As Sunday’s trading deadline ticked down, and as the contenders were stocking up and trying to get better, the Rockies took the field with their kiddie corps.
And on a cheery Sunday afternoon at Coors Field, the kids were more than all right.
Behind a pitching gem from 24-year-old lefty Jeff Francis and a nine-run fifth inning supercharged by a double and a two- run homer from right fielder Dustan Mohr, the Rockies clubbed Philadelphia 9-2 to end a four-game skid.
Francis, a legitimate rookie of the year candidate, improved to 10-7 and is now 10-2 at Coors Field. His 10 victories lead National League rookies.
Francis allowed four hits in six innings and tied his career high with eight strikeouts. His performance elicited a bold proclamation from manager Clint Hurdle.
“He’s been our most consistent starter this year, and that includes everybody who’s been here this year that isn’t here now,” Hurdle said. “He’s given us more good starts, and he’s flat-out pitched better than any pitcher we have.”
Francis was almost untouchable in the early going. He struck out Phillies right fielder Bobby Abreu in the first, then struck out the side in the second. By the fourth, he already had eight K’s in the scorebook. So fine was his stuff, four Phillies struck out with the bat resting on their shoulders.
“The kid has a lot of poise,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “I was impressed with the way he commanded the strike zone and used his changeup.”
Francis, however, didn’t latch on to the notion that Sunday’s performance was the best of his major-league career. But he did say that everything – his fastball, curve and changeup – was clicking.
“I was fortunate to throw all three pitches for strikes, or even balls, when I needed to,” he said. “I think when batters have three pitches in the back of their head, it’s tough to sit on one. I think that might have been the difference between previous starts.”
Francis should definitely keep his day job. His record under the sun is 7-2 with a 3.67 ERA in 12 career starts. In 16 starts under the lights, he’s 6-7 with a 6.38 ERA.
“I don’t think there’s any reason for that. It’s just something that’s happened,” he said.
The Rockies’ young starting lineup took the field Sunday with a grand total of 38 home runs combined. That’s not many, especially considering Atlanta’s Andruw Jones has 32.
But against the Phillies, the Rockies’ sleepy offense finally exploded. After nicking Phillies starter Jon Lieber for just one hit in the first four innings, they teed off in the fifth. Mohr’s two-run homer and Garrett Atkins’ three- run, bases-loaded double were the biggest blows. The Rockies’ nine runs and eight hits in one inning matched season highs.
Colorado’s shutout bid was spoiled in the eighth when the Phillies solved Rockies reliever Dan Miceli and managed their only two runs.
The Rockies finished their seven-game homestand with a 3-4 record – disappointing considering they opened with two straight victories over the New York Mets.
After a day off today, their first since the all-star break, the Colorado kids begin a six-game road trip in San Francisco on Tuesday night.
Rockies recap
Four years ago, then-University of Texas sophomore Omar Quintanilla wondered if he would play baseball again. Sunday, he made his major-league debut, starting at shortstop for the Rockies after a call-up from Triple-A Colorado Springs. In April 2001, Quintanilla was playing second base for Texas when he collided with a teammate going for a grounder up the middle. Quintanilla broke his nose as well as the orbital bone surrounding his eye socket. For months afterward, he suffered blurred vision, and he had real doubts he would play again. Sunday, the 23-year-old infielder got his first major-league hit, dumping a single to center in the fifth inning. He finished 1-for-3.
O CANADA: Rockies starter Jeff Francis won his 10th game of the season and joined Kirk McCaskill (12) with the California Angels in 1985 and Jason Dickson (13) with the Anaheim Angels in 1997 as the only Canadian-born rookies since 1980 to win 10 games in their rookie seasons.
Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-820-5459 or at psaunders@denverpost.com.
