Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

Beating Sheets a Rusch for Rockies

Atkins provides pair of homers to help ex-Brewer

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 9, 2008 at 8:37 p.m.

Text size  
Colorado's Garrett Atkins is congratulated by Matt Holliday Atkins' two-run homer in the sixth inning of the Rockies-Brewers game Wednesday night in Milwaukee. Atkins added a second homer, a solo shot, later in the game.

Morry Gash © AP

Colorado's Garrett Atkins is congratulated by Matt Holliday Atkins' two-run homer in the sixth inning of the Rockies-Brewers game Wednesday night in Milwaukee. Atkins added a second homer, a solo shot, later in the game.

The Key . . .

Moment: The Rockies worked the pitch count of Brewers right- hander Ben Sheets, and it paid off. Matt Holliday worked Sheets for a one-out walk in the sixth, and two pitches later, the 97th pitch Sheets threw in the game, Garrett Atkins delivered a two- run home run that gave the Rockies a 3-1 lead. It was only the third time in 10 starts Sheets has allowed three runs or more.

Player: Third baseman Atkins had the go-ahead two-run home run in the sixth off Sheets and he homered off Guillermo Mota in the eighth. Atkins also singled off Sheets. He has 12 RBI in nine games this month after driving in only 12 runs in June.

Stat: 68 runs by the Rockies in nine games this month, most in the National League. The Mets are second with 62 and Florida is third with 57.

Related Links

Related Stories

More Colorado Rockies

More stories »

The idea of going up against CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets on back-to-back nights in the middle games of a four-game series against the Brewers intrigued Rockies manager Clint Hurdle.

"Our guys like a challenge," he said. "Should be interesting."

It was.

The Rockies had their shot at Sabathia but couldn't come up with the big hit and the big play Tuesday night.

Sheets was a different story. The Rockies made good on their opportunities and wound up with an 8-3 victory Wednesday night.

"We have guys who expect to go out and put themselves in position to win games," Hurdle said.

Expectations haven't been met as often as the Rockies would like most of this season. But there might be a rumbling of a good thing getting started right now.

The Rockies have won seven of nine to pull 61/2 games behind National League West-leading Arizona and one-half game behind third-place San Francisco.

They even have shown life on the road, where, after splitting their first 12 games of the season, they had arrived in Milwaukee having lost 26 of 33 outside Coors Field.

The Rockies go into today's game against the Brewers with a chance to claim the four-game series.

"We know what it takes," Hurdle said. "It's a matter of doing what it takes."

Mission accomplished at the expense of Sheets, a member of Hurdle's NL All-Star staff and the winner of 11 of 14 decisions this year but a victim of a keep- 'em-close effort from former teammate Glendon Rusch and a Rockies offense keyed by two home runs from Garrett Atkins.

Rusch, battling to extend his career at age 33, filled the rotation spot vacated by the demotion of rookie Greg Reynolds to Triple-A Colorado Springs and put on a pitching clinic. The only blemish in his six-inning effort was Bill Hall's leadoff home run in the second.

It was a far cry from the two- year struggle he had with the Brewers in 2002 and 2003 when he was a combined 11-28, including 1-12 the second season.

"Don't think so," Rusch said when asked if he thought Brewers fans recognized him. "I didn't do this too many times when I was over here."

And he hasn't done it very often anywhere of late. Trying to come back after missing last season because of a blood clot in his lung, he already has been released by San Diego and demoted to the minor leagues once by the Rockies this year.

"Sometimes you get in a rut and lose confidence and, I wouldn't say you pitch scared, but you are tentative," Rusch said. "The big difference (Wednesday) is I went after hitters and made them swing at my pitches."

The Brewers and their fans should be getting to know Atkins. Thanks to a two-run home run off Sheets in the sixth that gave the Rockies a 3-1 lead and a solo home run that ignited a two- out, four-run rally off Guillermo Mota in the eighth, he is 20-for-35 with 13 RBI in his past 10 games against Milwaukee.

And what Atkins didn't do, Scott Podsednik, another former Brewer, did. Podsednik found himself starting in center field for the first time in 31 days and responded with two run-scoring singles, including driving in the first run off Sheets, who struck out seven of the first nine batters he faced.

The Rockies' plan was to pile up multipitch at-bats, hoping that eventually the strong arms could be worn down. They had Sabathia on the ropes in the sixth inning of Tuesday's loss but couldn't get the hit to break open the game.

But they were successful against Sheets, who saw Atkins turn the 97th pitch he threw in the game into the two-run home run that gave the Rockies a 3-1 lead.

Seventeen of the 24 batters Sheets faced forced him to throw at least four pitches in the plate appearance.

Three of the seven who didn't made good on their early approach. Atkins homered on the second pitch of his at-bat. Rusch laid the first pitch he was thrown in the fifth down for a sacrifice bunt that set up Podsednik's run-scoring single on the third pitch of his at-bat.

"It is what we did so well last season, extended the opposing pitcher," Hurdle said. "It's something we have worked to regain this year, trying to get good looks, not firing too early, seeing if we can wear the opposing pitcher down."

Comments

  • July 10, 2008

    12:33 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    warrengfunk7 writes:

    I want to know how far Joe Koshansky's Home Run went; anyone know?

  • July 10, 2008

    7:41 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    SwolOne writes:

    Yo warrengfunk7 - Koshansky's bomb went as far as three of Helton's big flys. About 500'.

    That win last night was one of the Rockies' better ones this season. Sheets was really on top of his game and looked untouchable. Somehow Rusch kept the Rox in the game and the batting order broke through.

  • July 10, 2008

    9:47 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    arvada_mark writes:

    Why bag on Helton? He's only the greatest Rockies player ever. Hands down, without a doubt! There is no argument for any other player...Larry didn't play here long enough (and he played for 2 other teams). Kosh needs to work on his defense. And he needs to get hits or he'll find himself batting behind the pitcher (he's already after the catcher).

  • July 10, 2008

    3:07 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    wilburM writes:

    koshansky's HR: 421 feet I thought it was much longer than that, based on where it hit the scoreboard and the sound it made when it did so.

    http://www.hittrackeronline.com/top_t...

  • July 10, 2008

    3:24 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    mkcampin2 writes:

    IT WILL BE YEARS BEFORE THE ROCKIES EVER SEE ANY OTHER PLAYER

    WITH TODD HELTONS ABILITY FOR HITTING AND FIELDING.

    DONT FORGET HE WILL SOON BE 35 YEARS OLD (NOT 45).

    ONE OF THE BEST HITTERS IN THE LAST 50 YEARS....

    HALL OF FAMER.......................