After his last start, Rockies ace Jason Jennings felt empty. After his 5-0 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night at Coors Field, he was elated.
Complete-game masterpieces have that magical effect on a pitcher.
Jennings’ gem came five days after the Rockies lost 2-0 in Atlanta when Tim Hudson threw a one-hitter. In that game, Jennings pitched his finest game of the season but came up a loser.
“Yeah, I thought about that game a lot, but I was still really happy with the way I pitched in it,” Jennings said. “We just ran into a tough guy in Hudson.”
Saturday night, Jennings – who has thrown 12 consecutive scoreless innings dating to the Braves game – turned his frustration loose on the Astros. The right-hander allowed just seven hits, struck out nine (one short of his career high) and walked one. Between the second and sixth innings, Jennings retired 12 batters in a row until Willy Taveras put down a surprise bunt for a single.
“I could tell just from the Astros’ swings how dirty J.J. was tonight,” first baseman Todd Helton said. “He was unbelievable. I’m sure this was one of the games he dreams about in the offseason.”
The crisp, 2-hour, 14-minute victory kept the Rockies in first place in the National League West and moved them five games above .500 for the first time this season.
Jennings’ shutout was the second of his career. The first one came in his major-league debut on Aug. 23, 2001, in New York against the Mets. On that memorable day, Jennings tossed a five-hitter.
“I think I pitched better tonight than I did my debut night,” Jennings said. “That was more special because it was my debut. But to do it at this place against a team that has really given me problems in the past makes it special.”
In four previous starts against Houston, Jennings was 0-3 with a 12.05 ERA.
Houston first baseman Lance Berkman, who went 1-for-3, tipped his cap to Jennings.
“He was aggressive in the zone, but didn’t throw too many pitches to hit,” Berkman said.
Rockies manager Clint Hurdle seemed almost as elated as his pitcher.
“That’s as good of a game as you are going to see here,” Hurdle said. “He was able to throw what he wanted, when he wanted. He got the ball by people and he never threw above 90 mph.”
The shutout was the Rockies’ second in their last three games. Colorado beat Cincinnati 3-0 on Thursday night, getting seven strong innings from Jeff Francis. Slowly but surely, the Rockies are building a starting rotation to match their already solid bullpen.
Houston’s Wandy Rodriguez came into Coors flashing more impressive credentials than Jennings, including a 4-0 record and 2.61 ERA. He departed with a loss after giving up five runs on seven hits in six innings.
While the Rockies had only seven hits, they put them to good use. Henry Ford would have been proud of the efficiency that went into manufacturing their first four runs.
They got two in the first when Jamey Carroll led off with a walk, stole second and scored on Choo Freeman’s single. Then Freeman stole second and scored on Todd Helton’s single.
Run No. 3 came in the second when catcher Miguel Ojeda doubled down the left-field line to score Clint Barmes.
In the fourth, Freeman flashed his speed to score the fourth run. He beat out an infield chopper for a single, moved to third on Helton’s single and scored on Garrett Atkins’ sacrifice fly to center.
Matt Holliday’s solo homer in the sixth put a final touch on one of the Rockies’ most satisfying games of the season.
Staff writer Patrick Saunderscan be reached at 303-820-5459 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
