Anaheim, Calif. – Matt Holliday has the ability to make kids show their fillings and feelings. When Holliday rocketed a ball off the faux rock façade in center field, a little boy gasped and mouthed the words, “Oh, my gosh.”
What made Tuesday night so unusual for the Rockies was that it was hard to discern when batting practice ended. The 18 hits just kept coming, a new line drive every second, zooming into gaps and over fences as Colorado buried the Angels 12-4 with bored onlookers bouncing beach balls around the stadium.
The violent nature of the attack intersected with a chilling reality: The Rockies, who never have won a division title, awoke this morning trailing the San Diego Padres by 1 1/2 games in the wheezing National League West.
“We have felt like we have been in this thing since Day One,” starter Aaron Cook said. “The difference this year is that guys are doing their job and not trying to do too much.”
Those fans who wandered into Angel Stadium received a portable hamper, adorned with the team’s colors. It was fitting on a night when the Rockies exposed the Angels’ dirty laundry – Jeff Weaver.
Many wonder how Weaver can sleep at night. He’s making $8.3 million, an immovable contract that forced the Angels to demote his kid brother Jered to the minors last week with a 4-0 record to make room for Bartolo Colon. It’s an open secret that the Angels want Jeff Weaver to pitch well to increase his trade value. He had improved lately. On Tuesday, not so much.
He was history faster than one of Paris Hilton’s boyfriends, booed off the field in the third inning. By all intents and purposes, the outcome was decided. The Rockies owned a 6-2 cushion, inflated by a three-run home run by Brad Hawpe.
That he barely stood out explained the nature of the mauling. Holliday, racing toward his first all-star appearance, mashed three doubles. Clint Barmes knocked in three runs. The hallmark of absurdity: Leadoff hitter Jamey Carroll batted five times in the first six innings. He struck out three times – and still had a good night with two hits.
The benefactor was Cook, who improved to 6-7. Before the game he joked about wearing his pants high, anything to change to his luck. He has been the victim of lousy run support all season, his seven losses the most in the majors for any qualifying pitcher with an ERA under 3.50.
Cook frustrated the Angels, inducing an endless stream of groundballs and broken bats, while extending his streak of 53 road innings without surrendering a home run.
The lopsided game allowed the Rockies to shelve the “Rally Monkey” – he inspires magic, not miracles – and Todd Helton. After playing 417 consecutive innings since returning from a frightening stomach ailment May 5, he was removed for pinch-hitter Ryan Spilborghs in the eighth inning. Garrett Atkins moved to first, a seamless transition that mocked the Angels’ problems.
They can’t play defense. Part of the problem can be traced to Darin Erstad’s absence. But he’s not the only reason this isn’t a summer of glove. The Angels, picked by many to win the American League West, committed two errors and lead baseball in unearned runs.
After years of aspiring to mediocrity, the Rockies will save their Kleenex for more worthy causes. This is the first time they have contended this late in a season since a wild-card push in 2003. If they are hanging around in September – a stated goal in spring training – the Rockies can thank the American League. While the National League has come off as the junior varsity this season – a 70-117 record in interleague play – it’s not because of Colorado.
The Rockies improved to 8-3 against the AL, none of which was as convincing as Tuesday’s sting operation.
Staff writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-820-5457 or trenck@denverpost.com.
