Throughout the Rockies’ remarkable headfirst slide back into contention, there has been a squeamish feeling that the other cleat was about to drop. Something would go wrong, a road trip with the radiator smoking and hazards flashing, a homestand against bullies that would expose a glass chin.
Then nights like Tuesday come along and it becomes more difficult not to believe in them. The Rockies defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 11-4 in a game that was easier to appreciate than digest.
Unless of course, you like smorgasbord or seven-layer dip. The Rockies moved to within four games of the division-leading Diamondbacks and into a third-place tie with the free-falling Dodgers in the National League West despite:
Their starting pitcher Jason Hirsh getting smoked by a line drive to his right calf on his seventh pitch, leaving him limping on and off the field during his six innings of work. Hirsh, who surrendered just two earned runs, was making only his second start back after missing a month – all together now – with a sprained right ankle.
“They kept checking on me in between innings, but there was no way I was coming out,” said Hirsh, who believes ankle tape helped save him from a worse injury.
Their right fielder Brad Hawpe dropping a flyball and deflecting another off his glove into his bare hand.
Their new backup catcher Edwin Bellorin, after eight long years in the minor leagues, pulling his left hamstring his first big-league at-bat trying to break up a double play. Yorvit Torrealba replaced him in the fifth, and either Alvin Colina, who got a brief look last September, or just-demoted Chris Iannetta will be called up today.
Regardless, the Rockies reached a familiar conclusion to this story, winning for their 20th time in their last 25 home games, even if it felt like Quentin Tarantino directed it. After spotting the Brewers a three-run lead, Colorado scored 11 runs in their final three at-bats.
“I think our offense is capable of overcoming a lot of things,” said Matt Holliday, who’s quickly becoming a strong contender for the NL MVP award. “We are playing with a lot of confidence.”
The most significant outburst came in the sixth, a flurry that assured that the NL Central-leading Brewers would lose a franchise-extending record 14th straight game started by Chris Capuano. Troy Tulowitzki led off with a home run and Ryan Spilborghs continued causing havoc, increasing his average with runners in scoring position to .489 (23-for-47) with a double.
Todd Helton later stole his thunder with thunder, blasting out of a power slump with two home runs. Helton had gone deep just four times since May 19 and was wearing a 61 at-bat drought before launching fastballs into the Rockies’ bullpen in the seventh and eighth innings.
It was his first multihomer game since Sept. 2, 2005.
He will remember it for a different reason.
“This was a big win,” Helton said. “They had a good pitcher on the mound holding us down, and we found a way to get it done.”
