Seattle – Contender. The word hasn’t fit in this clubhouse for years.
Disappointing. Frustrating. Puzzling. Those have worked. But not this. This is so different, so refreshing, so mint Christmas tree hanging from the rearview mirror.
After a nervy, pulled-to-the-edge-of-their-seat, 4-3 victory Sunday, the Rockies had conversations that provided eloquent explanation of just how much things have changed.
A year ago, there was uncertainty about their players and anger from fans who watched the team dissolve from the division race because of a flammable bullpen. After finishing off the Seattle Mariners and finishing off interleague play with a National League-best, 11-4 record, the Rockies were discussing threads common among good teams.
Topics such as chasing first place in the NL West – the Rockies are within arm’s reach of the San Diego Padres, only half a game back in the standings. Topics such as respect, pleased to be the only team in the division with two all-star selections (outfielder Matt Holliday and closer Brian Fuentes).
“I was talking to a player at first base the other day,” Todd Helton said, “and he was telling me how he thought we would be a very good team next year. I said, ‘We are good this year.’
“It’s been fun. Things are going well and they are only going to get better.”
Sunday’s win is the latest evidence the Rockies’ growth has roots.
They arrived at the season’s midpoint 42-39, third-best in franchise history and 14 games better than a year ago after 81 games, because of pitching and sound defense. As easy as it is to dismiss this team as a fluke, NL statistics say something else.
The Rockies rank third in hitting (.269), fourth in pitching (4.20 ERA) and sixth in fielding (.985 percentage).
Sunday’s ninth inning provided a snapshot of why the Rockies believe sports fans will be watching more than the Broncos with interest this September.
In his 43rd appearance this year, Jose Mesa sputtered in the ninth inning, fighting command issues in a tie game. After loading the bases with one out, Fuentes was summoned to douse the flames.
His opponent: slugger Raul Ibañez. The Mariners outfielder quietly is having a terrific season, but when he wandered to the plate Sunday he had one factor working squarely against him: he’s left-handed.
Fuentes has been to left-handers what Raid is to cockroaches. With catcher JD Closser recognizing that Ibañez was late on the fastball, Fuentes easily erased him on 93 mph heater.
“It was like old times when I was a setup man coming into the game in that situation,” said Fuentes, who has limited left-handers to just two hits in 29 at-bats. “I was looking for a strikeout there.”
Willie Bloomquist’s groundout snuffed out the threat. That type of escape eases pressure on the offense and fills the dugout with confidence.
The Rockies rallied for two runs in the 11th on Brad Hawpe’s double and Closser’s bloop single.
After Scott Dohmann surrendered a home run to Ichiro Suzuki, who finished a double shy of the cycle, Ray King recorded his first save in five years when Ibañez’s deep flyball to center field disappeared into Choo Freeman’s glove.
The exhale brought satisfaction, a reminder of a team in contention.
“We have been playing good baseball since the second half of last season,” Rockies third baseman Garrett Atkins said. “There’s no reason we can’t hang around and play meaningful games this year.”
Staff writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-820-5457 or trenck@denverpost.com.
