Lacking a postseason invitation for the 13th time in their 14 years of existence, the Rockies view their final three home games as a big deal.
Here’s a chance, proclaimed manager Clint Hurdle, to exact a measure of revenge from the Los Angeles Dodgers, while messing up their playoff plans in the process.
“They have been a thorn in our saddle,” Hurdle said Tuesday afternoon before the initial game of the three-game set. “This season-ending homestand is set up quite nicely for us to get a chance for retribution, or at least some payback.”
As it turned out, the Rockies’ big deal began with a big bust.
Behind another wily performance by 40-year-old starter Greg Maddux, the Dodgers bashed the Rockies 11-4. It was Los Angeles’ 13th victory over Colorado in 17 games.
The Dodgers’ win, combined with Philadelphia’s 4-3 loss at Washington, puts the Dodgers atop the National League wild-card standings by a game. They are two games behind San Diego in the West Division.
Maddux’s masterful command baffled the Rockies for six innings, and he departed with an 11-3 lead. It was his sixth career win at Coors Field, the most by any opposing pitcher.
“I’ve never really got comfortable here,” Maddux said. “Here, you just battle and try to keep going.”
Garrett Atkins did get to him with a solo home run in the third. It was Atkins’ 28th homer of the season.
Colorado starter Jason Jennings, feeling the weight of the career- high 212 innings he has tossed this season, struggled through five innings, giving up six runs on nine hits, including a two-run homer to Nomar Garciaparra in the fifth. Jennings hasn’t decided whether he will start Sunday when the Rockies close out their season at Chicago.
Jennings entered the game with a 3.65 ERA and a real chance to edge Joe Kennedy (3.66 in 2004) for the lowest ERA by a Rockies starting pitcher in a single season. But Jennings – who has posted a 6.21 ERA in his past six starts – left Tuesday with his season ERA sitting at 3.78.
“I really don’t care about a record,” he said. “My ERA’s definitely sub-four, so I’m not going to worry about that. I just know I battled all season.”
Jennings ran into trouble right away. Rafael Furcal hit a weak leadoff single to open the game and scored on a triple down the right-field line by Kenny Lofton. Garciaparra drove in Lofton with a bloop single, then scored on a chopper in front of the mound by Russell Martin. Before Jennings recorded his first out, the Rockies trailed 3-0.
Rockies relievers fared no better. The Dodgers scored five runs in the sixth inning, including a 437-foot solo shot by Marlon Anderson that landed in the second deck beyond right field.
Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
