Think of the National League West as a bedroom window. The Rockies keep throwing rocks off the glass, but the division is not interested.
A year after the World Series and purple haze, there’s nothing romantic about this season. Even before Tuesday’s first pitch, the Rockies were having a bad day. Ace Aaron Cook was scratched from Thursday’s start with a stiff back. And cleanup hitter Garrett Atkins, who tortures left-handed pitchers, was sent home with strep throat.
Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse, the Rockies lost 4-2 to the Diamondbacks, a defeat that did everything but toss flowers on 2008’s grave.
In the hours leading up the game, the Rockies talked about needing a sweep to realistically keep hope alive. Depending on the Dodgers’ outcomes, that could conceivably shave Arizona’s division lead to five games. Now, the best the Rockies can salvage is a seven-game deficit when the Diamondbacks leave.
“I think everybody knows that we have to hopefully win all three,” said pitcher Glendon Rusch, who will take Cook’s spot Thursday, with the right-hander eyeing Sunday or Tuesday for his return to the rotation. “At this point of the year, we need more than to gain one game in this series.”
This is not what the Rockies had in mind when they circled this series on their calendar last week. They were going to exact revenge on Arizona. Instead they are 1-9 against the Diamondbacks this season.
This isn’t a homestand, it’s a funereal procession. The Rockies are 2-6, losing all five games started by Cook, Jeff Francis and Ubaldo Jimenez, who dropped consecutive starts for only the second time all year.
The trio, whose ability and improved health were being counted on to trigger a revival, have compiled an 8.46 ERA on this homestand. Worse, they have allowed a staggering 48 hits in 27 2/3 innings.
Jimenez fell back into an old trap on a rain-dripped evening, pitching with urgency when runners reached base. With his delivery a bit quick, he lost command of his fastball. Catcher Chris Iannetta was setting up inside for right-handers, and Jimenez’s heater missed badly, particularly in the decisive sixth inning.
With the scored tied at 2-all, Chris Young and Chris Snyder ripped back-to-back doubles. Pitcher Randy Johnson followed with an RBI single to right on a hard line drive.
Johnson did about as much damage with the bat as the Rockies’ entire lineup. Iannetta blasted his 14th home run – he sits six shy of Charles Johnson’s club record for a catcher – and Ian Stewart doubled home Clint Barmes. Two runs in the second inning. That was it.
It continued a troubling trend. Only twice in the last eight games have the Rockies scored more than three runs off an opposing starter. As Greg Maddux did last Saturday, Johnson continued inching toward history. He worked six innings for his 294th win, 17 of which have come against the Rockies, including six at Coors Field.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
