Oakland manager Ken Macha leaned back in the dugout, listening to the question. Had he paid attention the free-falling scores at Coors Field? Given his Athletics swaggered into Denver with a 10-game winning streak, he could be forgiven if the statistical ebbs and flows of a National League park weren’t on his last Google search.
Nonetheless, he answered.
“Well, it’s got to be the humidor, right?” Macha asked with a grin. “I think we are going to call for an investigation.”
No need for former Sen. George Mitchell. The Rockies’ 7-0 victory presented two easily reachable conclusions: Byung- Hyun Kim’s funky arm angles can neutralize any lineup, and there’s no ball or ballpark that can mute Matt Holliday’s home run power.
For those who haven’t noticed, the scratch-and-whiff games have become the signature of Coors Field Light. Kim combined with three relievers – most notably rookie Ramon Ramirez, who induced a critical seventh-inning double-play ball from Jay Payton – to post the Rockies’ third home shutout this season, tying a franchise record with four months still to be played.
“(Kim) threw a lot of strikes,” Payton said. “I don’t know how he’s been pitching lately, but that’s the best I have ever seen him.”
The victory shoved the Rockies back to .500 and left them 1 1/2 games behind the division-leading Dodgers and Padres.
Before the game, Kim played video games, the graphics vivid on his high-definition monitor. A few hours later he appeared to be toying with the A’s as if he still had a joystick in his hand, surrendering just four hits, while striking out five in six innings. His effort was made more impressive by an illness.
Kim felt sick during his outing – “I think it was something I ate. I had the shakes,” he said – yet flawlessly executed a game plan. Given Oakland’s reputation for patience and working counts, Kim knew the importance of throwing first- pitch strikes.
With a delivery akin to a temper tantrum – he whips his arms into the air and finishes with a violent cross-body leg kick – Kim muzzled an A’s team that was averaging nearly six runs and batting .296 during its winning streak.
“My slider was better and I threw a few more changeups,” said Kim, challenged by manager Clint Hurdle to improve even though no Triple-A starters are pushing for a promotion. “I had good (command).”
In his daily all-star stumping, Holliday provided the only support necessary. In the first inning, he lined a Dan Haren fastball over the center-field fence – “It wasn’t my worst pitch,” Haren said – for his team-best 15th home run. Holliday is hitting .353, morphing into a Blake Street Bomber before the franchise’s eyes.
A number, not a nickname, resonated more with Holliday afterward.
“Hopefully this is the game that gets things turned around at home,” Holliday said. “We know that we are going to have to play a lot better than .500 here if we are going to contend.”
Staff writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-820-5447 or trenck@denverpost.com.
Torrealba beginning to find comfort zone
Yorvit Torrealba took a drink and a deep breath. His interrupted season finally is starting to take shape.
“I am feeling more comfortable,” said Torrealba, who missed the season’s first 10 weeks with a shoulder injury. “I am getting my timing back.”
Manager Clint Hurdle confirmed Monday that Torrealba, hit in the left thigh with a Danny Haren fastball in the seventh inning, is under evaluation as the team’s starting catcher, given every opportunity to secure the job. Torrealba’s offense is critical to lengthening the Rockies’ lineup.
He doubled in the second inning, and his eighth-inning single gave him 11 RBIs in 11 games.
GRASS IS GREENER, TALLER: When discussing the low run totals at Coors Field, Athletics manager Ken Macha pointed out how long the infield grass was. That came into play during the seventh inning when Jay Payton’s hard groundball screeched into a routine double play.
CENTER OF ATTENTION: With Cory Sullivan’s left thumb still swollen, Ryan Spilborghs started in center field. Sullivan said the injury felt better and joked, “I just need to hit the ball on the barrel and not get jammed.”
Making progress
The Rockies posted their fourth shutout of the season Monday with a 7-0 victory over Oakland. Last season, they didn’t get their fourth and final shutout until Sept. 24. A look at shutouts this season and last:
2006 Opponent Score
May 3 Cincinnati 3-0
May 6 Houston 5-0
May 29 at San Diego 5-0
June 19 Oakland 7-0
2005 Opponent Score
June 10 Detroit 2-0
June 30 at St. Louis 7-0
July 9 San Diego 1-0
Sept. 24 San Francisco 6-0
