Flash back to a day in late March at Tucson’s Hi Corbett Field.
Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba, bruised and battered, his right shoulder tied in knots, could not make a big-league throw to second base. His plan to be a full-time starter – as well as the Rockies’ hopes of getting some offensive punch from the catching position – was in tatters.
Turns out Torrealba’s plan wasn’t canceled, just put on indefinite hold.
Wednesday afternoon, Torrealba cracked a grand slam to left in the second inning off Oliver Perez in the Rockies’ 16-9 win over Pittsburgh, giving Colorado its first series victory since sweeping Toronto on May 19-21.
“It’s really been a long road back for me, but I think I can help the team now,” Torrealba said after bagging the Rockies’ first slam of the season, the second of his career. “It was frustrating to get hurt in spring training, but I feel really close now. I’m right there.”
After an extensive rehab, he was reinstated to the big-league roster Friday. Torrealba started slowly, going 1-for-11 in his first three games. But he had a key RBI double Tuesday night in Colorado’s 5-4 win. He was 1-for-2 on Wednesday, adding a sacrifice fly to his slam and tying his career high with five RBIs.
“We have just been waiting on him to get healthy and put him in play,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “We think he’s going to be a big addition.”
Torrealba’s return and the continued brilliance of second baseman Jamey Carroll have been like a downpour in the desert for the Rockies’ parched offense. Before the two-game deluge that produced 21 runs in less than 24 hours against the Pirates, the Rockies had scored 21 runs in 10 games, losing eight.
“I think winning that close game (Tuesday night) relaxed us, and then we just came out and swung the bats today,” Torrealba said. “Hopefully this can be the start of something for us.”
The Rockies had 14 hits – Todd Helton was the only position player without a hit – and set a National League record with five sacrifice flies in a game. Carroll, after going 4-for-4 with a homer Tuesday night, went 4-for-6 and scored three runs Wednesday, becoming the first Rockies player to have at least four hits in consecutive games since Juan Pierre on Sept. 20-21, 2002, against Arizona.
“Jamey’s been an absolute catalyst at the top of the order,” Hurdle said. “He’s been all over the ballpark, making catches, turning double plays and working counts. It’s just what we needed.”
It didn’t hurt that the Pirates’ pitching staff issued nine walks. Perez allowed nine runs, walked four and threw 62 pitches before getting the hook after just two innings.
On a hot day when baseballs were hopping at Coors Field, Colorado’s pitchers were battered, too. Starter Josh Fogg lasted just 4 1/3 innings, ending a streak of 23 straight games in which the Rockies starter pitched at least five innings. Fogg gave up eight runs, including a 448-foot, two-run homer to Jeromy Burnitz in the second inning. Colorado pitchers issued seven walks, three from Fogg.
After a breather today, the Rockies host the sizzling Los Angeles Dodgers and ace Brad Penny on Friday night.
Staff writer Patrick Saunderscan be reached at 303-820-5459 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
