The satisfaction came over Rodrigo Lopez like a warming sun. As he stepped off the mound at Coors Field on Wednesday, he saw his son standing in the tunnel behind home plate, smiling. Walking to the dugout, Lopez glanced over his shoulder, a simple number providing an eloquent explanation of the Rockies’ 11-4 triumph.
Total pitches: 75. Innings: Seven.
Rodrigo, when did you become Greg Maddux?
“Pretty impressive, huh?” Lopez said. “I can’t remember ever having a game like this.”
Lopez picked a remarkable time to set a precedent. He was making his Rockies’ debut, a series victory hinged on his performance, and, lest anyone forget, he was the offseason acquisition handpicked to replace Jason Jennings. Lopez not only recorded his first win since Aug. 17 – droughts were lengthy during last year’s 18-loss season with the Baltimore Orioles – but was alarmingly efficient.
He opened with a six-pitch first, had just 62 after six. Without the benefit of HDTV, it was hard to determine if he broke a sweat. Making the effort more remarkable was how it contradicted his spring. Lopez struggled with his location until the final week. A tip from pitching coach Bob Apodaca changed everything. Lopez concentrated on keeping his weight back during his delivery, while over-exaggerating his finish as he released his pitch. Suddenly, his sinker darted down in the zone, perfectly complementing a slider and changeup.
“It was all him. I had nothing to do with it,” said catcher Yorvit Torrealba, whose team begins a nine-game National League West road trip Friday in San Diego. “It was easy for me to call the game because he was able to throw the ball where he wanted.”
The Diamondbacks attempted patience, but were forced to abandon the strategy as Lopez pumped first-pitch strikes. His outing soothed concerns about a Rockies rotation whose final three starters were a combined 23-31 last season.
“I have been a guy who has thrown 200 innings before and been successful,” Lopez said. “I know they got rid of a good pitcher in Jennings. But I don’t feel any pressure because of that.”
Any angst Lopez had about a victory slithering away quickly ended in the eighth. The Rockies drove Arizona rookie J.D. Durbin from the mound and out of the big leagues. The kid was designated for assignment after Colorado tagged him for seven hits and seven runs.
Todd Helton, Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe delivered in the inning, a snapshot of the lineup’s meaty performance. The Nos. 2-6 hitters went 11-for-18 with six RBIs, while scoring eight runs.
“It’s just a tribute to good hitters,” said Holliday, who hit his first home run in the seventh, a laser over the center-field wall. “If a pitcher isn’t making his pitches, we can hurt you.”
All Lopez did was make pitches, working as if he had 5 o’clock reservations at The Chop House. Manager Clint Hurdle praised Lopez’s tempo, his ability to throw downhill. As Lopez headed out of the clubhouse to meet his family, a new number produced a grin.
“This offseason as I was training and working out,” Lopez said, “my focus was on getting that first win.”
Staff writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
