They ran one marathon down Colfax Avenue on Sunday morning and another at 20th and Blake in the afternoon.
Judging by the morgue-like atmosphere at Coors Field after the Rockies lost 10-5 in a 12-inning, 4-hour, 34-minute affair to Kansas City, the Rockies are hurting worse than those brave souls who ran 26.2 miles.
Afterward, in a familiar refrain, manager Clint Hurdle said, “Our struggle right now is consistency, getting everything clicking together at one time.”
The Royals captured the three-game interleague series 2-1, while the Rockies concluded their 10-game homestand a disappointing 4-6. Worse, the loss dropped the Rockies to 1-7 in series rubber games this season.
Hurdle called the Rockies’ failure to win such games a “speed bump.” But considering the fact the Rockies haven’t won a home series since the first week of the season, that’s like calling the Boston Marathon’s “Heartbreak Hill” a gentle incline.
Tonight, eight games under .500 at 18-26 and seven games out of first place in the National League West, the Rockies play Arizona to begin a six-game road trip. After squandering multiple chances to beat the Royals on Sunday, and given the Rockies’ 8-13 road record, the team’s confidence would seem to be eroding.
But Matt Holliday, who went 2-for-6 and drove in a run in the ninth to send the game into extra innings, says otherwise.
“I still like this team and I still like this group of guys,” he said. “Obviously, we still have places where we have to tighten up, but I still like these guys.”
The Royals finally won the seventh-longest game in Coors Field history by battering reliever Ramon Ramirez in the 12th. He plunked Alex Gordon to open the inning, then Gordon stole second and scored on Ryan Shealy’s bloop single to shallow right field. The Royals added four insurance runs on a squeeze bunt by Angel Berroa that scored Shealy from third, a two-run double by relief pitcher Joel Peralta (the first hit of his career) and a run-scoring single by Mark Teahen.
Ramirez, who missed 23 games on the disabled list with a sprained elbow before returning a week ago, clearly is not back in form yet. He gave up a three-run, ninth-inning homer to Shealy on Saturday night, a prelude to Sunday’s problems.
“He’s still elevating the ball,” Hurdle said. “He’s overthrowing. We’re trying to slow him down. We’re aware of it; he’s aware of it. Now it’s time to make an adjustment.”
Sunday’s game was a seesaw affair. The Royals took a 5-4 lead in the top of the 11th when Teahan drove in David DeJesus, who had walked, with a two-out triple to center field off closer Brian Fuentes.
In the bottom of the 11th, Troy Tulowitzki walked to start the inning and came around to score the tying run on Holliday’s single to left, which Emil Brown misplayed. Holliday advanced to second on the play. Todd Helton was intentionally walked, but Garrett Atkins struck out and Brad Hawpe grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Staff writer Patrick Saunderscan be reached at 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
