Analysis of the Rockies’ late-May surge includes telling raw data. For instance, entering Tuesday night’s game against St. Louis, pitchers boasted a cumulative 1.80 ERA during Colorado’s six-game winning streak. The team batting average was .281, far above the .258 season average.
Yet the most significant trend has been the Rockies’ ability to win games that used to end up in the dumpster.
“The (tight) games are the ones where we have had our struggles and not shown consistency,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
But the Rockies believe that is changing.
“We’re still not over the hump, but I see us coming through in key situations now. … There is a different feeling,” starter Jeff Francis said. “You look at situations where we have a runner on second and two outs and we are knocking those guys in now. Those were the kinds of runs we just weren’t scoring before.”
In Friday night’s 5-3 win at San Francisco, for example, Kazuo Matsui’s two-out single in the ninth produced the winning run. His presence alone has powered the surge. Matsui was hitting .467 with runners in scoring position entering Tuesday night’s game and the team was 6-1 since his return from the disabled list.
The Rockies’ recent 5-1 road trip, culminating with a 6-4, 10-inning win at San Francisco on Sunday, hinted at the team’s growing confidence.
“We won 3-1 and 2-0 in Arizona and those are awesome kinds of games to win,” Francis said.
Finger benches Taveras
A bruised and bloody right index finger prevented center fielder Willy Taveras from starting Tuesday and could keep him out of tonight’s game as well.
“I could play if I had to, but it’s best to let it heal a bit,” said Taveras, who smashed his finger on a bunt attempt in the fifth inning of Monday’s game.
Taveras’ .314 average ranks fifth among National League leadoff hitters. All other Rockies leadoff hitters had a combined .158 average entering Tuesday.
Lacking star status
Left fielder Matt Holliday is the only Rockie to show up on Major League Baseball’s early balloting for the All-Star Game. Holliday received 144,529 votes, ranking him 15th among NL outfielders. No other Rockie ranks in the top five at their position.
Footnote
A mere two hours before game time, the outfield at Coors Field was covered with about 4 inches of hail and puddles of standing water. But the Rockies’ crack grounds crew had the field ready to go for the 7:05 p.m. start.
