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 smoke 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 won 11-4 over the Milwaukee Brewers in a game that was easier to appreciate than digest.
Unless of course, you like smorgasbord or seven-layer dip. The Rockies moved into a tie with the Dodgers for third place in the National League West and stayed three games back in the wild-card chase despite:
* Their starting pitcher Jason Hirsh getting smoked by a line drive on his right calf on his seventh pitch, an injury that forced him to limp 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. He picked up his fifth win.
* Their right fielder Brad Hawpe dropping a flyball and deflecting another one off his glove into his barehand.
* Their new backup catcher Edwin Bellorin, after eight long years in the minor leagues, strained his left hamstring his first big-league at-bat trying to break up a doubleplay. Yorvit Torrealba replaced him in the fifth, creating the possibility that Chris Iannetta could be recalled.
The Rockies reached a familiar conclusion to this story, even if felt like Quentin Tarantino directed it. After spotting the Brewers a three-run lead, Colorado scored 11 runs in their final three at-bats.
The most significant came in the sixth, an uprising that assured that the 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 home runs in his final two at-bats. Helton entered the game having hit just four home runs since May 19 and he had none 61 straight at-bats before launching a 92-mph fastball into the bullpen. He followed it with a similar shot in the eighth, his first multi-home run game since Sept. 2, 2005.
Staff writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
