Expectation was trumped by disappointment this afternoon at Coors Field, where the Rockies lost 3-2 to the Brewers, ending a four-game winning streak.
A day after Brad Hawpe lifted the Rockies’ spirits with a first-inning grand slam, the Rockies twice loaded the bases and threatened to blow out Milwaukee. But a magic moment, or even an RBI single, never arrived.
In the eighth, the Rockies put runners on the corners with one out but once again failed to get a run home. Like so many other times this season, the big, clutch hit never arrived.
The main culprit today was Todd Helton, who entered the game with a .296 average with runners in scoring position. In the second, he popped out to right with the bases loaded, ending the inning. He strode to the plate in the seventh to face reliever Carlos Villanueva, with one out and the bases jammed again. This time, Helton stuck out looking, giving home plate umpire Lance Barksdale a long stare before heading back to the dugout. Garrett Atkins couldn’t deliver, either, grounding out to short to end the inning.
With Brewers starter Jeff Suppan pitching as he usually does against the Rockies, their chances were limited. And even though he walked five, the Rockies couldn’t make him pay. He improved to 6-1 against Colorado, allowing four hits in 5-1/3 innings.
For Rockies starter Jeff Francis, the first inning continues to be an unsolved mystery.
After 14 starts, his first-frame ERA is 10.38. He opened Sunday’s game by walking Joe Dillon and gave up run-scoring singles to Ryan Braun and Bill Hall. The Rockies were in a 2-0 hole before they swung a bat.
Francis, who fell to 2-6, eventually collected himself, but not before a wobbly second inning. Dillon coaxed a two-out walk out off Francis, stole second base and scored on Gabe Kapler’s single to left. The Brewers led 3-0.
The Rockies’ big-chance second inning produced a single run when Francis poked a single to right, scoring Chris Iannetta. Next, Suppan loaded the bases by walking Scott Podsednik, but Seth Smith lined out to short and Helton popped out to right, cancelling the threat.
Atkins led off the Rockies’ sixth with a double, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on Iannetta’s sharp single to left, cutting Milwaukee’s lead to 3-2.
Hawpe opened the eighth with a single, taking second when center fielder Gabe Kapler mishandled the ball. Hawpe moved to third on Iannetta’s flyball to right. Pinch-hitter Ryan Spilborghs walked, and the Rockies again appeared primed to strike. But Omar Quintanilla punched the ball back to relief pitcher Salomon Torres, who caught Hawpe in no-man’s land between third and home for the second out. Pinch-hitter Jonathon Herrera grounded out to second. End of another threat, end of ballgame, end of winning streak.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
