Todd Helton was talking about the Rockies’ 3-2 loss to the Brewers on Sunday afternoon at Coors Field, but he just as well could have been describing a season’s worth of wasted opportunities.
Helton twice failed to deliver with the bases loaded, and the Rockies went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
“It’s all you can ask for to be put in those situations,” said Helton, who went 0-for-5, his average dipping to .285. “Obviously I left a small army out there on base today. It’s one of those days and I’m not happy about it.”
The loss not only snapped the Rockies’ four-game winning streak and prevented a three-game sweep of the Brewers, it highlighted one of the main reasons the defending National League champions are 15 games under .500 (24-39). As a team, Colorado is hitting .238 with runners in scoring position, 27th in the majors. By comparison, the Rockies hit .276 with RISP last season, fifth in the National League. During last season’s 11-game winning streak that catapulted the Rockies into playoff contention, they hit .313 with RISP.
But clutch hits have been scarcer than cheap gas this season.
“There were a handful of opportunities out there for us, and we couldn’t get that big hit,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “It would have been nice to have a hit fall in the gap and provide us some separation.”
Milwaukee starter Jeff Suppan improved to 6-1 against Colorado and 3-0 with a 3.75 ERA at Coors Field. He allowed four hits and five walks, but just one earned run in 5 1/3 innings.
Rockies starter Jeff Francis put Colorado in a 3-0 hole when he struggled out of the gate — something that’s become a troubling trend for the lanky lefty — but he deserved a better fate than falling to 2-6.
“Jeff kept the game where we needed it to be; we just didn’t come through with big hits,” said Helton, who left eight men on base.
The first of three failed opportunities arrived in the second inning. Francis whittled the Brewers’ lead to 3-1 with his first RBI of the season, poking a single to right to score Chris Iannetta. Suppan loaded the bases by walking Scott Podsednik, but Seth Smith lined out to short for out No. 2 and Helton popped out to right.
In the seventh, with one out and the bases jammed, Helton faced reliever Carlos Villanueva. This time, Helton struck out looking, giving home plate umpire Lance Barksdale a long stare before heading to the dugout. Garrett Atkins couldn’t deliver either, grounding out to short. Though Atkins is hitting .313, his average is .200 with runners in scoring position and .150 with RISP and two outs.
The Rockies had another prime chance in the eighth. Brad Hawpe led off with a single and hustled to second when center fielder Gabe Kapler mishandled the ball. Hawpe moved to third on Iannetta’s fly out to right. When pinch- hitter Ryan Spilborghs walked, the Rockies had runners at the corners and just one out. But Omar Quintanilla punched the ball back to relief pitcher Salomon Torres, who caught Hawpe in no-man’s land between third and home, resulting in the second out. Pinch- hitter Jonathan Herrera then grounded out to second.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
Seasons of contrast
The Rockies’ offensive failures have been a major reason for a 24-39 record that has them in last place in the NL West. Here’s a look at last season’s final numbers compared with this season:
2007 2008
Team batting avg. .280 .254
Runs/game 5.28 4.16
Avg. with RISP .276 .238
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
Upcoming pitching matchups
Tuesday:
Giants’ Pat Misch (0-2, 5.79 ERA) vs. Rockies’ Aaron Cook (8-3, 3.16), 7:05 p.m., FSN
Wednesday:
Giants’ Tim Lincecum (8-1, 2.15) vs. Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (1-6, 5.43), 7:05 p.m., FSN
Thursday:
Giants’ Jona- than Sanchez (5-3, 3.70) vs. Rockies’ Greg Reynolds (1-3, 5.24), 1:05 p.m., FSN
Friday:
Rockies’ Jeff Francis (2-6, 5.45) vs. White Sox’s Gavin Floyd (7-3, 3.10), 6:11 p.m., FSN
