The Rockies can’t decide who they are.
A colossal disappointment? A case study on expectations distorting human emotions? A Disney sequel directed by Wes Craven? A remarkable tease?
On a warm Tuesday night at Coors Field, they settled into the role of defending National League champions, chest puffed out, muscles flexed. Simply put, they held a lumber party at the San Francisco Giants’ expense, winning 10-5 in a blur of baseballs bouncing off seats and ricocheting off walls.
This is what the Rockies had in mind when they left Tucson. While the pitching would require time to gain its footing, the offense would bludgeon opponents.
The lineup has been nothing if not disappointing. In winning for the fifth time in six games, the Rockies were a perfect blend of power, speed and unselfishness. The second inning was everything the Rockies were not on too many nights during the first 10 weeks.
Garrett Atkins, who would later homer, singled. Catcher Chris Iannetta was hit by a pitch. Omar Quintanilla worked the count before lacing a base hit to left field. Pitcher Aaron Cook — sure is a heck of a coincidence that the Rockies win nearly every time he pitches, huh? — plated a run. Then came back-to-back sacrifice flies from Willy Taveras and Jeff Baker.
Big deal? Consider that the Rockies had one sacrifice fly entering the last week of April.
Matt Holliday didn’t do any damage in his return, but he helped lengthen out the lineup, creating better pitches for Todd Helton to hit. Helton, who had one of his worst games in recent memory Sunday, took advantage. He crushed a three-run home run in the fifth inning to create a lead that reliever Luis Vizcaino spent the ninth inning trying to squander.
It was Helton’s first opposite field home run at Coors Field this season and his third homer in 10 games. He had just four home runs in the first 54 games.
Cook continued his push to an all-star berth, improving to 9-3. He worked seven innings, surrendering just three earned runs on nine hits. The Rockies are 10-4 in his starts.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
