Nolan Jones’ big night wasted as Rockies’ bullpen collapses vs. Blue Jays

Friday night’s feature attraction followed the same, tired old plot.

Rockies’ bullpen collapses late, Rockies lose again. This time, 13-9, to Toronto in front of 27,397 fans at Coors Field.

At least Friday night’s coming attraction was entertaining.

Rookie left fielder Nolan Jones launched a three-run, two-out home run in the sixth inning to give the Rockies a short-lived 5-4 lead.

“We’ve seen this for most of the year, which is exciting for the future for us,” manager Bud Black said. “The trick now is for Nolan is to continue, finish strong, have a great September and feel good about his year.”

Jones, acquired from Cleveland during the offseason, continues to show signs that he could be a future star. Jones, who’s made headlines with his throws from the outfield, has been dynamite in the clutch. His 14th homer of the season improved his average with runners in scoring position to .426 (23-for-54), with six home runs included in the equation.

“When there are runners in scoring position, I get a little bit more focused with what I’m trying to do,” said Jones, who hit 3-for-3 with a single in the third and a triple in the ninth to raise his average to .284 and his OPS to .890.

Jones’ 14 homers are the second-most by a left-handed hitting rookie in franchise history, trailing only Todd Helton, who hit  25 in 1998.

The Rockies rallied for four runs in the ninth, but it was too little, too late.

OK, back to the seventh-inning meltdown in which the Blue Jays scored five runs, leading to Colorado’s 10th loss in its last 11 games. The Rockies have held the lead in the sixth inning or later in seven of those 10 losses.

Right-hander Jake Bird, so good early in the season, gave up singles to Kevin Kiermaier and George Springer and an RBI double to Davis Schneider.

Lefty Brent Suter had no luck cleaning up the mess. He walked Brandon Belt to load the bases and then served up a three-run double to pinch-hitter Alejandro Kirk, followed by an RBI double to Whit Merrifield.

“I look at his stuff and I don’t see a drop in any of his stuff. (Poor) location is what I’m seeing,” Black said when asked if Bird is fatigued at this point in the season. Bird’s 74 innings out of the bullpen — not including his three starts when he was used as an opener — are the most in the majors.

The carnage wasn’t over. Daniel Bard, last year’s closer, continues to struggle. Toronto tagged him for three runs in the ninth, the big hit a two-run triple by Ernie Clement.

Colorado right-hander Chris Flexen gave up only seven hits in his 5 2/3 innings of work but three of those hits went yard, including a massive two-run blast to left by Danny Jansen in the sixth to give Toronto a 4-2 lead. Jansen’s 452-foot homer came on Flexen’s 3-2 fastball. Flexen owns a 6.89 ERA.

Brandon Belt led off the fourth with a 448-foot shot to right off Flexen, and Clement led off the fifth with a homer that bounced off the left-field foul pole. It was Clement’s first homer as a member of the Blue Jays and his first since Sept. 21, 2021.

First baseman Elehuris Montero, who’s received limited playing time lately, made the most of his chance on Wednesday, hitting a two-run homer to left off of Hyun Jin Ryu to give Colorado a 2-0 lead in the third.