After the Rockies beat the defending National League champion Astros 5-3 on Sunday afternoon to complete a three-game sweep, Houston manager Phil Garner fielded a simple question.
Does he think the Rockies can keep rolling?
“Certainly, if their starters keep taking them deep in the ballgames they can,” he said.
Therein lies the crux of the matter.
With a 19-13 record, the Rockies are alone in first place in the National League West. But there’s a long row to hoe – 130 more games, to be exact – and quality starting pitching is a must if the Rockies want to remain contenders.
Judging by what Rockies starters did during the just-completed five-game homestand, reason, not just hope, is driving the team’s high-octane optimism.
When Aaron Cook tossed eight superb innings Sunday – two runs and six hits allowed – it was the Rockies’ fourth solid performance by a starter in the past five games. Only Josh Fogg faltered, giving up five runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings in the Rockies’ 7-1 loss to Cincinnati Thursday night.
“The guys in this locker room aren’t surprised to see guys pitching this well,” closer Brian Fuentes said. “Does it usually all happen all at once? Usually not. But right now they’re running on all cylinders, and it’s great to see.”
Cook’s sterling performance came less than 24 hours after Jason Jennings spun a 5-0 shutout of the Astros. Perhaps quality starting pitching is contagious.
“It very well can be,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “Obviously there is a spirit of competition, and you can take the momentum of one guy’s start and turn it into momentum of your own.”
That’s what Cook did. Inspired by Jennings’ performance Saturday night, Cook took the mound hunting for a complete game to match Jennings’. Cook came up one inning short but pitched well. His 15 groundball outs were proof that his best stuff was working.
“I was pounding my sinker today on both sides of the plate,” Cook said. “I was mixing in some four-seamers, and I think I threw a handful of sliders all day.”
Cook got the run support he needed from Todd Helton, who hit a three-run homer to right-center in the fifth off Astros starter Fernando Nieve to give the Rockies a 4-1 lead. The Rockies took a 1-0 lead in the fifth when Matt Holliday doubled, then scored on Clint Barmes’ bloop double down the right-field line.
Helton, playing in his third game since returning from an intestinal ailment, showed he still has plenty of power despite losing 10 pounds during his time away.
“I’m feeling really good, and I’m just slowing things down. That’s all there is to it,” he said after hitting his second homer of the season.
Helton and those surrounding him in the heart of Colorado’s order are another reason the Astros left town impressed.
“I think they’re a much-improved team over last year,” veteran catcher Brad Ausmus said. “They’ve got some good, young hitters. It’s not just Todd Helton anymore. They have (Garrett) Atkins, Holliday, (Brad) Hawpe.
“You can’t just pitch around Helton and assume you’re going to get through it, because these guys around them are good, young hitters and they’re probably just going to get better with experience.”
Rock-solid rotation
The Rockies’ starting pitchers put up impressive numbers in the five-game homestand:
* Record: 3-1
* ERA: 2.65
* Complete-game shutouts: 1
THE LINES
Wednesday: Rockies 3, Reds 0
JEFF FRANCIS (W): 7 innings, 0 runs, 4 hits, 5 strikeouts, 1 walk
***
Thursday: Reds 7, Rockies 1
JOSH FOGG (L): 6 1/3 innings, 5 runs, 8 hits, 4 strikeouts, 2 walks
***
Friday: Rockies 5, Astros 4
BYUNG-HYUN KIM (ND): 7 innings, 4 runs, 7 hits, 9 strikeouts, 1 walk
***
Saturday: Rockies 5, Astros 0
JASON JENNINGS (W): 9 innings, 0 runs, 7 hits, 9 strikeouts, 1 walk
***
Sunday: Rockies 5, Astros 3
AARON COOK (W): 8 innings, 2 runs, 6 hits, 2 strikeouts, 2 walks
Staff writer Patrick Saunderscan be reached at 303-820-5459 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
* This story has been corrected. Because of a reporter’s error, the score after the Rockies’ Todd Helton hit a home run in the fifth inning was listed incorrectly. The three-run homer gave Colorado a 4-1 lead.
