Pitcher Jose Urena’s poor performance leads Rockies’ 10-5 loss to Nationals

The Rockies’ thin starting pitching corps was undoubtedly the team’s weakest link entering the season. An ugly 10-5 loss to the Nationals on Friday night at Coors Field offered proof of that.

One game after lefty Kyle Freeland pitched a gem in the Rockies’ 1-0 victory, right-hander Jose Urena melted down and was gone in the third inning. The drop-off from Freeland to Urena was striking and Urena was greeted with a smattering of boos from the crowd of 30,869.

“The lack of fastball command has hurt him and the secondary pitches haven’t come into play,” manager Bud Black said. “In simple terms: not enough strikes, not enough (being) ahead in the count, not enough first-pitch strikes. All of the pitching principles you hear me talk about, he’s not adhering to in his first…