The Rockies refuse to look back at the ineptitude that has haunted them, the injuries that have hamstrung them, the helpless at-bats with runners on base or even the parade of fifth starters who have been alarmingly inconsistent.
Nobody thinks the Rockies will make the playoffs anymore, but on Wednesday night Brad Hawpe had the right swing at the right time to interrupt the eulogy, trumping the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5 at Coors Field.
The sound off Hawpe’s bat in the eighth inning was frightening, like the ball was launched out of a gun. An avid hunter, Hawpe knows a little something about firearms. But it’s unlikely that he has had many shots with such precision and ferocity. He lost Jon Rauch’s 92 mph fastball over the center-field fence, the two-run shot for a fleeting moment soothing lingering wounds of a disappointing homestand.
“It was loud,” Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. “And it was huge.”
The win cut Arizona’s lead to eight games over Colorado in the NL West. And the Dodgers moved into a tie for first by beating Philadelphia 7-6.
What played out Wednesday was promising, even if painfully late. Jeff Francis, in arguably his best outing of the season given the opponent, worked six strong innings. He surrendered three runs, but the box score doesn’t provide adequate explanation for the outing.
The Diamondbacks have tortured the left-hander this season, winning three previous games while hitting .421 off him. Wednesday, Francis abandoned his sinker and relied more on his four-seam fastball. It had late life and ample velocity — from 86 to 92 mph. And he changed the batters’ eye levels with it.
“I was able to pitch to the glove more. I didn’t feel like I was nibbling,” Francis said. “And it helped that I had more oomph behind my pitches.”
Couple it with terrific command of his changeup and Francis looked much more like a frontline starter than a pitcher stuck on three wins with September within arm’s reach.
Yet, when Manuel Corpas couldn’t clean up a mess, the Rockies entered the eighth in a 4-all tie. Their offense centered around solo home runs from Ian Stewart and Clint Barmes, who hit leadoff for only the second time all season and will stay there after that good evening.
This is a game the Rockies would have lost in April. Or last week. But the big hit, too often absent this season, came when catcher Chris Iannetta greeted Rauch with a double. That left Hawpe dangerous and prepared.
“I was looking for a fastball up because that’s how they have been pitching me,” Hawpe said.
Because these Rockies never make anything easy, closer Brian Fuentes provided accompanying drama in the ninth. Two hits and a walk drew the Diamondbacks within a run. Then Fuentes struck out Chris Young before inducing a bases-loaded groundball from Adam Dunn.
Hawpe said Fuentes has great courage, “that’s all there is to it. It’s why he’s one of the best.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
Today
When considering his All-Star Game starter, manager Clint Hurdle nearly picked Dan Haren (12-6, 3.00 ERA). Haren has quietly had a Cy Young Award campaign. The right-hander possesses a good fastball and an evil splitter. Haren has gone 6-3 with a 2.92 ERA against National League West opponents, including a victory over the Rockies. Glendon Rusch (5-3, 5.22) replaces Aaron Cook. Rusch is the Rockies’ hottest pitcher, having won his last four decisions. Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Friday:
Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (5-6, 6.28 ERA) vs. Nationals’ Tim Redding (8-7, 4.61), 5:35 p.m., FSN
Saturday:
Rockies’ Livan Hernandez (10-9, 5.94) vs. Nationals’ John Lannan (6-11, 3.40), 5:10 p.m., FSN
Sunday:
Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (8-11, 3.94) vs. Nationals’ Odalis Perez (5-8, 4.12), 11:35 a.m., KTVD-Ch. 20
Monday:
Off day
