Phoenix – The Rockies have lost too many games and too many fans over the past seven weeks. But they haven’t lost their nerve.
Jeff Francis exhibited cold-blooded brilliance tonight, firing a sixth-inning changeup that won the game and cemented his reputation. Francis trusts that he can throw any pitch in any count. That’s easy to say during paint-drying days in spring training.
But with the emergency broadcast signal blaring, Francis stared down at Yorvit Torrealba’s fingers and nodded in agreement. Arizona’s Carlos Quentin dug in with runners on first and second, eager to rip the game open at the seams. Instead, he nearly broke into tears, watching helplessly as Francis’ 81-mph changeup floated into Torrealba’s glove.
Plate umprire Derryl Cousins raised his fist and just like that the Rockies’ 2-0 victory was hermetically sealed.
It was the most important win of the season, given the criticism directed at the team this week and the Rockies’ previous inability to close out the deciding game of a series (now 2-for-10 in those situations). There have been so many moments this season when the Rockies succumbed to pressure, failing to produce the big hit or the nasty pitch. But with the spotlight brightest, Francis delivered.
He worked seven scoreless innings, removed after 119 pitches. There would be no repeat of last Friday’s Blake Street Blunder – the regrettable decision by manager Clint Hurdle to pull Francis after 74 pitches. Ryan Spilborghs and Jamey Carroll provided the offense. Spilborghs, in his first start, drove Carroll in twice, once in the third and again in the fifth on a double.
