DENVER, CO. (WCIA) — Champaign native Tanner Gordon did something no Colorado Rockies pitcher had done since May 15, 2024, pitching six scoreless innings against the Cardinals in a 6-0 win on Wednesday, July 23.

Gordon is 2-2 this season with a 3.13 ERA, tallying 13 strikeouts over 23 innings pitched.

While he’s grown accustomed to what it’s like pitching in big league ballparks, he’s learned what it takes to be ready to be called up to The Show on short notice.

“Don’t get me wrong, I stop and smell the roses a lot,” Gordon said. “The hotels we stay in, the food, the atmosphere, the stadiums, and all that.” “At the end of the day, the game comes at you fast, and you’ve got to really prepare yourself, and you just got to be ready for basically anything.”

Gordon hopes continued performances like this allow him to stay out of the minor leagues.

That’s the thing with the big league too is there’s a lot of mystery, it’s a business at the end of the day,” Gordon said. “There’s a lot of moving parts, but I mean, everyone always said, you have to make them make a hard decision.” “I just kind of do the best I can possibly do.” “I tell myself, ‘What do I got to lose?’ I’m up here.” “We’re here, might as well do it.”