ST. LOUIS — It was, in many ways, a strange opening series.
There was too much rain, too many errant pitches and too few big hits.
The Rockies wanted an electric start and instead staged a buzzkill, blanked 3-0 Thursday by the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
History wasn’t the goal when they arrived in St. Louis, but they made it anyway. Not only were the Rockies shut out for the first time since Aug. 14, but their five runs in the series is a franchise-low for the season’s first three games.
“I know I just (stunk),” all-star Matt Holliday said. “No excuses.”
Ubaldo Jimenez summarized the week without saying a word. He stood at his locker, slowly buttoning his designer shirt with a blank expression that screamed: What just happened?
The Rockies were supposed to leave the Cardinals without a bat to perch on. Instead, the proven starters struggled, Jimenez and Aaron Cook working just five innings apiece. While Cook was undermined by crucial mistakes, fleeting command plagued Jimenez. The Cardinals wore him out with their patience, wringing out five walks, as Jimenez required 100 pitches to retire 15 hitters.
“I know I am better than that,” said Jimenez. “I know they are going to make me throw strikes. I have to improve.”
The Cardinals’ starters couldn’t have been much better. They compiled a 0.54 ERA in 16 2/3 innings. Brad Thompson was as nasty as the weather, playing a tight slider off a hard-running sinker. Thompson was rarely, if ever, in trouble. And anytime a Cardinal needed a critical out, the Rockies acquiesced with runners in scoring position, going 3-for-25.
“I would have thought you were (crazy) if you told me that would happen before the series,” shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. “We usually come through in those situations.”
If there were ever a panacea, today offers it up on a purple platter. The Rockies return home to face the Arizona Diamondbacks — and to a city awaiting them with open arms. Colorado last played at Coors Field in Game 4 of the World Series.
Boston’s sweep did nothing to dull the accomplishment. The Fall Classic put Rockies baseball back on the national radar. Their homework made that possible, as they won 39 of their final 54 games at Blake Street, not counting a pair against the Diamondbacks to clinch the National League championship.
“It’s going to be special,” said Todd Helton.
The rotation was a concern leaving spring training, so the performances of Jeff Francis (though his was washed out), Cook and Jimenez weren’t completely startling. Nobody, however, thought the lineup would go acoustic.
Manager Clint Hurdle said Thompson created more “funky swings from our right-handers than I have seen in a long time.” His career-high six strikeouts were symbolic of a Cardinals’ staff that repeatedly produced clutch pitches.
“The strikeouts happened this time because I kept the ball down,” Thompson said.
Garrett Atkins, Helton and Holliday didn’t produce an RBI. There may not be another series like that for months.
As they boarded the bus, the Rockies were eager to replace wet ‘n’ mild with loud ‘n’ wild.
“It seems like we have been gone forever,” said Mark Redman, today’s starter. “It’s going to be great being back in that atmosphere.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
Looking Ahead
TODAY: Diamondbacks at Rockies, 2:05 p.m., FSN
Mark Redman (2-4, 7.62 ERA, 2007) spent the better part of last season as a human atlas, bouncing from Atlanta to Richmond to Syracuse and ultimately Denver. Besieged by injuries, the Rockies added Redman when the rosters expanded to 40 in September. Familiarity helped Redman land a spot in the rotation this spring. He relies on a cut-fastball to get groundballs. The Rockies beat Micah Owings (8-8, 4.30) to clinch the National League pennant in October. Matt Holliday hit a three-run homer off the right-hander.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
