Boston – Although Curt Schilling did not become the next Roger Clemens, he was certainly not Bob Stanley, and for helping the Red Sox to a World Series crown Boston fans will forever adore him.
In a billboard down the street from Yawkey Way, he is honored as Boston’s reigning player of the week. That won’t be the case next week.
In his last outing, Schilling came within one out of a no-hitter at Oakland. On Wednesday night, every Rockies player had a hit after five innings except Todd Helton and Ryan Spilborghs.
That goes a long way in explaining Colorado’s convincing 12-2 thrashing at frigid Fenway Park, a squashing that came with notable distinctions.
The 12 runs were the most scored by the Rockies on the road this season. They posted three runs in three separate innings. They have had entire trips where they didn’t score three runs.
With a win tonight against undefeated Josh Beckett, the Rockies would secure their fourth consecutive road series and a .500 overall record for the first time since April 13.
But enough about stats. What about Brad Hawpe’s fifth-inning shot? With the Rockies clinging to a 3-2 lead, Hawpe crushed a changeup more than 400 feet, through a stiff crosswind and 20 rows into the seats for a three-run homer. Suddenly an interesting game was a rout.
Put it this way, if that pitch had appeared on Schilling’s blog, he would have pushed control-alt-delete.
“He was all over it,” Schilling said.
Hawpe continues ramping up his offense after a forgettable April.
After slugging just one home run in the first 37 games, the right fielder has nine over the past 28.
“I am just trying to use my hands more,” Hawpe said. “He made a mistake and I was able to put a good swing on it.”
Had the damage stopped with Hawpe, it would have been significant. That Helton joined the onslaught amplified the win’s importance. Hard as it is to believe, Helton had hit just .240 in his previous 27 games with just four RBIs.
He had four RBIs on Wednesday, including an impressive bases-clearing double in the sixth off erstwhile Rockie Javy Lopez’s 79-mph slider.
“It seems like I have faced him a lot over the last few years,” Helton said. “It’s nice to do my part.”
Helton’s shot over Manny Ramirez’s head shoved the Rockies ahead 9-2, an inflatable cushion never threatened because of Josh Fogg and a crew of able relievers.
Fogg turned in a rolled-up sleeves outing. He lasted just five innings, but, as Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said, “found a way to wiggle out of trouble.”
Fogg won for the first time since April 25. The outing will be remembered for his bases-loaded punchout of J.D. Drew in the third inning on a changeup.
“I am not a guy who’s going to be throwing 86-mph heaters up there with a full count. The changeup is my pitch, especially against left-handers,” Fogg said. “Five and dive isn’t the way you want to go as a starter, but there is no such thing as a bad win.”
Staff writer Troy Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
