Rockies' Fuentes drops poker face

Emotion shows in dramatic win against Diamondbacks

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 13, 2008 at 9:25 p.m.

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Photo by David Zalubowski © Associated Press

The Colorado Rockies' Cory Sullivan, left, congratulates Brad Hawpe as he crosses home plate after hitting a two-run home run off Diamondbacks reliever Jon Rauch in the eighth inning Wednesday night at Coors Field. Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder, right, looks on.

There’s been cool under pressure.

And then there is Rockies closer Brian Fuentes.

“I don’t think any of us want to show everything that is inside in a (game-on-the-line) situation,” said Rockies pitcher Jeff Francis, “but I will tell you, I don’t think I want to play poker with (Fuen- tes).”

Having Fuentes to call on to finish off games such as the Rockies’ 6-5 victory against Arizona on Wednesday night at Coors Field is a calming feeling, even if Mr. Cool himself, Fuentes, admitted to an emotional outburst when major league home run leader Adam Dunn was thrown out on a full- count grounder to short to end the game with the bases loaded.

“You never want to show the other team up, but sometimes, the emotion builds up, and as hard as you try to keep it inside, you can’t,” said Fuentes, who did a slight fist pump as shortstop Troy Tulowitzki’s throw went into the glove of first baseman Jeff Baker.

But then, honestly, could anybody among the 30,247 fans who bought a ticket for the game really blame Fuentes for being a little bit excited?

After former closer Manny Corpas was unable to protect the 4-2 lead Francis turned over in the seventh, the Rockies were given an eighth-inning boost on Brad Hawpe’s two-run, tiebreaking home run off Jon Rauch, who had been scored upon only once in his 10 previous appearances since being dealt from Washington to Arizona.

And Fuentes got the call to finish things off. He earned his 22nd save in 24 opportunities since regaining the ninth-inning job, but he did it the hard way.

After striking out Chris Snyder looking, he walked Augie Ojeda and gave up a bloop single to Chris Burke. Stephen Drew not only singled home Ojeda, but when Hawpe, for some reason, tried to throw out Burke going to third, Drew, representing the tying run, advanced to second.

Showtime for Fuentes. He struck out Chris Young swinging and intentionally walked Conor Jackson. Up came Dunn, in his second game since being acquired from Cincinnati to provide the run production the Diamondbacks need in their National League West title bid.

“I would rather be facing him with the bases empty,” Fuentes said, “but having had the ability to get out of jams like that makes you feel you are capable of doing it again.”

Looking to force Fuentes to make a mistake, Dunn took five pitches, running the count to 3-2 and creating an extra edge to the moment.

“That’s why you need gum,” Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said of the dugout anxiety in the ninth, “so you can chew it.”

With the count full, Dunn finally swung, looking to drive a fastball the other way but grounding it to Tulowitzki, who made the play that gave the Rockies only their second win in 11 games this season against Arizona.

The teams have split the first two games of this series, which concludes this afternoon.

“We’re in a better place (Wednesday night) than we were (Tuesday night),” Hurdle said.

Not much better, though. Ten days ago, the Rockies were looking at making a major impact with a 10-game homestand that began with visits from the teams with the two worst records in the NL, Washington and San Diego, before facing Arizona.

But the win Wednesday was only the third in nine games for the Rockies, who are now eight games back of the Diamondbacks with 40 games to play.

That’s not a welcome challenge, even though seven of the games are with Arizona, including six of the final nine games this season.

But the effort Wednesday was welcome. First, Francis, in his second start after missing five weeks because of left shoulder inflammation, provided six strong innings, leaving with a 4-2 lead after Snyder’s leadoff double in the seventh.

Then, after Corpas let the lead get away, the Rockies answered against Rauch — Chris Iannetta working back from an 0-2 count to start the eighth inning with a double, and Hawpe unloading on the 1-0 pitch from Rauch to hit his 19th home run and deliver his 17th winning RBI this season.

And finally, Fuentes escaping a jam to allow the Rockies to enjoy their ninth final-at-bat victory at Coors Field this season.

“We needed to win a game, and we did it,” Hurdle said.

Francis might have been left with a no-decision, but his six-inning effort was only the third by a Rockies starter in the past 11 games.

“It was an exciting game in front of a big crowd,” Hurdle said.

• August 14, 2008

  6:13 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  kmeissner writes:

  Keep it up! Beat the dbacks tonight. Go Rox!!!

• August 14, 2008

  6:42 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Hambone writes:

  I wish they could have got something worthwhile for Fuentes. They guy constantly walks batters. I'm sick of it and hope he signs somewhere else in the offseason.

• August 14, 2008

  8:13 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  piaresquared writes:

  I'm so proud of my Rockies! Only 14 games under .500!

• August 14, 2008

  9:30 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  cpd writes:

  Cripes, Hambone. The guy is supposed to save it and he did. Style points don't count.

• August 14, 2008

  10:08 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  SLoganSt writes:

  Fuentes reminds me of Dante Bichette. Bichette really didn't start paying too much attention to his at bat until he had two strikes. Fuentes doesn't start paying too much attention until he has the bases loaded.

• August 14, 2008

  11:09 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  meteorite writes:

  Like it matters right now. The season is done. They haven't made up any ground in a month. Trade Fuentes and gets some value for him while you can.

• August 14, 2008

  12:40 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  1somelikeithot writes:

  It may be too late, but it was a good win. Except for that one blunder Hawpe made throwing to third instead of throwing to cut off man to keep runner at first, they played really well, and Bucky got the win. Go Rockies!!

• August 14, 2008

  12:48 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  SDcat writes:

  Why is it too late? We have 7 games left against Arizona, including six of the final nine games this season. Lets say all things stay equal, and we don't fall any further behind and maybe even make up ground based on other teams beating the Dodgs and the D-backs.

• August 14, 2008

  1:36 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  BoostHard writes:

  Fuentes just proves he is human, ya he has almost given me 2 heart attacks in the last couple weeks, but he earned both saves and we got the "W" thats all that matters
  Rockies were 6+ games back in Sept last year.

  This thing is not over!

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