CHICAGO — The song reverberated off the seats, providing a perfect soundtrack for the evening.
As White Sox closer Bobby Jenks exited the bullpen, the metal group P.O.D.’s lyrics screamed “Boom! Boom! Here comes the Boom! Ready or not here come the boys from the South!”
The Rockies created noise all night, setting a season high with four home runs, but couldn’t silence a crippling seventh-inning White Sox rally. The result: Chicago 5, Rockies 4.
The game came with notable distinctions. For one, the Rockies, in addition to appealing to get Yorvit Torrealba an RBI for Wednesay’s sacrifice fly, should ask the commissioner’s office if they can avoid Chicago next season.
Windy City? More like Winless City.
The Rockies are 0-5 in Illinois against the Cubs and White Sox. The White Sox have won nine straight home games.
This hurt because it was so avoidable. The Rockies led 4-2 entering the bottom of the seventh. Second baseman Ian Stewart punished Chicago’s Gavin Floyd for two home runs. Willy Taveras and Brad Hawpe also went deep.
“It’s nice to be playing up to my capabilities,” said Stewart, who received the ball from his second home run as a souvenir.
Still, it wasn’t enough for Jeff Francis, who pitched well until wobbling in the seventh. He gave up a hit and a walk to open the inning, and was ultimately relieved by Matt Herges.
Herges took the loss, but Francis took the blame.
“It’s frustrating. We had a chance and I couldn’t hold it,” Francis said.
Entering the at-bat 1-for-10 lifetime off Herges, Juan Uribe tied the game with a two-run single. Catcher A.J. Pierzynski pushed the Sox ahead for good with an infield single off shortstop Omar Quintanilla.
“The last thing I wanted to do was elevate a pitch to (Uribe),” Herges said. “And A.J. smoked that ball. I can’t expect anybody to make that play. A.J. is a pesky hitter. I am surprised that Q even got a piece of leather on it. He’s caught me (when both were with San Francisco). He knows me and he won the battle this time.”
Catching on Chris
It’s a popular axiom in football: If you have two quarterbacks, you have none. The Rockies have depth and manager Clint Hurdle is trying to maximize it without bruising egos and losing production.
Finding playing time for Taveras and catcher Yorvit Torrealba, both opening day starters, has become increasingly difficult. Neither has performed as expected offensively, but are assets in the field. Taveras started in center field because of his defense Friday and homered. Ryan Spilborghs served as the DH. The lineup will be juggled Saturday with the White Sox starting left-hander John Danks.
Hurdle reiterated today that he won’t freeze anyone out. But he’s no longer going out of his way to say that Torrealba is his starting catcher anymore, either. Torrealba has started just once in his last six games, and it’s telling that he’s not in there tonight after tying his career-high with three hits yesterday.
Hurdle explained that he’s looking for someone to run with the position, and that he will “look to piggyback” the two to get the most offense.
Footnotes
Torrealba is expected to get his three-game suspension for fighting the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp reduced to two games. It’s likely he will serve it Sunday and Monday, with Colorado Springs’ Edwin Bellorin serving as Iannetta’s backup. … Outfielder Cory Sullivan confirmed Friday that he was outrighted off the 40-man roster. Sullivan has been in a tough spot this season ever since he was beaten out in spring training by Scott Podsednik. Sullivan had to clear waivers to be taken off the 40-man. The lack of interested parties is at least partly a reflection of his $1 million salary. If Podsednik is traded, Sullivan could have a reserve role with the Rockies again. … Jason Hirsh, out with a shoulder injury, had hoped to start Saturday at U.S. Cellular Field, but Hurdle wants to see better fastball command in the minor leagues. As a result, the Rockies took Hirsh off his rehab assignment and optioned him to Triple-A. That allows them as much time as they’d like to evaluate the right-hander. Had he stayed on a rehab, he would have had to be activated in 30 days, barring injury. … Podsednik, a former White Sox’s outfielder, received a mixed reaction when he entered as a pinch-runner in the ninth inning. Podsednik helped the White Sox win the 2005 World Series and still has a home in Chicago. He stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. … The Rockies’ draft picks that have agreed to terms are, according to the club: Charles Blackmon (2nd), Phillip Hollingsworth (4th), Daniel Houston (7th), Kurt Yacko (8th), Craig Bennigson (9th), Brandon Walker (11th), Juan Rodriguez (15th), Chad Rose (16th), Alan Deratt (17th), Chad Jacobsen (18th), Thomas Field (24th), Adam Jorgenson (26th), Mike Zuanich (28th), Matthew Baugh (29th), Carlos Luna (30th), Rod Scurry (31st), Patrick Rose (36th), Alexander Feinberg (43rd) and Bradley McAtee (45th).
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
