Rockies ace Cook proves he's human in loss to Nationals
Error compounds rare bad outing in loss to Nationals
By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News
Published August 4, 2008 at 10:14 p.m.
Photo by David Zalubowski © AP
Colorado's Matt Holliday shows his disgust after striking out with two runners on base to end the second inning of Monday night's game against the Nationals at Coors Field.
Moment: After back-to-back singles by Tim Redding and Emilio Bonifacio to open the third, Rockies pitcher Aaron Cook fielded a bunt from Willie Harris and threw the ball into left field, opening the way to a four-run rally that also included a throwing error by Troy Tulowitzki on a failed double-play relay when he had to reach down for the throw from first baseman Garrett Atkins and then threw out of the reach of Cook, who was covering first.
Player: Nationals right-hander Redding earned his first career win against a National League West team. He had been 0-14. After giving up three runs before he retired a batter in the game, he settled down to allow the Rockies only two hits in the second through fifth innings. He had lost his three previous starts, allowing 13 runs in 16 innings.
Stat: 5 2/3 innings pitched by Cook was his third-shortest effort of the season, and the seven runs he allowed equaled his season worst. Cook worked five innings in a May 15 loss at Arizona and 5 1/3 innings in a June 25 loss at Kansas City. He allowed seven runs in 6 1/3 innings of a May 30 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field and in 7 1/3 innings of a July 6 loss to Florida at Coors Field.
If the Rockies needed a wake-up call, they got it Monday night.
Looking to make a move in the National League West, fresh off their most successful trip of the season and opening a 10-game stay at Coors Field, they had their ace, Aaron Cook, on the mound against a Washington team that arrived for a four-game visit with the worst record in the majors.
The ace got trumped.
The Nationals gave the Rockies a 9-4 reminder - if any was needed - that there are no sure things.
It was only the Rockies' third loss in their past 14 games at Coors Field, but it dropped them eight games back of NL West-leading Arizona, which rallied to beat Pittsburgh on a night the Rockies let an early lead turn into disappointment.
"You have to go out and play the game (regardless of the matchup), that's the reality of it," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "You don't like (games like Monday), but when you live the game you know it's always there."
Rockies rookie right-hander Steve Register did make his major league debut, taking over for Cook with two out in the sixth and striking out Lastings Milledge, the only batter he faced.
But that was about the only memorable moment for the Rockies.
After scoring three runs before an out was recorded in the bottom of the first on a run-scoring double by Matt Holliday and two-run single from Brad Hawpe, the Rockies couldn't add to the damage against Nationals right- hander Tim Redding.
Redding was one of the pitchers the Rockies inquired about before last week's trading deadline only to quickly end discussions when the Nationals threw out the names of Dexter Fowler and Ian Stewart.
Winless in his 14 previous decisions against NL West teams, Redding got the edge on Cook, an All-Star whose 14 wins are one short of league leader Brandon Webb of Arizona.
While Redding was snapping a three-game losing streak - and allowing Washington to win for the 16th time in his 24 starts - Cook stumbled in arguably the worst effort he has had this season.
He survived only 52/3 innings, his third-shortest effort of the season. He gave up seven runs, equaling the most he has allowed this season. He allowed 11 hits, one short of his season high. And he even gave up a second-inning home run to Jesus Flores, only the second he has allowed in his past 591/3 innings.
"I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform well every time out," said Cook, who had won his past three starts. "To go out and not make quality pitches and commit an error on top of it. . . . I just want to try and forget this one and get ready for the next one, Saturday (against San Diego)."
Oh, that error, it provided the spark that lifted the Nationals, who in the past week have undergone a major overhaul with the addition of a rookie middle infield - second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and shortstop Alberto Gonzalez - that observers say has created a whole new enthusiasm.
After one game of exposure to the new look, the Rockies certainly can't argue with that claim.
"We got handed something (Monday night)," Hurdle said. "We need to get a good night's sleep in our own beds and come back out (tonight) and bounce back."
With one out in the third, Cook gave up back-to-back singles to Redding and Bonifacio, and then fielded a Willie Harris bunt. Cook didn't hesitate going to third for the force of Redding, but he sailed the ball down the left-field line,Redding and Bonifacio scoring to tie the score 3-3.
Before the inning was over, the Nationals had a 5-3 lead, and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki had added an error, too, on an ill-advised attempt to complete a double play.
"The two errors, that's something we pride ourselves on not doing," Hurdle said.
But then Cook normally prides himself on one of the game's more devastating sinkers.
But on this night, he managed only eight of 17 outs on groundballs - and that included a sacrifice bunt by Redding in the two-run sixth when Cook was knocked out.
"That's the other side of the spectrum from what he has been this year," Hurdle said. "That's as far the other way he has gone. There just wasn't tilt and depth on what he did. He was not able to get the ball down and sink it whatsoever."
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August 4, 2008
10:27 p.m.
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RDenver writes:
Beyond words! How are you not mentally prepared when you're in a pennant race! And losing to a team that is 29 games under .500 with the worst record in baseball. All this talk of how well the Rockies are playing after the All Star break and they play like this. Ian Stewart looked like he just came up from A ball. And the errors they commited...? Well, good thing Hurdle had nothing to do with this loss and the players take all the blame. With AZ winning that puts them 8 games behind. They just aren't consistent enough to win the division. Maybe next year they will play more inspired when they have a new manager who can get a fire under their butts. Hurdle is good at chewing gum and making excuses. His act is tiring! How about bringing Baylor back? There has to be some manager out there that has more passion then easy-going Clint.
August 4, 2008
10:35 p.m.
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sickandtired writes:
And in the most important series of the season, the Rockies come flying out of the gate .... THUD!!!
Watching Hurdle and George Karl of the Nuggets go about their business makes me more a fan of Shanahan all the time. At least he sometimes looks like he gives a d***.
Wake me up when the Rockies become a Major League Baseball franchise.
August 4, 2008
11:10 p.m.
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wjrudy writes:
Certainly disappointing...
August 5, 2008
5:44 a.m.
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fjv1026 writes:
At least the first 2 innings looked really good! Optimisim...it's infectious.
August 5, 2008
10:30 a.m.
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SDcat writes:
Hello fellow Roxers, I think the game yesterday was fatigue factor setting causing some mental errors. They've had 1 day off for travel in 24 days..thats 23 games in 24 days 1/2 on the road and that was to the East Coast. That's crazy!
I think tonight will yield a better result for fielding hitting etc. Hopefully Jorge will have a better night.. Go ROX!