To win a game at Coors Field, you need a bullpen with nerves of titanium. You need a starter capable of eating tacks, whose strikeouts outnumber his goosebumps. It requires a well-placed hit and a stomach for the sublime, odd and ridiculous.
Or in the case of the Houston Astros, you just need to go Twisted Sister, and decide you aren’t going to take it anymore. The Astros arrived in Denver as one of the big leagues most disappointing teams.
On Tuesday, they took out their frustrations two ejections on the Rockies and the umpires in a strangely entertaining and often-interrupted 4-1 victory at Coors Field.
The night should have been defined by numbers. Instead it will be remembered for anger. Lance Berkman collected his second double in his first 133 at-bats this season. He’s on pace for six after averaging 37 every year of his career. Todd Helton recorded two triples for only the second time ever. Unfortunately, he sat lonelier than one sock at third, as the Rockies went hitless in four at-bats with him in scoring position.
Berkman ruined Jason Hirsh’s gem with his two-run sixth-inning double that shoved the Astros ahead 2-1. But it was his temper that turned heads. When called out on a check swing in the eighth, Berkman went nuts. He had to be restrained by a coach and manager Phil Garner from going after third base umpire Ed Rapuano. After getting tossed, Berkman fired his helmet, batting gloves and ball bag onto the field.
Moments later, the benches cleared when Rockies reliever Manny Corpas hit Carlos Lee in the top of the ninth. Lee voiced his displeasure and Corpas motioned for him to bring his complaint to the mound. No punches were thrown, but the teams were warned that any other errant pitch could result in an ejection. Garner was furious about this, and was ejected.
Corpas never regained his composure and gave up a two-run home run to Luke Scott.
Dan Wheeler closed out the drama with a scoreless ninth.
Staff writer Troy Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
