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Rockies fade in familiar ending vs. Cardinals

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published May 5, 2008 at 10:21 p.m.

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Rockies shortstop Omar Quintanilla applies the tag to put out Cardinals baserunner Adam Kennedy at second base in the fifth inning. Kennedy was trying to stretch a single into a double.

Photo by David Zalubowski / Associated Press

Rockies shortstop Omar Quintanilla applies the tag to put out Cardinals baserunner Adam Kennedy at second base in the fifth inning. Kennedy was trying to stretch a single into a double.

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Five innings into the Rockies' 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field on Monday night, the emotional roller coaster that has been Colorado's season was encaptured.

There was right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez faced with the challenge of Adam Kennedy having been given a one-out triple in the first on an overzealous fielding effort by right fielder Brad Hawpe. And Albert Pujols, arguably the most intimidating offensive force in the post-Bonds era, at the plate.

Jimenez not only struck out Pujols on four pitches - a ball, two fouls and a swinging third strike - but then got out of the inning with a three-pitch strikeout of Rick Ankiel, the left-handed-hitting cleanup hitter for the Cardinals.

"You see so many good things, you want to find a way to help him get it done," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said of Jimenez.

Three innings later, with two out and two runners on base, Jimenez got ahead of fellow pitcher Joel Pineiro 0-2, only to see Pineiro battle through a 10-pitch at-bat that ended when he lined a two-run single into the left-field corner.

"You would like to believe that in that situation, he could find a way to put away the pitcher, but (Pineiro) extends the (at-bat) after falling behind early," Hurdle said.

Such is life with the defending National League champion Rockies, who lost for the 12th time in 16 games - the 12th time in which Aaron Cook hasn't started a game - and saw the opposition come from behind for the victory for the ninth time in that stretch.

Jimenez wasn't the pitcher of record, but he does symbolize the hope that hasn't been fulfilled for the Rockies, playing such a key role after being called up in July in the Rockies' pennant run but not being able to build off that so far this year.

Jimenez left with the score 4-4 after five innings.

Brian Fuentes was burdened with the loss in a turn of events that underscored just what a frustration the season is becoming for the Rockies, who have lost nine of 14 at Coors Field, including six of their past eight.

Cardinals left-hander Randy Flores gave up the tying run in an eighth inning in which the Rockies put together three consecutive one-out singles - by Chris Iannetta, Jonathan Herrera and Ryan Spilborghs on a nubber in front of the plate - before Yorvit Torrealba and Omar Quintanilla struck out to strand runners on second and third. Flores was credited with the victory.

Fuentes gave up a one-out double to Pujols, who then took advantage of a slow roller off the bat of Ankiel and the inexperience of second baseman Herrera, who has been in the majors only five days, to score the deciding run from second base.

"It's not necessarily the way you expect Albert Pujols to beat you," Hurdle said.

But then, this hasn't necessarily been the way the Rockies thought their season would begin in the aftermath of a late-season rush - winning 14 of the final 15 regular-season games - to reach the postseason.

They then swept Philadelphia in the NL Division Series and Arizona in the NL Championship Series before being swept by Boston in the Rockies' World Series debut.

Injuries have taken a toll of late, particularly with the loss of shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, most likely until the All-Star break with a torn tendon in his upper left quadriceps, but this is a season that has gone haywire since the Rockies started the season losing two of three in St. Louis.

The Rockies haven't had a winning record since a 2-1 season-opening win against the Cardinals.

"It's the way things are going for us," Hurdle said. "They key is not to point fingers but to just play better."

There were hints of better times Monday. The Rockies scored in each of the first two innings - Matt Holliday doubled with two out and scored on Todd Helton's single in the first, and Brad Hawpe homered in the second.

They fell behind 3-2 in the fourth but answered with two runs in the bottom of that inning, with an assist from the defensive troubles of Cardinals left fielder Chris Duncan.

And after the Cardinals regained the lead in the eighth, they came back in the bottom of the inning but had no answer in the ninth.

"The players are going to have to help us find our way out of this by having better at-bats at critical times and by making better pitches in critical situations," Hurdle said.

Three keys

Three keys to the Rockies' 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night at Coors Field:

1 First baseman Albert Pujols is known for his big bat, but give him credit for hustle, and scoring the go-ahead run from second base on Rick Ankiel's slow roller to second base. Rookie second baseman Jonathan Herrera never anticipated Pujols going all the way home.

2 Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez had two outs with runners on first and second in the fourth, and got ahead of pitcher Joel Pineiro 1-2. But Pineiro worked the count full and on the 10th pitch of the at-bat, yanked a two-run double into the left-field corner.

3 Jimenez walked Skip Schumaker to start the fifth, and he scored the tying run, and Taylor Buchholz walked Troy Glaus to start the eighth and pinch-runner Brendan Ryan scored the go-ahead run.

Etc.

Aaron Cook became the fourth major league pitcher to win four straight starts while the rest of his team was 0-11 or worse, joining Joe Bowman with the Reds in 1945, Duane Pillette with the Orioles in 1954 and Lamar native Scott Elarton with Houston in 2000, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. . . . When Rockies right fielder Brad Hawpe overran Aaron Miles' third-inning single it was only the second error for the Rockies in the last nine games. . . . The Cardinals four-game visit to Coors Field this week concludes the season series between the teams. The Rockies have yet to play a game against National League members Florida, the New York Mets, Washington, Cincinnati, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh. . . . Former Rockies left-hander Ron Villone, who came on in relief, is with his 11th major league team, one short of the record held by Mike Morgan. Villone went 1-3 with a 6.36 ERA in 22 appearances (six starts) with the Rockies in 2001. . . . Colorado starting pitchers have walked 86 batters, most in the NL. San Francisco is second with 81. . . . Right-hander Mike Parisi, called up by St. Louis from Triple-A Memphis (Tenn.) when Anthony Reyes was sent down Sunday, made his major league debut in the sixth inning. . . . Pujols was intentionally walked in the seventh, allowing him to reach base in all 33 games this season, tying his personal best to start a season set in 2005.

TAKING A SHOT

Todd Ritchie, 37, who hasn't pitched in three years, is looking to make a comeback. The Rockies are giving him a chance. Ritchie signed a minor league deal and reported to extended spring training in Tucson.

Agent Alan Hendricks compared Ritchie's situation with right-hander Chad Fox, who, after being out of the game for three years, made the Cubs out of spring training.

"These guys stay close to the game, giving pitching lessons, working out, and after a couple years, their arms are rejuvenated," Hendricks said.

Farm director Marc Gustafson said by having Ritchie in extended spring training, the club can evaluate him more thoroughly than by watching a workout.

CHALLENGES

For all the concerns about right-hander Kip Wells, who will undergo surgery today to remove blood clots from his right hand, Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said it is Wells' wife, Emily, who is facing the biggest challenges.

"She is in a tough position," Hurdle said. "She had a baby situation to deal with and now Kip."

Wells' 11-month old daughter underwent surgery Friday to remove a growth from her spinal cord that was pressing on the nerves to her eyes. Emily Wells also is pregnant again.

Dr. Rob Thompson, who will perform the surgery at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, is the same doctor who removed a blood clot from Wells' right arm in March 2006. Thompson will attempt to determine if there is a connection.

How long Wells will be out won't be determined until after the surgery. A source close to Wells said he could be back as soon as the end of the month, depending on the severity of the problem, or he might be done for the season.

"This isn't about Kip getting well enough to pitch," Hurdle said. "It's about getting Kip well."

PITCHING IN

The Rockies are believed to have shown interest in former Colorado right-hander Josh Fogg, now with Cincinnati. Hurdle said left-hander Franklin Morales will make his first start for Triple-A Colorado Springs on Sunday, then work regularly in the Sky Sox rotation. . . . . Right-hander Luis Vizcaino (sore right shoulder) played catch in the outfield with no pain. He will have a bullpen session Wednesday.

Comments

  • May 5, 2008

    10:34 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    sickandtired writes:

    What exactly was it that Jason Nix did so badly that he's been banished to the minors already? The winning run scoring from second on a groundout?

    And WHAT exactly has Fuentes done since he made the All-Star game last year to lead anyone to believe he should have the ball in the ninth anymore?

    Help me out here, someone please.

  • May 6, 2008

    1:21 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Chadley25 writes:

    I'm also at a loss... I suppose I could look at some raw numbers, but since Fuentes blew all those save opportunities on last year's disastrous 1-9 road trip, I don't see why the Rockies brass is so keen on him. Every time he takes the ball and we don't have a minimum of a 5-run lead (which, this year, is pretty much never), I just start sweating.

  • May 6, 2008

    9:30 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    alanbl writes:

    Hurdle should take a cue from Tony LaRussa's playbook. When Pineiro started to screw up, LaRussa didn't hesitate to pull him. All the signs were there that Jimenez was going to blow it again and Hurdle keeps him pitching!

  • May 6, 2008

    9:52 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    RockiesBigDog writes:

    This is one of the times that Clint Hurdle thought too much about his plan for the next inning and not about the moment. Pinch hitting Torrealba for Posednik --- ouch. Torrealba a notorious fastball only hitter to face Flores a pitcher whose out pitches are the curve and the slider. Let Posednik hit (even being 0-4). Roll the dice and let the best bunter on the team try to score Herrera from third. The Cardinals had just whiffed on Spilbourghs "swinging" bunt..what was there to lose. The worst case is Herrera is out at home, but you have speedy runners on at first and second with two out and you pinch hit Barmes. "Oh I think we think too much........."

  • May 6, 2008

    1:57 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    FreeToChoose writes:

    Tracy,
    How's your World Series prediction looking now that the pitching staff has pretty much blown up (Cook, Fuentes, Herges and Bucholtz excepted), Tulow disappeared even before he was hurt and the top of the order has become an OBP black hole?

  • May 6, 2008

    5:09 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Deal writes:

    The unfortunate thing about yesterdays game was the inexperience at second base. If Herrera would have looked over at second and held Pujlos before making the throw, then he never would have scored. I still have faith in the Rocks and I know they will put it together.

  • May 7, 2008

    3:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    FreeToChoose writes:

    See what you did Tracy?

    You helped create overblown expectations for this team this spring, and now as they struggle to put the pieces together this year, the fans will just get onry. And on this page they're already downright hateful!

    I still think Manny Corpas is the real deal and will come around. Hopefully Tulow will come back healthy and rediscover his stroke.
    Between Morales and Jimenez, chances are one of them will pan out as a big league pitcher... my guess is it will be Jimenez... but this is a 2009-10 projection. They should have been holding down the #5 spot and doing spot starts in their first full season... not getting chewed up on a regular basis. But too many overblown expectations launched them into the #3 and 4 spots!

    Then there's the top of the order. Willy Taveras is not an everyday centerfielder and leadoff man. Clint Barmes may be able to hold down second, but can he fill in the #2 spot in the order? The Rockies are near the bottom of the league in OBP out of the top two spots. That's not good enough if you want Helton, Holliday and Atkins to see pitches they can drive. Brad Hawpe? He's really a younger Joeff Jenkins and will end up in a platoon situation eventually unless he improves his numbers against lefties and away from Coors Field. Of the contracts the Rockies signed this off-season, this might be the one they regret the most.

    But in the end, it's hard to win consistency in this league with 2/5 of a legitimate starting rotation (I'll give Francis the benefit of the doubt that he'll come around) AND a black hole at the top of your batting order!

    Maybe it's time to promote Ian Stewart, trade Atkins and Willy Taveras to pry a legitimate lead-off hitter away from somebody or stockpile more young arms... then let Iannetta take over behind the dish for good. I bet Iannetta and Stewart can equal or surpass Atkins and Torrealba's combined output in a relatively short period of time.

    But it sure doesn't look like THIS collection of players is going to repeat last year's lightening in a bottle any time soon, so hopefully management starts rethinking things a bit.