Los Angeles – It’s ironic, if not cruel, that the one place the Rockies can’t pull off a Hollywood ending is near Hollywood.
All of the elements were in place after Colorado batted in the eighth inning. Todd Helton had ditched frustration for redemption – missteps in the field and bad luck on the bases a distant memory after he clubbed a two-run home run. It was his first RBI in six games. It was his first home run in 12 days. It was for naught.
The Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for two runs in the eighth against Jorge Julio and Jeremy Affeldt, leaving Helton’s script confetti on the cutting-room floor.
“It’s frustrating, but that’s baseball,” Helton said.
Second baseman Kazuo Matsui blamed himself for a second-inning defensive lapse involving Helton. Ramon Martinez hit a groundball toward the hole and Helton ranged far to his right, the ball deflecting off his glove and Matsui. It cost the Rockies a run.
“It comes down to communication,” Matsui said. “I should have called it.”
Aggressiveness worked against Helton on the bases in the fourth. He attempted to score from second on Troy Tulowitzki’s groundball up the middle, but Rafael Furcal speared it, turned and nailed Helton straying too far off third base with coach Mike Gallego holding up the stop sign.
“I don’t know what he could have done,” Martinez said. “It was just a great play.”
Morales’ change of pace
A day after Franklin Morales held the Dodgers to one run in 5 1/3 innings, the 21-year-old remained remarkably composed. Perhaps most surprising about Morales is that he relied heavily on his changeup.
“My last couple of starts in Triple-A we used it a lot,” Morales said. “I need to do well to help us go to the playoffs.”
Morales shared in his excitement with his mother and grandfather, calling them in Venezuela. He received the lineup card and a baseball from his first hit as keepsakes.
In case you missed it
With the game ending well after 1 a.m. Sunday morning, here’s a CliffsNotes version of the Rockies’ 7-4, 14-inning victory. The crowd sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” twice, the teams used 15 pitchers and threw 468 pitches, and Matt Holliday delivered the decisive RBI single.
Footnotes
Brad Hawpe, on missing Pirates starter Ian Snell, who threatened to kill an unnamed Rockie for stealing signs before recanting and apologizing to manager Clint Hurdle: “I guess nobody is going to die now.” … Utility player Jeff Baker (concussion) has begun a rehab assignment. … Jason Hirsh said his throwing is getting much better, and he is expected to have his broken leg re-examined this week.
