HOUSTON — In years past, a 5-4 road trip would have created genuine satisfaction in the Rockies’ clubhouse.
No longer. The defending National League champions expect much more of themselves.
That’s why the Houston Astros’ 6-4 victory over the Rockies this afternoon at Minute Maid Park was a bitter end to a semi-sweet ride.
What made it especially hard to swallow was the ending. First of all, it was former Rockies second baseman Kazuo Matsui who hit a two-run single for the game-winner.
Secondly, it was set-up man Brian Fuentes, who had not given up a run in nine innings all season, who blew the save in the eighth. He gave up a leadoff single to Hunter Pence and walked pinch-hitter Mark Loretta, setting the stage for Matsui. Matsui and Fuentes battled to a 3-2 standoff before Matsui drove the ball into left field.
Houston got a bonus run when Miguel Tejada drove in Matsui with a double to right off reliever Ryan Speier.
With Todd Helton on second and Matt Holliday on first, Garrett Atkins, who hit a solo homer to tie the game in the sixth, had a chance to keep the Rockies alive in the ninth. But Houston closer Jose Valverde got Atkins to pop out to center to end the game.
The loss halted the Rockies’ winning streak at four games and prevented their first-ever sweep at Minute Maid.
The one-two punch of Clint Barmes and Troy Tulowitzki gave the Rockies a 4-3 lead in the seventh. Barmes, now hitting .389, led off with a pinch-hit double, moved to second on Willy Taveras’ perfect sacrifice bunt, and scored on Tulowitzki’s single to right-center.
Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez, so good in his first three innings, wobbled through his final 2 2/3 innings. However, the wheels never fell off completely and he managed to keep the Rockies in the game.
In the fourth, the right-hander gave up three consecutive two-out walks, but paid a relatively small price, surrendering just a single run on Geoff Blum’s soft single to left.
In the fifth, Houston’s Matsui, Tejada and Lance Berkman turned three consecutive singles into two runs, giving the Astros a 3-2 lead.
Atkins tied the game 3-3, smashing a solo homer off the façade high above the left-field stands. Atkins’ third homer of the season came against Astros starter and former Rockie Shawn Chacon.
After going 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position Saturday night, the Rockies fared better today. Holliday led off the second with a double and scored on Brad Hawpe’s single up the middle. Taveras doubled in the third and scored on Helton’s single to right.
Chacon, the Greeley Central High School graduate, pitched six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. He struck out one and walked one. After four starts he has an impressive 2.77 ERA but no victories to show for it.
The Rockies open a four-game homestand Monday night against the Phillies at Coors Field.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
