The Colorado Rockies arrived at Coors Field early on Sunday morning for the final contest of a 10 game home stand. Even before the first pitch yesterday the Rox had to feel good about their recent performance. Colorado is 8 – 1 in those 9 games and, with a win Sunday, would go into the All Star break tied for first place in the ultra competitive NL West. But unfortunately for Colorado, the baseball Gods were not on their side this sunny Sunday afternoon.
Rockies starting pitcher Jeff Francis continued to battle the command problems that have dogged him since returning to the rotation following a season-and-a-half long stint on the DL. The 29 year old Canadian was routinely behind in the count and ended up surrendering 3 runs on 8 hits in his 5 innings of work. “(Francis) had trouble commanding his pitches to both sides of the plate,” said Colorado Manager Jim Tracy after the game. “It was a struggle for him,” Tracy later added. Still Francis, who is as competitive as any player on the roster, battled through his struggles and allowed the fewest runs he has allowed in his previous 3 starts. Francis’ struggles are to be expected considering he has had major surgery and hasnot pitched competitively for the better part of 2 seasons.
The Padres scored in 3 of the first 4 innings. The first run of the afternoon came when left fielder Scott Hairston connected on a Francis changeup to score Aaron Cunningham, who had reached base after being struck by an errant sinker 3 at bats prior. In the top of the second inning Cunningham would be involved in another scoring play with his RBI double to left which scored second baseman Jerry Hairston, Scott’s younger brother. The Padres took a 3 – 0 lead in the top of the fourth with a Jerry Hairston single which allowed shortstop Everth Cabrera to trot home.
San Diego starting pitcher Clayton Richard was flawless in his first three innings of work. It wasn’t until Dexter Fowler worked a four pitch walk to lead off the bottom of the fourth that Richard allowed a Rockie to reach base. Richard would surrender his first hit, and first run, of the game the next at bat when Colorado second baseman Jonathan Herrera blasted a line drive triple to right which scored the speedy Fowler. A single from Carlos Gonzalez followed and Herrera jogged home to cut the Padres lead to 3 – 2. The Rox were able to tie the game at 3 the next inning when Brad Hawpe, who was in the game as a pinch-hitter for Jeff Francis, connected on a Richard fastball for a RBI double. Hawpe’s double allowed shortstop Clint Barmes, who had managed to walk in the prior at bat, to score from first.
Colorado appeared to take control of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning by scoring three runs and chasing Clayton Richard from the game. After the afore mentioned perfect first three innings, the wheels came off for Richard and he finished the game by allowing 6 runs on 6 hits. Cargo worked a walk, advanced to second on a deep fly ball out by Ryan Spilborghs and scored on a Miguel Olivo single. Third baseman Ian Stewart took a 93 mph fastball on the ribs from Padres reliever Luke Gregerson, perhaps payback for Francis’ first inning bean-ball on Cunningham. After a soft single from Barmes, Rockies relief pitcher Jhoulys Chacin helped his own cause with a 2 out line drive single to score Stewart. Stewart’s 40th run scored of the season gave Colorado a comfortable 6 – 3 lead heading into the seventh.
But Colorado watched their comfortable lead evaporate as San Diego demonstrated why they hold the number one position in the NL West. Chacin allowed singles from Adrian Gonzalez and Scott Hairston, ending his day. Chacin replacement Randy Flores didn’t fare any better, allowing a 2 run double by San Diego third baseman Chase Headley. Tracy quickly pulled the plug on Flores, replacing him with hard throwing right-hander Matt Belise. Belisle was able to get the final two outs of the seventh by getting Chris Denorfia to fly out to center and subsequently striking out Everth Cabrera.
Belisle’s success would be short-lived however as he allowed back-to-back hits to lead off the 8th. After intentionally walking Adrian Gonzalez, a Belisle throwing error allowed Nick Hundley to reach base, Hairston and Cunningham to score and gave San Diego their first lead since the fifth inning. The significance of the throwing error was not lost on Jim Tracy who said after the game, “we were one good throw away from a ninth inning lead.” The ninth inning saw the Colorado bullpen allow another 2 runs, this time off of Rafael Betancourt thanks to a 2-run homer from Everth Cabrera, his first big fly of the season. For fans questioning why Tracy didn’t bring in star closer Houston Street, the reasoning was that Street had worked the previous 4 games and wasn’t likely be effective. There was “no way (Street) was going to pitch today,” Tracy told reporters after the game. Street had been stellar since returning to the pen after a 3-month stint on the DL, boasting a 2.19 ERA and having converted 5 saves in 5 opportunities.
Down 9 – 6 entering the final frame, the Rockies battled and made things interesting but ultimately came up 2 runs short. Their sole run of the final 3 innings came off of a Gonzalez double which scored Herrera. The Padres elected to use All Star closer Heath Bell for a 5-out save, bringing him in to face Ian Stewart in the eighth inning. Bell acknowledged the importance of the win after the game. When speaking with FSN’s Alana Rizzo, Bell said, “they’re really pesky….we feel it will be us and Colorado (for the NL West title).”
Nice start, AAA =)
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