Reliever Nate Field walked through the clubhouse, and Thursday’s story was written in his expression. He was excited, but confused, unable to locate his locker.
There was a first day of school feel at Coors Field, five more Triple-A players joining the team, crowding the clubhouse.
Manager Clint Hurdle called them all into a quick meeting. What followed on a chilled evening, which lost elasticity because of a 2-hour, 11-minute rain delay, were new faces in old places and a striking reunion with fundamentals.
The Rockies punched out a 10-5 victory over the Washington Nationals, executing with cold efficiency and benefiting from charmed eighth-inning luck.
“When you’re able to execute, the game goes a lot smoother,” Matt Holliday said. “That hasn’t always been the case this season, but it’s always been the goal.”
After Jeremy Affeldt squandered a two-run lead, the Rockies scored five runs in the eighth, taking the lead on a Jamey Carroll chopper off pitcher Ryan Wagner’s glove.
The error sent home a sliding Troy Tulowitzki, who would have been erased easily had shortstop Felipe Lopez handled the carom. Todd Helton and Garrett Atkins followed with run-scoring two-out singles.
For those who have followed this team, before finalizing their NFL fantasy league roster or finishing the office pool, this type of production should be cause for pause.
The Rockies arrived back at Coors Field after losing a game in which they were unable to score with bases loaded and none out in the ninth in San Diego.
“We are too talented to be in this position,” said catcher Yorvit Torrealba, who suffered a right-shoulder injury in the eighth inning and is questionable for today’s game. “It’s disappointing that we haven’t done better.”
In that sense, Thursday’s juxtaposition was alarming, beginning in the first inning. With only fans, friends and relatives remaining – 18,617 marked the smallest crowd since May 4 – Carroll led off with a double to left center.
What has too often followed in these scenarios is frustration, the runner stranded as if named Gilligan. Hurdle and GM Dan O’Dowd have talked repeatedly about producing quality hits, or, at the very least, quality outs.
So it was that Helton flew out to right field, advancing Carroll to third. Two pitches later, Atkins, the Rockies’ most consistent offensive player, drove a fastball to centerfield, scoring Carroll on the sacrifice fly. Had this sequence played out earlier this year against Milwaukee – when Francisco Cordero struck out the side with the bases drunk – or Wednesday against Trevor Hoffman or in Los Angeles last Saturday – OK, you get the idea – the Rockies would be chasing the playoffs, not their tails.
The at-bats established a tone, leading to runs in each of the first four innings. Holliday provided the most memorable blast. After Atkins walked in front of him, Holliday clubbed his 26th home run, crushing an 88-mph Jason Bergmann fastball over the right-field fence. Holliday is attempting to become the first Rockie to reach 30 home runs since Vinny Castilla and Jeromy Burnitz in 2004.
Aaron Cook, typical for Rockies’ starters this season, pitched well and left with a hollow feeling. Cook worked seven innings, surrendering just three runs on six hits. He reached 193 1/3 innings, leaving Colorado with three starters – Jason Jennings, Jeff Francis and Cook – capable of reaching the 200-inning threshold.
The effort, however, came with consolation – a victory, only the Rockies’ fifth in the past 19 games.
“It was disheartening when we gave up the lead, but it was nice to see the way the guys battled back,” Hurdle said.
Staff writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or at trenck@denverpost.com.
