The National League West is more forgiving than a kindergarten teacher. Forget a staircase, this division is an escalator. It won’t allow its members to reach bottom, bringing them back up kicking and screaming from frightening tumbles.
Two weeks ago, the Rockies did everything possible to sabotage their season with a forgettable road trip. Now, they are again legitimate playoff threats after thrashing the Milwaukee Brewers 8-2 on Wednesday at Coors Field.
Where critics see a team three games under .500, the Rockies see a team three games behind the first-place San Diego Padres.
“Usually by this time, we have been long gone, already out of it. This is a totally different feeling,” Jason Jennings said. “All you can ask for is a seat at the table.”
What made their latest victory notable was that their offense devoured the opposition. They did something completely out of character. They hit. Not just once. But four times. In the first inning. What’s next, a Blake Street Bombers reunion?
“It was good to get out there and score some early runs,” said Rockies slugger Matt Holliday. “You always like to make your own pitcher feel comfortable.”
Four of the first five hitters reached. The punishment on Tomo Ohko was so 1995, the last and only time the Rockies advanced to the postseason. That the manager of that team, Don Baylor, was in attendance was a pleasant coincidence.
Quickly control-alt-deleting Tuesday’s ninth-inning failure from their memory, the Rockies scored four times, including an RBI double from Todd Helton.
The outburst helped reveal the secret strength in the Rockies’ surprising run. Though offensively challenged, they can handle fourth and fifth starters. The proof is in the statistics of Byung-Hyun Kim, terrific on Wednesday, and Josh Fogg.
Both have winning records, something that has eluded the top trio – Jennings, Aaron Cook and Jeff Francis – despite ERAs under 4.00.
Kim and Fogg have enjoyed better run support. In Kim’s case, he didn’t need much assistance. In the longest outing of his career, baseball’s smallest right-handed pitcher worked eight innings, allowing just one run on seven hits. Kim lowered his home ERA to 2.75, adroitly mixing in a fastball and changeup.
“I have better balance and that gives me better command,” said Kim. “I am not satisfied, though. I want to show them I can make 30 (starts) and pitch 200 innings.”
Kim appears to be throwing a tantrum when he throws a pitch, his arms and legs flying in all directions. That deception creates issues for opposing batters.
“He was throwing 86 to 88 miles per hour, but it looked more like 95,” said Brewers manager Ned Yost, his team further cementing its standing as the NL’s second-worst road team. “He was keeping the ball down and banging strikes.”
The final score had a nostalgic feel, thanks to a three-run seventh that featured Helton’s 12th home run. Runs have become rare at Coors Field. The teams have combined for 31 runs over the past six games here. Thirty was the previous record low for five consecutive games.
“We know if we can get our offense going,” shortstop Clint Barmes said, “that anything is possible with the way we have pitched.”
Staff writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-820-5457 or trenck@denverpost.com.
