Milwaukee – The most unsettling thing about losing 6-1 to the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night for the Rockies was not that they were reduced to splattered windshield bugs by Victor Santos, a pitcher they released in 2002 because he was in danger of line drives getting embedded in his cap.
Nor was it the RBI double by slick-fielding shortstop J.J. Hardy, who entered the game hitting 26 points below his 181-pound weight.
No, what was most troubling is Jeff Francis didn’t pitch well. This season is about growth – even when measured in millimeters on some nights – and Francis’ continued ascension goes a long way in soothing repetitive defeats.
Rather than serve as a delightful interruption from the pain, the rookie was the source of it. In Francis’ worst start since his season debut, the Brewers banged him around for nine hits and six runs.
“They made me pay,” said Francis, “for every one of my mistakes.”
For all intents and purposes, the game was over before the the announced crowd of 17,759 gorged on their first bratwurst. After Brady Clark’s leadoff single and a walk to Jeff Cirillo, Carlos Lee swaggered to the plate.
Acquired from the White Sox for Scott Podsednik, a trade that has worked out well for both teams, Lee was brought in to play the heavy. He flexed his muscle on an 86-mph fastball, smoking his 10th home run into the left-field bleachers.
A three-run deficit is Mount Everest for the Rockies on this road trip. They have scored 13 runs in their past five games, leaving pitchers no margin for error.
“Three-run homers usually beat you no matter when they are,” acting manager Jamie Quirk said after the team’s 28th road loss in 32 games dating to last season. “And we didn’t do anything offensively. We need to play a little more energetic, smart, quality baseball. ”
Todd Helton, who snapped an 0-for-17 slump with a fifth-inning single, was the only starter with more than two years’ major-league experience. Citing his recent illness and a better matchup today, Quirk gave Preston Wilson a second day off against the cleanup hitter’s wishes.
“I told them I was ready to play, and I thought I was going to be in there,” Wilson said. “Whatever, I guess they didn’t listen to me.”
A young lineup proved no match for Santos, a sentence never written when he pitched for the Rockies. Santos, who broke a four-game losing streak, compiled a 10.38 ERA in his forgettable stay with Colorado. That was before he learned a changeup and gained better command of his fastball, both of which were on display against the Rockies.
The Rockies reached Santos for only a single run on Brad Hawpe’s homer to left field. Pitching coach Bob Apodaca was asked if frustration with the offense has infected the pitching staff, forcing them to believe brilliance is required to win.
“It’s always an industry problem. Everything is magnified when runs aren’t being scored, and each pitching mistake becomes obvious,” Apodaca said. “You have to guard against them trying to be perfect, which gets them defensive and less aggressive. Eventually we are going to score more.”
Hurdle still in Denver
Manager Clint Hurdle remained in Denver with his hospitalized daughter, Madison, on a day she made progress. Doctors haven’t determined the cause of her seizures, but Madison was alert Tuesday and feeling better, according to Rockies trainer Keith Dugger.
“Clint had a nice visit with her,” Dugger said.
With the blessing of his bosses, Hurdle will not rejoin the team until Madison is discharged.
Wilson sits
Though his sinus infection improved, leaving him ready to play, Preston Wilson remained out of the lineup. Wilson wasn’t happy about it, but is expected to start today and at least three of four games in Chicago. Said acting manager Jamie Quirk: “I thought I would leave him out, let him rest up and get 100 percent. And I like the matchups better (today).”
Hawpe homers
Brad Hawpe continues to quietly have a solid year. With his fourth-inning blast, he leads the Rockies in road home runs (three) and RBIs (10).
Staff writer Troy Renck can be reached at 303-820-5457 or trenck@denverpost.com.
