Emotions take a roller-coaster ride during a 162-game, 182-day baseball season. But it’s hard to imagine the Rockies’ collective mood getting much worse than it was Wednesday afternoon after a 3-2, 10-inning loss to San Francisco. Colorado blew a 2-0, ninth-inning lead and a brilliant effort from starter Ubaldo Jimenez.
“There is definitely some frustration, especially when you lose games that you have an opportunity to win,” Todd Helton said in the Rockies’ somber clubhouse.
“It’s tough sledding right now, there’s no other way of putting it,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
The Rockies fell to 11 games under .500 after wasting seven crisp shutout innings from Jimenez, who featured a heavy fastball that had Giants hitters pounding the ball into the dirt and a changeup that left them guessing.
Although Jimenez struck out just one, he walked only two. Of his 21 outs, 16 came from groundballs.
Prior to Wednesday’s game, Jimenez had never pitched seven shutout innings in a start.
“I have tried to learn, taking every little thing out of my bad games and out of my good games,” said Jimenez, who has notched three consecutive quality starts, lowering his ERA to 4.61, but still has just one win. “I have learned to relax. Just keep the ball down and go after hitters.”
Jimenez’s maturation was the good news, but more than a quarter of the way through the season, the defending National League champions sit 10 1/2 games behind Arizona in the National League West.
“We are still at the point where we can’t put the complete project together for an extended period of time,” Hurdle said.
Reliever Matt Herges, the losing pitcher, concurred.
“Jimenez was unbelievable today, but it was frustrating because nothing else clicked for us,” said Herges, who gave up the winning run when Omar Vizquel hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Ray Durham, who singled off Herges to open the 10th. Durham moved into scoring position when Rich Aurilia walked and Fred Lewis grounded out.
“I looked like a Little Leaguer today,” Herges said. “I couldn’t make a pitch when it counted.”
Brian Fuentes entered the game a perfect 6-for-6 since taking over the closer duties from Manuel Corpas, but he couldn’t close the door. Vizquel led off the ninth with a double to left-center and scored on Bengie Molina’s one-out single. Daniel Ortmeier, running for Molina, scored on pinch hitter Steve Holm’s double to center.
Once again, Colorado’s offense stalled in the clutch. The Rockies were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
“It seems to be a team-wide thing right now,” third baseman Garrett Atkins said. “We’ve won games in the past with everyone relying on each other. Last year, it seemed like a different person came through every game. Right now, that’s not happening, but I think things will change over a long season.”
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
Upcoming pitching matchups
Friday:
Mets’ Oliver Perez (4-3, 4.25 ERA) vs. Rockies’ Greg Reynolds (0-1, 3.09), 7:05 p.m., FSN
Saturday:
Mets’ John Maine (5-3, 3.29) vs. Rockies’ Jeff Francis (1-4, 5.87), 1:55 p.m., Fox
Sunday:
Mets’ Claudio Vargas (0-2, 4.76) vs. Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (1-2, 7.78), 1:05 p.m., KTVD-20
Monday:
Rockies’ Aaron Cook (6-3, 3.06) vs. Phillies’ Jamie Moyer (4-3, 4.37), 5:05 p.m., FSN
