It’s not supposed to end this way against these guys. Aces, not wild cards or jokers, are supposed to squash postseason ambitions.
But if the Rockies end up with their noses pressed against the playoff window pane – a lingering possibility after Wednesday night’s 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 proved they can tame a star – namely Brandon Webb, Curt Schilling and John Smoltz – but have gone flat in obvious mismatches. 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 remaining four behind in the wild-card race with 23 games left.
“It’s a tough loss. This is a game we really needed,” admitted Todd Helton, whose team welcomes the wild card-leading San Diego Padres for a critical series this weekend. “We need to find a way to bounce back.”
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, Bobby Livingston and Clay Hensley all have trumped Colorado. Throw in Correia, and that group is 32-36 with a 5.08 ERA this season.
“I would just say that’s just part of a season of numbers,” outfielder Brad Hawpe said. “Correia pitched well. We had a game plan against him, but he had one against us and got a chance to see us the past two days.”
Manager Clint Hurdle watched the game from general manager Dan O’Dowd’s box, serving a one-game suspension for his actions during an ejection last Friday.
Passing through the clubhouse afterward, Hurdle told Ryan Spilborghs it was a “hollow feeling.”
Hurdle helplessly witnessed too many empty at-bats. Even when behind in the count, Correia held the advantage, crediting the movement on his pitches, particularly his slider. He surrendered just one run in six innings.
“I’ve had trouble with these guys all year,” Correia said. “It can be a grind, but if you can get them to swing at one of your pitches, hopefully they will hit it to somebody.”
Barry Bonds did as much in the first inning, clubbing a souvenir to a fan hanging over the left-field wall. Replays showed interference, that his 762nd home run in perhaps his last game in Denver did not clear the fence before the fan snared it.
“I didn’t think it was out,” left fielder Matt Holliday said. “That’s disappointing.”
Bonds smoked a 99 mph fastball from Ubaldo Jimenez, who suffered his first hiccup in a month. The right-hander lacked command – “My pitches were up,” he said – as he was rapped for three runs in five innings.
“He’s a young kid who we’re asking to pitch like a No. 2 or No. 3 starter,” bench coach Jamie Quirk said. “That’s a lot to put on him.”
Staff writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
