Ubaldo Jimenez throws a 97 mph fastball, and Franklin Morales’ curveball sends batters into a deep freeze.
But compared to Aaron Cook, those talented Rockies youngsters remain pitcher wannabes.
That was made crystal clear again Sunday afternoon as Cook pitched a masterful 7 2/3 innings in the Rockies’ 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cook improved to 5-1, putting the breaks on a Rockies losing streak for the fourth time this season. The Coors Field crowd rewarded Cook with a standing ovation when he left the game in the eighth inning.
To win, Cook had to cool off the hottest team in baseball.
The Dodgers came to Coors Field riding an eight-game winning streak, during which they hit .327 as a team and outscored their opponents 70-35. Cook gave Colorado its first victory over Los Angeles in six tries this season.
Cook wasn’t overpowering (two strikeouts), and the Dodgers clicked nine hits off him, including a solo homer by Andre Ethier in the fifth. But the sinkerball specialist didn’t walk a batter and was always in command of the situation. Manager Clint Hurdle called it a “blueprint for success at the major-league level” and hoped Jimenez and Morales were taking notes.
“You pitch ahead in counts, you keep the ball down and you pitch to the big part of the ballpark,” Hurdle said. “It’s not always about striking out the side, and the power game isn’t always the answer. It’s all about location.”
Said Rockies starter Jeff Francis, “Aaron gives up quite a few hits, but they’re usually singles and they’re all spread apart.”
Dodgers manager Joe Torre also was impressed.
“Cook pitched a very good game,” Torre said. “He pitched ahead in the count, and we never could get anything going against him.”
During the offseason, the Rockies signed Cook to a contract extension that will pay him $34 million over the next four seasons.
“It meant a lot to me,” Cook said shortly before spring training. “It showed they believed in me. They stepped up with a contract that I could not turn down.”
Not only is Cook getting paid like an ace, he’s pitching like one. He owns the Rockies’ last four wins by a starting pitcher.
“Probably” was the answer he gave when asked if he’s pitching his best right now. “My ability to slow the game down now is better.”
Relying on his sinker, Cook forced the Dodgers into 16 groundball outs. He’s also learned to command his four-seam fastball to left-handed batters, taking away their ability to cheat on his sinker and punch the ball into left field.
Cook said a big step in his development came during Game 4 of the World Series last October. An injured oblique muscle had put him on the disabled list from mid-August until he was activated for the World Series. Although he didn’t win Game 4 and was rusty, he gave up just three runs on six hits over six innings against the Boston Red Sox. The last game of 2007, Cook said, gave him a large dose of self-assurance for 2008.
“That was a big stage to be on after 75 days off, but it taught me a lot,” he said. “It taught me to be more consistent and to slow things down. I think my confidence is better than ever right now.”
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
TODAY:Cardinals at Rockies, 6:35 p.m., FSN
In the course of an inning, Ubaldo Jimenez (1-2, 5.90 ERA) can pitch like an ace, then suddenly transform into a “wild thing.” His fastball often reaches 97 mph, but he also leads the majors with eight wild pitches. He has struck out 23 this season but has 22 walks. He was in danger of losing his spot in the rotation until he pitched a strong 5 1/3 innings Wednesday in San Francisco. The Rockies have limited experience — just 24 at-bats as a team — against Cardinals right-hander Joel Piñeiro (2-2, 3.75). Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
Tuesday:
Cardinals’ Braden Looper (4-1, 3.86 ERA) vs. Rockies’ Mark Redman (2-2, 6.99), 6:35 p.m., FSN
Wednesday:
Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright (3-1, 2.60) vs. Rockies’ Jeff Francis (0-3, 5.26), 6:35 p.m., FSN
Thursday:
Cardinals’ Kyle Lohse (3-1, 3.79) vs. Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (0-1, 20.25), 1:05 p.m., FSN
Friday:
Rockies’ Aaron Cook (5-1, 2.40) vs. Padres’ Greg Maddux (2-3, 4.09), 8:05 p.m., FSN
