It’s not supposed to end this way against these guys. Aces are supposed to squash postseason ambitions, not wild cards or jokers.
But if the Rockies end up with the noses pressed up against the playoff windowpane – a distinct possibility after Wednesday’s troubling 5-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants – they will gnash their teeth over the pedestrian pitchers they couldn’t beat.
It’s one of this season’s cruel stunts in the Rockies’ otherwise linear growth. They have proven they can tame a star when necessary – namely Brandon Webb, Curt Schilling and John Smoltz – but have gone flat in obvious mismatches.
In the series finale, with all signs pointing toward a sweep, the Rockies were muzzled by Kevin Correia in only his fourth start this season, falling five back in the National League West race and four behind in the wild-card race. Correia joins a list that’s more Who’s That? than Who’s Who? of starters who have collared the Rockies.
Mike Bacsik, Byung-Hyun Kim, Eric Stults, Todd Wellemeyer, Brad Thompson, Todd Wellemyer and Clay Hensley have all trumped Colorado. In Hensley’s case, his only two victories have come against the Rockies, which is why San Diego prefers Brett Tomko as their new fifth starter. Throw in Correia and that aforementioned group is 32-36 with a 5.08 ERA this season.
The Rockies couldn’t solve Correia. Manager Clint Hurdle indicated before the game – a game he sat out because of a one-game suspension for his actions when ejected in Arizona last Friday – that he’s always had a live arm. Correia mixed in a nifty fastball with a slider, keeping the Rockies consistently off balance. They managed just four hits and one run against him in six innings.
That was the line expected from Ubaldo Jimenez. The 23-year-old morphed into a horse over his last four starts, going 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA. He struggled, allowing three runs and seven hits in five innings.
Barry Bonds made him pay with a two-run home run in the first inning. Jimenez became the 449th pitcher that Bonds has taken deep. The Rockies rallied for two runs in the ninth inning, but the rally defused when Cory Sullivan lined out to center field.
Staff Writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
