There was a moment Tuesday, with more than five innings to play, when the game was won. Juan Pierre dug into the box, waved his bat and swatted a home run.
Pierre, who had gone two presidents and 728 at-bats without going deep at Coors Field, planted a souvenir in the fourth row of the right-field seats. NASA hasn’t commissioned a study, but it’s safe to assume when a master bunter finishes a double shy of the cycle, his team rarely loses.
“Probably everybody on the team was like, ‘If Juan can get something, I know we can do it,”‘ Pierre said. “I am sure it lifted the whole team up.”
After the Florida Marlins’ 9-3 victory at Coors Field, Pierre referred affectionately to his eighth career home run as his first “no-doubter.” The only certainty with the Rockies is bullpen changes are looming.
“We were missing badly with pitches,” pitching coach Bob Apodaca said. “That’s how a close game turns into an ambush. Any decision we make will be well thought out.”
The Rockies’ 13th loss in 19 games – they need three victories this week to avoid their worst April – left them mulling two notable options: Who will be optioned out, and when should 20-year-old Marcos Carvajal be inserted into critical situations?
According to general manager Dan O’Dowd, Byung-Hyun Kim, Ryan Speier and began the game needing to show improvement. Of the group, Dohmann suffered a hiccup, failing to retire a batter in the Marlins’ demoralizing five-run seventh inning.
“There’s nothing to pinpoint. I gave up back-to-back triples,” Dohmann said. “That’s the bottom line.”
Veteran Jay Witasick remains the most obvious in-house replacement candidate, and the Rockies continue to explore trade avenues. Moving Carvajal, who hasn’t allowed a run in 7 2/3 innings, into a more important role is becoming increasingly appealing.
“Why not?” said bench coach Jamie Quirk, filling in for manager Clint Hurdle, ordered to miss the game by the team doctor because of a dangerously high fever and flu-like symptoms. “Let’s find out. We might have something and not even know it.”
Added Carvajal: “I am ready. I want it.”
Pierre wasn’t seeking his first home run in Denver, but acknowledged it was on his mind after a pregame discussion. Playing every day for the Rockies from Aug. 7, 2000, through the 2002 season, he never came close. His fourth-inning blast required no help, easily clearing the right-field wall.
“That’s a good way to put it,” said Rockies first baseman when asked if Pierre’s home run summarized the loss. “We had our chances. You can’t let a good pitcher like (Josh) Beckett breathe.”
The Rockies built a 3-0 advantage early, propped up by RBIs from Pres- ton Wilson and . Jamey Wright, however, dissolved before the Rockies’ eyes after five strong innings just as Beckett grew stronger. He relied more on off-speed pitches, then threw a changeup in the batter’s box, sealing Wright’s exit with a blistered two-run double.
“I guess anytime you get a hit it’s great,” said Beckett, 3-0 at Coors Field with a 3.79 ERA, “especially because I am not that good a hitter.”
Staff writer Troy Renck can be reached at 303-820-5457 or trenck@denverpost.com.
