LOS ANGELES — He was too wild on opening day, too predictable against the Diamondbacks, too inconsistent last weekend in Chicago.
But Jeff Francis finally found himself Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, an archeological dig 11 weeks in the making. In the process, the Rockies finally revealed a pulse, with catcher Yorvit Torrealba fighting the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp after the outfielder took exception to a tag on an eighth-inning third strike in the dirt.
Maybe both Francis’ command and Torrealba’s passion arrived too late to save the Rockies’ season, but their performance and emotion in a 3-0 win over the Dodgers could signal a new beginning.
This is what everyone who owns purple pinstripes and once considered hiring Dinger for a birthday party was waiting for: anger, frustration and, ultimately, domination.
Francis delivered, his seven-inning scoreless effort a time-capsule ride back to October, when he mauled the Phillies and Arizona in the playoffs.
His win spared the Rockies further indignity on a road trip that couldn’t have gone any worse if Clark Griswold was piloting the charter. Colorado snapped a 13-game road losing streak, winning for the first time away from Coors Field since May 9.
The last time the Rockies had won any game was nine days ago.
Torrealba’s fury was easy to defend. He had grinded through a rough night, was put on his back by a high-and-tight pitch in his last at-bat. Even if stewing, he was not looking to brawl. But Kemp made it almost impossible for Torrealba not to retaliate.
With two out in the eighth and Taylor Buchholz pitching, the burly Kemp whiffed on a spiked curveball in a dirt. Torrealba pounced toward the ball. As he tried to retrieve it, Kemp inexplicably tapped at the ball with his bat. Torrealba eventually recovered the ball and, as he’s supposed to, tagged Kemp in the chest.
Kemp took exception, and shoved Torrealba in the chest. Torrealba slammed a forearm to Kemp’s neck. Exit baseball, enter basebrawl.
Kemp charged Torrealba, who tackled the outfielder — home plate umpire Mike Winters should have signaled two points for a takedown — as the benches and bullpens emptied. Order was quickly restored, with the Dodgers’ Juan Pierre emerging from the pile with Kemp and the Rockies’ Garrett Atkins escorting Torrealba off to a cascade of boos.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Torrealba said. “Last time I talked about having problems with (Steve Kline) last year, I got in trouble. Just write what you want.”
Both players, Kemp more specifically, will face suspension. A ruling will likely come soon.
Added Rockies reliever Matt Herges: “Can it spark us? I’ve definitely seen it happen before. I guarantee we will use it. It brings team together.”
Torrealba’s dust-up overshadowed Francis’ encouraging outing. His ERA dipped below 6.00 for the first time since May 18. It has not been under 5.00 once this season. Francis was less predictable, throwing more curveballs. And he remained committed to throwing his fastball on the inner half of the plate, which set up a changeup that preyed on impatient Los Angeles hitters.
For a night, talk of him becoming Barry Zito Lite was silenced.
“I know that I am a good pitcher and that I am good enough to win here,” Francis said.
That the Rockies beat Brad Penny won’t be remembered, this game imprinted on minds because of Francis’ performance and Torrealba’s fists.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
TODAY: Rockies at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Rockies right-hander Aaron Cook (7-3, 3.36 ERA) is an all-star candidate, but he couldn’t protect a pair of eight-run leads last Friday against the Cubs in Chicago. He didn’t take the loss, but he wore the disappointment over not finishing his job. The Rockies are 8-4 in starts made by Cook, who has turned in eight quality performances. Clayton Kershaw (0-0, 5.59) has been described in hyperbole as the Dodgers’ next Sandy Koufax. The left-hander, only 20, brings heat in the 95 mph range. He has nine strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Thursday: Off
Friday:
Brewers’ Ben Sheets (6-1, 2.71) vs. Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (1-6, 5.37), 7:05 p.m., FSN
Saturday:
Brewers’ Dave Bush (2-5, 5.49) vs. Rockies’ Greg Reynolds (0-3, 5.72), 6:05 p.m., FSN
Sunday:
Brewers’ Jeff Suppan (3-4, 3.93) vs. Rockies’ Jeff Francis (2-5, 5.53), 1:05 p.m., KTVD-20
