CHICAGO — Redemption is most charming when the acts seem improbable.
Jorge De La Rosa and Willy Taveras returned to prominence Saturday with high-fives.
The last time Jorge De La Rosa started, the Philadelphia Phillies used him as a speed bag. The idea he would escape from his bullpen exodus and pitch like Sandy Koufax required more imagination than optimism. De La Rosa was summoned to gobble innings and, if possible, give the Rockies a chance to win.
All he did was devour the Chicago White Sox, his five shutout innings and Taveras’ five stolen bases the most riveting elements in Saturday’s 2-0 interleague victory.
“(De La Rosa) had everything working, especially that slider,” catcher Yorvit Torrealba said. “At times, it was like they had no chance.”
That appeared an apt description of the Rockies. Instead, the Windy City is no longer the Winless City, the Rockies snapping an eight-game losing streak in Chicago dating to Sept. 30, 2006.
What happened Saturday is what makes baseball so cruel and wonderful. The Rockies lost Friday despite hitting a season-high four home runs. They won Saturday despite going 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position and failing to produce an RBI. That’s only happened twice in a Rockies victory in 16 years, both in the last four days (though it’s likely that Torrealba’s flyball on Wednesday will be reversed to a sacrifice fly).
“It’s a great sport, huh?” said reliever Taylor Buchholz, part of the crew responsible for the Rockies’ third shutout this year.
Colorado’s runs came courtesy of Taveras’ bat, if not his feet. He smoked a groundball in the seventh that first baseman Paul Konerko couldn’t handle, the error scoring Jeff Baker. In the ninth, Taveras singled off pitcher Nick Masset’s glove. Masset rushed and threw wildly to first. “Willy’s speed was a big-time factor,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
Taveras lost his job last week, told he would be sitting more in favor of Ryan Spilborghs because of his inability to reach base. Taveras provided a strong rebuttal Saturday. A night after hitting his first home run, Taveras ran more effectively than Barack Obama. He stole second base twice and third three times. He leads the National League with 29 steals in 31 attempts, including 11-for-11 of third after not stealing the base once last season. His five swipes were one shy of Eric Young’s team record.
“If my future is not here, it will be somewhere else,” Taveras said. “I know I haven’t hit as much. But I don’t make the lineup. If I did, I would be in there every day.”
De La Rosa finished with a career-high eight strikeouts, throwing his curveball for strikes and leaving the White Sox flailing at his slider. He was pulled after 79 pitches because he hadn’t started in 16 days. The Rockies planned to return him to the bullpen, but his performance makes it possible he could start Thursday against Cleveland instead of Triple-A lefty Glendon Rusch.
“We will figure it out,” Hurdle said. “Let him enjoy the moment.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
Looking ahead
TODAY: Rockies at White Sox, 12:05 p.m., KTVD-20
Rockies right-hander Aaron Cook (9-3, 3.21 ERA) has one bad memory this season, failing to twice hold an eight-run lead in Chicago against the Cubs. The White Sox offer a chance at redemption and another opportunity to show why Cook belongs in the All-Star Game. Catcher Chris Iannetta admitted hitters get frustrated against Cook because they might only get “one good pitch to hit all night.” White Sox right-hander Jose Contreras (6-4, 3.18) has mauled opponents at home, holding them to a .197 batting average.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Upcoming pitching matchups
Monday:
Braves’ Jair Jurrjens (6-3, 3.77 ERA) vs. Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (1-6, 4.93), 6:05 p.m., FSN
Tuesday:
Indians’ Paul Byrd (3-6, 4.89) vs. Rockies’ Greg Reynold s (1-4, 6.69), 7:05 p.m., FSN
Wednesday:
Indians’ Aaron Laffey (4-3, 2.83) vs. Rockies’ Jeff Francis (2-6, 5.49), 7:05 p.m., FSN
Thursday: Indians’ Jeremy Sowers (0-1, 7.23) vs. Rockies’ Glendon Rusch (1-3, 7.03), 7:05 p.m., FSN
