Boston – Todd Helton, it seems, is always hitting. He walked through the Rockies’ clubhouse Wednesday, swinging his bat, eager for another session in the cage.
For all the attention his arrival in Boston received, Helton was dealing with an issue more important than nearly changing uniforms: his own offensive performance.
Entering Wednesday’s game, Helton had quietly fallen into a funk, his spiral less obvious because the team gained traction in the standings. With one sixth-inning swing, Helton terminated the slump.
His three-run double into left field shoved the Rockies ahead 9-2. Before that at-bat, Helton had hit .235 with four RBIs since May 12. The last number was most concerning since Helton occupies the lineup’s cleanup spot. He acknowledged this week that he hasn’t bounced back this season the way he expected.
“I have struggled a little bit this month. But basically that was just mental,” said Helton, who has six home runs. “I started focusing on the wrong things, and I know I am getting my swing back where it needs to be. I am definitely trying to prove something, that I am back and healthy and can still play.”
Helton’s reputation is built on clutch performances. At the core of his slump is a lack of production with runners in scoring position. Helton was 2-for-28 in those situations before blasting Javy Lopez’s 78-mph slider.
Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said Helton is “doing what we need him to do” this season. He described him as an anchor in the middle of the order.
Career takes left in Boston
Lopez doesn’t look any different than when he was a rookie sensation with the Rockies in 2003. He doesn’t sound any different, still bright and insightful.
He credited his transition from minor- league journeyman to key member of the Red Sox bullpen to his experience last year with the White Sox.
“When they put me in Triple-A, I was given an opportunity to close,” said Lopez, who has stranded 14-of-17 inherited runners as a left-handed specialist. “Being in those pressure situations helped me when I returned to the big leagues.”
Lopez remains friends with Rockies closer Brian Fuentes, long an advocate of his buddy.
“The Rockies kind of washed their hands of him when he struggled (in 2005),” Fuentes said. “I always knew he could pitch. It was just a matter of him being more consistent. I am happy for him.”
Yankees tickets available
The Yankees, the team fans love to love and love to hate, are coming to Coors Field for a three-game series beginning Tuesday and a smattering of tickets remain.
“A lot of people think we are all sold out, but we do have limited availability for all three games,” Sue Ann McClaren, the Rockies’ vice president of ticket sales and operations, said Wednesday. “When tickets first went on sale, the most expensive seats immediately sold out. Then sales slowed down a little bit, but they’ve picked up recently.”
Staff writer Patrick Saunders contributed to this report.
