Dustan Mohr tugged on his shirt, peeked down at the floor and tried not to smile.
The Rockies had just delivered a crowbar to the Florida Marlins’ shins, sweeping a doubleheader Monday afternoon 4-3 and 5-3, and the outfielder was asked a rather odd question.
If somebody had told you in spring training that on Aug. 9 you’d be leading the Rockies in home runs, what would you have said?
“That you are crazy,” Mohr said. “I would have figured that (Todd) Helton would have three times as many as me. Weird stuff just happens.”
These aren’t the Rockies fans remember. They aren’t the Blake Street Bombers, who burped 400-foot shots and turned Coors Field into a pinball machine. These are the days of the humidor, the hit-and-run and the occasional souvenir.
Through 112 games, Mohr represents the current team’s high-water mark with 12 home runs. None was more memorable as a Rockie than the 11th-inning blast to left field that began the Marlins’ miserable layover in Denver.
Mohr reacted to his walk-off shot with unbridled emotion, flinging his helmet toward the dugout as he disappeared into a mosh pit at home plate. Mohr is on pace for 17 home runs, one more than Helton, who is expected back Wednesday from a rehab assignment.
The fewest hit by a team leader is Charlie Hayes’ 25 in the inaugural 1993 season.
“I am aware of it. It’s something that we joke around about in here,” said Mohr, who missed the season’s first month after straining his calf celebrating Clint Barmes’ game-winning blast opening day. “Hey, if it means something for fans that I get to 20, I will go for it.”
Mohr made his comments in jest. He knows that version 2005 of the Rockies is more about Go-Go than Gone-Gone. The Rockies’ starting lineup in the first game had 37 home runs, two more than baseball’s leader Andruw Jones.
Preston Wilson, now a member of the Washington Nationals, hit 15 home runs this season as Rockie before being traded last month.
On a day when two home runs were the difference – Mohr’s and Danny Ardoin’s in the second game – Colorado spent Monday applying baseball’s version of a full-court press. They bunted – Ardoin’s safety squeeze sent the opener into extra innings – they hit and ran – even if it cost them dearly when Matt Holliday was thrown out – they moved runners with groundballs.
“They are becoming more comfortable with what I want them to do,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “They know we can’t sit around and wait for the three-run home run.”
Even Marlins manager Jack McKeon left impressed with the Rockies’ tenacity. Florida began the day in second place and left tied for last in the National League East. “They outhustled us, they outscrapped us,” McKeon said. “They wanted it more than we did.”
Sunny Kim was certainly motivated. He started the opener in what amounted to an “American Idol” audition. Hit a sour note and he might have been gone. Kim worked four innings, leaving with a blister on his right thumb.
“This was important for me to show my new team what I could do,” said Kim, hopeful that his injury will heal quickly so he can work out of the bullpen.
Byung-Hyun Kim started the nightcap, the first time two pitchers with the same last name started a doubleheader for the same team since the Perrys – Gaylord and Jim – in 1974. Byung-Hyun called it “cool.”
Two Kims, two wins was ultimately trumped by one home run.
Turn on the power
With Todd Helton injured and Preston Wilson traded, Dustan Mohr leads the Rockies in home runs with 12 and is projected to finish with 17.
Year Player HR
2005 Dustan Mohr (projected) 17
2004 Jeremy Burnitz 37
2003 Preston Wilson 36
2002 Todd Helton 30
2001 Todd Helton 49
2000 Todd Helton 42
1999 Larry Walker 37
1998 Vinny Castilla 46
1997 Larry Walker 49
1996 Andres Galarraga 47
1995 Dante Bichette 40
1994 Andres Galarraga 31
1993 Charlie Hayes 25
Rockies recap
It wasn’t Lance Painter in the playoffs, but it raised eyebrows nonetheless. In the 10th inning of a tie game, reliever Scott Dohmann hit for himself, grounding out to second. Dohmann, who has returned to his old arm slot, won his first major-league game moments later, but it prompted another question: Where was Larry Bigbie?
Turns out the outfielder, acquired last month for Eric Byrnes, was hurt. He injured his right shoulder ramming up against a wall at Bank One Ballpark, leaving him unavailable Monday.
“It should be fine,” Bigbie said. “I just banged it up a little bit.”
Dohmann’s victory was a strong thread in a terrific day for the Rockies’ bullpen. The Rockies’ relievers worked nine innings in the doubleheader, allowing one run.
HELTON CLOSER: First baseman Todd Helton began the first of a potential two-game rehab assignment at Triple-A Colorado Springs. He was 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI in a 2-1 win over Memphis. Helton, who strained his left calf touching second base awkwardly two weeks ago, is eligible to return Wednesday.
ROSTER SHUFFLE: The bullpen gassed, the Rockies promoted reliever Ryan Speier for the second game. Eddy Garabito was farmed out to make room. Sunny Kim bought time with his decent outing in the afternoon game.
Staff writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-820-5447 or trenck@denverpost.com.
