning. But closer Justin Lawrence had a nerve-racking time. He walked George Springer to open the ninth and Schneider ripped a triple off Lawrence to score Springer, cutting the lead to 8-6.

Lawrence retired Guerrero and Whit Merrifield, but then uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Schneider to score from third. The lead was down to 8-7. And then Lawrence walked Alejandro Kirk and Cavan Biggio and plunked Varsho to load the bases.

Right-hander Tyler Kinley came in to try to save the day. He did, striking out pinch-hitter Spencer Horwitz to end the game.