San Diego – This wasn’t a game. It was an episode of “Lost.” On a cool Tuesday night that began with him chasing history, Jeff Francis couldn’t escape embarrassment.
It was so bad you half expected the Rockies to wake up sequestered and confused on Coronado Island this morning.
The Rockies lost to the San Diego Padres 8-0, Francis lost his way and center fielder Willy Taveras was lost to the disabled list after reaggravating his right quad injury.
Of all the things that required suspension of disbelief – the Rockies not having a fifth starter, Todd Helton getting two infield hits – none was harder to comprehend than Francis getting shelled. He was trying to become the first Rockies starter ever and first National League starter this season to win nine straight decisions.
Instead, he suffered arguably his worst loss ever, matching career lows for innings pitched (3 1/3) and earned runs allowed (eight).
“I was trying to do too much, and I let things pile on me quickly,” Francis said.
There was no subtlety in Francis’ failure, a collapse that dropped the Rockies three games behind the Padres in the wild-card standings and left them stuck five games back of the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks.
The outcome was pretty well decided in a forgettable second inning. Francis threw 46 pitches – just 21 of which were strikes – issued five walks and allowed two hits to former Evergreen prep star Kevin Kouzmanoff.
It was a bad time for his first bad game since April, buttressing Tim Harikkala’s 10-out Sunday performance.
On the rare occasions Francis has been hit hard this season, scouts have whispered the left-hander tips his pitches based on tempo. But in Petco Park, where the Padres extended the batter’s eye a few years ago because of Francis’ funky arm angle, the Rockies’ ace simply lacked command. He walked Morgan Ensberg on a full-count changeup with the bases loaded and surrendered two home runs.
“It’s never easy to forget, but that’s what I’m trying to do with this one,” Francis said.
Francis’ misstep comes amid questions that the Rockies’ rotation is too depleted for the stretch run. It arrived at a time when the club is searching for a Sunday starter, with prospect Franklin Morales still the favorite, but not enough to prevent the club from considering a trade for the likes of Josh Towers and Steve Trachsel.
San Diego’s Greg Maddux offered the antithesis of Francis. The 41-year-old worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings as the Rockies suffered their first shutout since July 22. Their best scoring threat came in the third when Matt Holliday doubled down the right-field line with Taveras on first. But the speedy Taveras, making only his second start in seven games, labored around second and was unable to go home because of a lingering injury that landed him on the disabled list.
Taveras exited after the top of the fourth inning, replaced by Cory Sullivan. Ryan Spilborghs will likely receive the bulk of the at-bats in Taveras’ absence. No corresponding roster move was announced, but Triple-A’s hot-hitting Seth Smith is a possible call-up.
“It’s frustrating because I haven’t been healthy all year, and I can’t do what I’m used to,” said Taveras, who will return to Denver today. “They gave me a chance, but I pulled it again and it just wasn’t getting better. I hope I’m not gone more than 15 days (on the DL).”
Staff writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
