LOS ANGELES — If the national pastime was past your bedtime, read without regret.
There was nothing that happened on a cool Monday night that you haven’t seen for the past week. The mad lib road trip — insert new team, action verb and unflattering adjective — continued through Dodger Stadium. The Rockies played the role of clumsy victims in an 8-2 loss to the Dodgers.
The “Think Blue” sign on the hills above illuminated the Rockies’ red faces. What began as a slump has become a stinging source of embarrassment. The loss was their eighth straight overall and 13th consecutive defeat in visiting parks. Since 2000, only two teams — the 2004 Mariners and 2003 Tigers — have endured longer streaks of road futility.
“I can understand why people ask questions why this has happened based on the expectations,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “I said when we won the National League championship that there are two types of people in this game, ‘Those who have been humbled and those who are about to be.’ We don’t need any more humility. I feel comfortable that we’ve had enough.”
Before their latest fist to the teeth — the Rockies have been outscored on this trip 69-32 — Hurdle admitted his current lineup comes up a “little short” against opponents. It wasn’t an excuse, simply a candid observation.
The Dodgers, however, represented a lighthouse for the aimlessly drifting Rockies. Had there been a marquee outside Chavez Ravine, it would have read: “Sinking Ships Collide.” The Dodgers were 1-6 on their recent East Coast swing. Typical of their skid, the Rockies were out-executed. The Dodgers’ Derek Lowe laid down a perfect safety squeeze bunt and Blake DeWitt stalled nicely in a pickle, both plays producing runs.
The Rockies, meanwhile, committed two errors, leaving them on pace for 95 after posting just 68 last season. Garrett Atkins’ errant throw in the second inning certainly didn’t help starter Greg Reynolds. But Reynolds had his own issues — like an identity crisis.
Against the Phillies last week, Reynolds could not prevent walks, issuing eight free passes. Monday, he couldn’t keep the ball in the park, surrendering home runs to Jeff Kent and Andre Ethier. Since his solid outing against the free-swinging Twins on May 17, the rookie has looked like an entirely different pitcher. He’s no longer using his curveball to set up his changeup. Or vice versa.
And the fluidity in his delivery has vanished, replaced by a stiffness that sabotaged the location of his valuable sinker. Kent and Ethier both smoked two-seam fastballs that ran back over the middle of the plate. The Rockies’ starters are 0-6 on the trip, and only Aaron Cook has won a game over the past 16 days.
“I have to take responsibility for my mistakes. I have to pitch better,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds has allowed eight home runs in 28 1/3 innings, a blinking statistic for a pitcher known for his ability to produce groundballs.
Lowe has long held that reputation. He staged a clinic for Reynolds, giving up only one run and five hits in eight innings.
“This wasn’t at all what we were looking for,” Hurdle said.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
