In the days after Jason Hirsh’s leg broke, Rodrigo Lopez’s elbow blew up and Aaron Cook’s ribcage muscle howled, the Rockies talked bravely about their resiliency. Nothing this season has gone according to script, so why wouldn’t think they couldn’t survive this?
On a gloomy Thursday, the Rockies looked like a team that had begun to pretend. Contenders don’t lose a home series to the Pittsburgh Pirates — the final indignity came in a 5-1 defeat at Coors Field today — they don’t drop seven out of 10 games at a time when every failure is nothing shot of a hammer to the shins.
The Rockies, for now, are in the wild-card race in name only, looking more like a team trying to remain competitive than reach the postseason.
This 10-game stretch has begun to rival the 1-9 road trip that nearly paralyzed the season in June. Where that was defined by Brian Fuentes’ failures, this has been a team-wide malfunction. The Rockies have been outscored 55-40, the starters’ have a 6.57 ERA and the bullpen is gobbling up innings like Pac-Man chewing blue dots. Over the past 11 days, the rotation has worked 50-2/3 innings, compared to 42-1/3 by the relievers.
“That’s not what you are looking for,” reliever Jorge Julio said.
Needing a starter to shine, rookie Franklin Morales wilted in the spotlight. In his second career outing, he showed why, in a perfect world, he could use a bit more minor-league seasoning. His command a bit raw, the 21-year-old walked five and allowed four runs in four innings.
The Pirates struck for three in the third inning, including a two-RBI double from Josh Phelps. Colorado’s lone run — the offense managed just three over the final two games — came on a Ryan Spilborghs’ groundout.
Staff Writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
