As usual, Jamey Carroll was surprised by all the media fuss.
Sure, his two-out, pinch-hit grand slam in the sixth inning Saturday night broke a 2-2 tie and ignited the Rockies’ 15-2 rout of the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field. And, OK, his play on an infield chopper to end a Cubs threat in the seventh ranks as one of the Rockies’ most brilliant defensive moments of the season.
But Carroll, an Indiana native who is serenaded by John Mellencamp’s music when he comes to the plate, still had to be coaxed into talking about the rush of hitting his first major-league grand slam.
“Yeah, it’s a thrill, and without question I’ll take it,” he said after driving in a career-high five runs. “It’s good to be able to contribute. I was just happy I could just get in there and help.”
After losing five straight to the Cubs, including the first two games of this series, the Rockies really needed a victory. Thanks to Carroll – and a 16-hit attack that included a 4-for-5, three-RBI game from Troy Tulowitzki and the 21st homer of the season by Brad Hawpe – they got it with 48,095 watching. The Rockies remained six games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West, but climbed within two games of the San Diego Padres in the wild-card race.
Rockies manager Clint Hurdle nicely summarized Carroll’s performance.
“I’ve said it before that he’s the type of player you want to bring your kids to watch play the game,” Hurdle said. “Tonight he came up with a big hit and a big play, and it had a lot to do with us winning the ballgame.”
So did the performance of pitcher Josh Fogg. With their starting rotation in shambles because of injuries, the Rockies needed a quality outing from Fogg. He delivered six innings of five-hit baseball, allowing just two runs. After a shaky first inning in which he threw 37 pitches, Fogg (7-7) settled down.
“It’s blue-collar when Josh goes out there,” Hurdle said. “He doesn’t light up the gun, and you’ll see a lot of guys shaking their heads, but he can get outs. He stays within his skill set very well.”
Carroll posted a career-high .300 average last year as the Rockies’ everyday second baseman. This year he was supplanted in the starting lineup by Kazuo Matsui and struggled at the plate for much of the season. But he has batted .333 (23-for-69) in his past 23 games, his average climbing from .179 to .232.
“He had his finest season and I think it’s human nature to want to back it up with another,” Hurdle said. “So he probably put a little more pressure on himself.”
Carroll’s grand slam – it barely cleared the wall in left field – was the sixth by the Rockies this season, setting a franchise record.
Carroll’s defensive gem in the seventh came with two outs and bases loaded. Matt Murton hit a high, infield chopper. In one swift motion, Carroll leaped, snared the ball and threw to first baseman Garrett Atkins, nipping Murton to end the Cubs’ last rally.
Staff writer Patrick Saunders
can be reached at 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
