Perhaps if there were instant replay, the Rockies would not have experienced a chillingly familiar scene.
That was the feeling in Colorado’s numb clubhouse Monday night after a 6-5, 10-inning loss to the Philadelphia Phillies pushed them dangerously behind in the National League wild-card race.
The deficit isn’t the problem as much as the schedule. The Rockies lurk 3 1/2 games back with just 19 remaining. A win in the series opener would have deadlocked the Rockies with the Phillies, left them within arm’s reach of the idle Padres. Instead, the Rockies watched victory ooze through their fingers because of a bullpen implosion and a perceived botched home run ruling.
Four relievers were tagged for runs, Jorge Julio the victim of a stunning three-run blast by Pat Burrell, and Taylor Buchholz was saddled with the loss on Ryan Howard’s walk-off double. Neither hit would have mattered much had first-base umpire Mike DiMuro thought Yorvit Torrealba’s fourth-inning, bases-loaded double to right field had traveled one more foot.
After initially signaling home run, DiMuro quickly reversed his decision, crossing his wrists to indicate fan interference. Manager Clint Hurdle argued the decision, an experienced lawyer in this court after seeing the Rockies robbed of home runs in Cincinnati and St. Louis this season.
“It just sparks debate to me (about instant replay),” Hurdle said. “The most important thing is that they get the call right, and I don’t think they got it right.”
The only one more surprised at the final ruling than Hurdle was the fan who caught the ball, 24-year-old Ryan White. The elementary school teacher insisted it was a home run. So giddy with his feat that brought no consequence – “If nothing is done to the fan, it’s a huge homefield advantage,” Buchholz said – he hoped to receive playoff tickets.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel advised the fan to stay out of the way next time, but believed the call was correct. The Rockies would have been more understanding if not for the frequency of perceived injustice.
“Everyone makes a mistake, but for it to be the third time, it’s typical,” said Troy Tulowitzki, unable to savor his history-making 20th home run, the most by a rookie National League shortstop. “Those runs would have obviously helped.”
Turns out the Rockies needed the runs. Ubaldo Jimenez yielded just two runs in six innings – his lone mistake a fat changeup that Howard deposited for his 38th homer. But the bullpen, the team’s rudder, lost direction in a forgettable seventh inning.
With two out and one runner on, Jeremy Affeldt walked Chase Utley on a borderline ball four, bringing up Burrell. He crushed his 20th home run since July 2.
Howard provided the final punch to the gut with a slicing double down the line that scored Utley in the 10th.
“I didn’t know where the ball was after it hit my glove,” Matt Holliday said. “Once I found it, it was too late.”
