Chicago – Two pitches. Two different outcomes.
One vivid explanation of why the duct-taped-together Chicago Cubs remain a contender and why the Rockies are free-falling toward oblivion.
In vanquishing the Rockies 5-1 at Wrigley Field on Saturday, the Cubs were opportunistic and inspired benefactors of multiple home runs from Derrek Lee.
In other words, they bore no resemblance to the Rockies, who limp into today’s game with just two wins on their road trip, an ugly stretch that has left them again flirting with the 40-win pace of the 1962 Mets.
“It was a bad day,” said Rockies starter Byung-Hyun Kim, a candidate to remain in the rotation if Jamey Wright struggles Monday. “I made a stupid pitch (to Lee).”
This game, like so many others, was defined by a pair of critical at-bats. After cruising through five innings, recording nine groundball outs, Kim faltered in the sixth, surrendering a leadoff triple to Todd Walker.
That brought up Lee, whose Nintendo numbers (.357 average, 16 home runs and 45 RBIs) made him the last player the Rockies should let beat them. Manager Clint Hurdle decided not to intentionally walk the first baseman, believing he would steal second, creating a worse predicament.
Kim intended to pitch around Lee, force him to chase a bad ball and get himself out. Instead, Lee crushed an 88-mph fastball to the left-field bleachers for his second homer of the day and fourth in two games.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this hot for this long,” Lee said.
Added Kim, making a spot start for injured Shawn Chacon: “I just missed my pitch. It was bad.”
Kim was operating with no wiggle room because of a doused fifth-inning rally. With the bases loaded, Rockies second baseman Luis Gonzalez rolled into a double play on a changeup from Glendon Rusch. Gonzalez was visibly disappointed in himself for “trying to pull a pitch I should have hit up the middle.”
His failure summarized an inept offense. Since leaving Coors Field, the Rockies are averaging 2.6 runs, batting .187 and are 8-for-65 with runners in scoring position.
“We have had our hitting woes,” Hurdle said. “And that was a big at-bat with (Gonzalez) that went the wrong way.”
The Rockies’ record – 14-33 – has left them open to experimentation. Catcher JD Closser is facing a Triple-A demotion, possibly as soon as Monday, in favor of Danny Ardoin, and Hurdle admitted Kim is being considered for a more permanent rotation spot because he’s more effective in that role and Wright is slumping this month (1-3, 7.43 ERA).
“We have given our starters ample opportunity to become productive and consistent. If there’s a situation where we make an adjustment and bump a guy, maybe we need to do it,” Hurdle said. “Jamey will get the ball (Monday) and have a stake in all this.”
Kim prefers starting. In two fill-in assignments, he has gone 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA.
“But we already have five guys here, so I don’t know what’s (next),” Kim said.
To split the Cubs series, the Rockies must collar Lee or avoid him. Easing the sting of Mark Prior’s fifth stint on the disabled list, Lee has gone 6-for-10 with six RBIs, injecting a sliver of hope into a Cubs season tainted by injuries.
“Where he’s at is a nice place to be,” center fielder Preston Wilson said. “I hope to visit there someday.”
Rockies recap
Dustan Mohr, fighting for scarce playing time, breathed life into his offensive statistics with an impressive Saturday. Hitless on the road trip in his previous nine at-bats, Mohr went 2-for-3 with two doubles, raising his average to .207.
Mohr has started 14 of the first 47 games, missing 18 because of a left calf injury. His absence created an opening for rookie Brad Hawpe, who is hitting .303 with five home runs.
RELIEVERS GETTING CLOSE: Scott Dohmann and Bobby Seay, recovering from a pectoral injury, have reappeared on the Rockies’ radar. Dohmann has pitched well in Triple-A Colorado Springs, and Seay hit 92 mph during his second Double-A rehab start. Because the bullpen has rebounded from a horrific April, manager Clint Hurdle said there’s no sense of urgency to make a move.
COOK MAKES PROGRESS: Aaron Cook, recovering from blood clots in his lungs, reached 94 mph during his start Thursday in extended spring training. He’s expected to pitch in Tucson on Monday before beginning a 20-day rehab assignment. Cook is considered to have the best stuff of any Rockies pitcher, and somebody will be moved out to make room for him.
Troy Renck can be reached at 303-820-5457 or trenck@denverpost.com.
