Kazuo Matsui emerged from the sauna wearing a grimace and a shirt that accidentally mocked the Rockies. It read: The Road is Long So Run.
In a chilly blend of wind and frustration, the Rockies limped away from Coors Field on Saturday night with their playoff dreams on ice (packs), their goals held together by Ace bandages.
Racing to the finish, the Rockies lost their two fastest players in the eighth inning, adding ache to the pain of a troubling 3-1 loss to the San Diego Padres.
Willy Taveras is likely gone for the season after aggravating his right quadriceps injury while stealing second base. He immediately walked to the dugout and fired his helmet in disgust, an eloquent explanation of the injury’s severity.
Moments later, Matsui exited for a pinch runner after straining his right hamstring running to first base.
As he retreated to the trainer’s room, the ridiculous number of injuries confronted a sobering reality. Matt Holliday struck out with runners at first and third against Heath Bell’s 97-mph fastball. It was a reminder that this loss hurt more than others. The Padres hold a four-game lead over the Rockies in the wild-card standings with 21 remaining.
Translation: Today is the biggest game of the season, an undesirable outcome nearly impossible to overcome.
“It’s huge,” shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. “There’s no question about it.”
It will be played without Taveras and Matsui. The Rockies are optimistic Matsui will return in a few days, and manager Clint Hurdle wasn’t in the mood for any sympathy cards.
“We have won games without those guys before. It’s going to be different, it’s going to be a challenge,” he said. “(Feeling sorry) is not an option.”
There’s no denying that the Rockies are a more dynamic offensive team with Taveras and Matsui in the lineup. But it didn’t make a difference Saturday. In trying to become legends of the fall, the Rockies were no match for a future legend of the Hall.
Greg Maddux isn’t in the Hall of Fame yet, but that’s just a clerical issue that will be resolved five years after he retires. The 41-year-old required just 66 pitches to hold the Rockies to one run in six innings, while extending his streak without a walk to 54 1/3 innings.
“They just hit everything at somebody,” Maddux insisted.
That’s like Van Gogh saying he just splashed some colors together and came up with “The Starry Night.” Maddux’s near perfection ruined one of Jeff Francis’ best outings. Facing a team that has had its way with him – see 11.15 ERA this season – Francis not only embraced the role of ace, but performed like one.
He threw 112 pitches over eight innings, cruelly punished by two second-inning mistakes with a leadoff walk to Adrian Gonzalez and a double by Khalil Greene.
“Walks can come back and kick you in the butt. That was the difference,” Francis said. “Every game it seems like it’s the biggest of the year so far. Now (today) will be.”
Staff writer Patrick Saunders contributed to this report.
Staff writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
