If the Rockies’ offensive season could be captured in a single scene, it unfurled in the seventh inning Wednesday at Coors Field. Cleanup hitter Preston Wilson dug in at the plate, squaring off against San Francisco Giants reliever Jim Brower with two runners on base.
Wilson, flickering toward a hot streak during this homestand, relishes these moments, defining himself by meaningful RBIs. Brower, known for his fastball, fanned Wilson on a nasty slider.
The scoring threat dissolved. But the frustration was palpable.
The Rockies don’t have another off day until June 9, but Wednesday their bats took the day off in a 3-2 loss before a crowd of 18,620.
“I didn’t get it done today,” said Wilson, waiting for reporters when the team’s clubhouse opened. “You don’t forget about it. Even though it was a bad day, you have to learn something from it.”
What the Rockies have discovered painfully and repeatedly is they can’t win with a mere offensive ripple. They are 0-10 in games in which they have scored fewer than three runs, a chilling statistic that has clouded Shawn Chacon’s season.
In his return to the rotation, Chacon has emerged as the Rockies’ best starter. He hasn’t allowed more than three runs in his past four games and has three losses and a no-decision.
The only damage inflicted by the Giants came from two solo home runs. Yet Chacon, who battled through a dead-arm phase a few weeks ago, sat slumped at his locker trying to put a good face on his bad luck.
“Every year there are certain guys on certain teams that for whatever reason when they pitch their team loses,” said Chacon, bolstered by terrific movement on his cut fastball and sharp-breaking curve. “I know if I keep doing what I am doing, it will turn around.”
Chacon’s statistics were left hollow by a lack of timely hitting, a problem that has gnawed at the Rockies during their 11-26 start. They were 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position, stranding eight from the fifth through the eighth inning.
“I feel bad for Chac. … All we can do is score two runs for him?” opined catcher Todd Greene. “It’s a joke.”
The punchless at-bats left the Rockies in position to be floored in the ninth inning. If the Giants dwelled on the past, they would bemoan the absence of slugger Barry Bonds in situations like this.
His contribution Wednesday amounted to a medical update. He has been cleared to begin taking oral antibiotics instead of an IV for his knee infection, making him more mobile, according to Giants trainer Stan Conte.
It was left to utility player Deivi Cruz to walk backward into the ninth-inning spotlight. Manager Felipe Alou wanted him to sacrifice to move the runner. Heck, when he swung against Rockies closer Brian Fuentes, Alou admitted: “I don’t even know if I took the bunt off. I thought I had it on.”
Confusion created elation as Cruz smacked a fastball off the right-field wall – it was so far outside it looked liked a pitch-out – plating Pedro Feliz with the go-ahead run.
“It was a bad pitch,” said Fuentes, the Rockies’ indefinite closer with Chin-Hui Tsao advised to have shoulder surgery. “That’s all there is to it.”
Atkins showing talent on healthy homestand
This was supposed to his breakthrough season. Instead, his hamstring broke down on the eve of opening day.
Rockies third baseman Garrett Atkins, back from injury, finally is settling in offensively after showing so much promise during spring training. Atkins posted his second- consecutive multihit game – even if one was generously scored on a groundball to shortstop Omar Vizquel.
After collecting two hits Wednesday against the Giants, Atkins is 8-for-22 on a homestand that concludes today. He has raised his average to .291.
“I feel like I am getting pretty close to where I want to be, but I am still not swinging the bat great,” Atkins said.
Miceli in the mix
With pitcher Chin-Hui Tsao lost for the season, the Rockies signed veteran Dan Miceli to a minor-league contract, with a five-week window to make a decision on his status. Miceli, who hasn’t pitched for about a month since parting ways with the Tokyo Giants, will report today to extend spring training, where he will remain until the end of the month before going to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Miceli can opt out of his contract on June 25. He will receive $12,000 a month in the minors and $600,000 overall if he joins the Rockies. He signed with the Rockies because of opportunity and familiarity, having pitched successfully for the club in 2001 and 2003.
Staff writer Troy Renck can be reached at 303-820-5457 or trenck@denverpost.com.
