The Colorado Rockies had a golden opportunity to leave Cincinnati with a series win, but missed chances at the plate ultimately cost them in a 6-4 loss to the Reds on Thursday. While the Rockies finished their road trip with a respectable 4-2 record, they wrapped up April at 13-14—a reminder that there's still work to be done.

The game started with promise. In the top of the first inning, Brenton Doyle worked a one-out walk to get things moving. After Hunter Goodman struck out, Doyle swiped his seventh base of the season—setting the stage for Tyler Freeman. Known for delivering with runners in scoring position, Freeman didn't disappoint, crushing a two-run home run to right field that traveled 357 feet. It was his first homer of the year and gave the Rockies an early 2-0 lead.

With that cushion, Michael Lorenzen took the mound looking to build momentum. The Reds answered in the bottom of the second, thanks to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, who launched an 84.2 mph changeup 399 feet for his fifth home run of the season. Lorenzen didn't waver, though, keeping Cincinnati off the board for the next two innings.

The tide turned in the fifth. Spencer Steer drew a lead-off walk, and after a strikeout, TJ Friedl stepped up and delivered a go-ahead two-run homer to right field. The ball barely cleared the wall—Troy Johnston gave chase but couldn't make the play—and Friedl's second homer of the year put the Reds up 3-2.

Lorenzen's day ended in the sixth after allowing a one-out double to Lowe, who later scored. He finished with 5.1 innings pitched, allowing four runs on four hits with five strikeouts and two walks. While the box score may not show it, Lorenzen actually pitched fairly well—the damage came on a few costly mistakes.

The Rockies found themselves in a familiar spot, much like Tuesday's game: needing timely hits that just wouldn't come. Despite the early fireworks, Colorado couldn't sustain the momentum, and the Reds made them pay with late runs that sealed the series loss.