Rockies starting pitchers certainly haven’t turned the corner yet, but at least they have the blinker on.
Sunday afternoon, at long last, erstwhile ace Jeff Francis got his first victory of the 2008 season, pitching 6 1/3 innings in the Rockies’ 6-2 victory over Minnesota.
It took Francis nine starts to bag the win, his longest drought to begin a season. It wasn’t easy, but it was important, for himself and for his team, which won back-to-back games for the first time since May 9.
“I’ve got to come out and do my job,” Francis said. “That’s all I can worry about. If I’m not getting it done, I have to find a way to get it done. I’m a big part of this team, and I feel like I have a chance to help us win every time out.”
In the weekend series with the Twins, Rockies starting pitchers — Ubaldo Jimenez, Greg Reynolds and Francis — combined for a 2.33 ERA. That’s much better than the club’s 4.71 ERA entering Sunday’s game — a mark that ranked next to last in the majors.
“I think our rotation is getting its feet underneath it,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “Time will tell, but guys are showing improvement.”
It helped that Francis got loads of offensive support. Todd Helton broke out of his blase May, going 2-for-4, hitting his fourth homer and driving in three runs. Clint Barmes put the Rockies in front with a solo homer in the third inning. Barmes went 2-for-4, extending his hitting streak to 11 games. During the streak, Barmes has hit .500 (20-for-40), boosting his season average to .357.
But Sunday belonged to Francis, who finally rediscovered command of his fastball and changeup. Almost always a better pitcher under the sun than under the lights, he hung tough for 6 1/3 innings and struck out seven. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire chastised his batters for chasing pitches in the dirt, while the Rockies credited Francis’ dipping changeup for the swings and misses.
Francis yielded six hits — all for extra bases — but surrendered just two runs. Those runs came in the sixth when fellow Canadian Justin Morneau drove Francis’ 3-2 fastball over the right-center field wall for a two-run homer and a 2-1 Twins’ lead. It was Morneau’s eighth homer of the season.
Francis was nothing if not resilient. Brendan Harris led off the game with a double, but was stranded at second. Michael Cuddyer opened the second with a triple but was stranded 90 feet from home plate. Delmon Young rattled a one-out triple into the right-field corner in the third but never scored. Francis, at least on the outside, remained unflappable.
“He always stays the same,” catcher Chris Iannetta said. “I’m sure he’s got stuff going on inside, but on the outside, he stays calm, cool and collected. He uses his head to figure out situations and how to pitch.”
It’s fitting that Francis (1-4, 5.87 ERA) should notch his first win of the season in a day game. Last year, when he won a career-high 17 games, Francis was 8-0 with a 2.48 ERA in nine daylight starts. He was 9-9 with a 4.92 ERA in night games.
“Maybe it’s in the daytime the hitters don’t see the ball as well, but I don’t know, I’m not up there,” Francis said. “I don’t have any different approach day to night. So I just don’t know.”
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
TODAY: Giants at Rockies, 6:35 p.m., FSN
Rockies left-hander Jorge De La Rosa (1-2, 9.42 ERA) throws with enough heat, getting 15 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings since joining the club. His problem has been a glaring lack of consistency and inability to pitch deep into games. In his last start against Arizona, De La Rosa retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced and struck out six, yet he was gone after 4 2/3 innings. San Francisco’s Pat Misch (0-0, 5.32) still is seeking his first major-league victory. Misch pitched in relief twice against the Rockies last season, notching a 2.08 ERA. Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
Tuesday:
Giants’ Tim Lincecum (5-1, 1.92) vs. Rockies’ Aaron Cook (6-2, 2.82), 6:35 p.m., FSN
Wednesday:
Giants’ Jonathan Sanchez (2-3, 4.59) vs. Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (1-4, 5.29), 1:05 p.m., FSN
Thursday:
Off
Friday:
Mets’ Oliver Perez (4-3, 4.25) vs. Rockies’ Greg Reynolds (0-1, 3.09), 7:05 p.m., FSN
