WASHINGTON — After last season’s dramatic turnaround, the Rockies fancied themselves road warriors.
But for most of this season, they’ve been more like road kill with the worst road record in the majors.
Friday night, thanks to a solid six innings by starter Jorge De La Rosa, another power surge by Brad Hawpe and a record-setting night on the bases by Willy Taveras, the Rockies changed lanes. They beat the Nationals 4-3, a good sign for a team that entered the game just 20-40 away from home and having to play 12 of their next 15 game on the road.
Colorado’s victory came on the heels of a disheartening 3-7 homestand that moved the Rockies’ postseason chances from improbable to next to impossible.
De La Rosa had a few hiccups, but overall his performance showed why the Rockies think so much of his raw talent. The left-hander improved to 6-6, giving up three runs on six hits in six innings, striking out seven.
Walks and wildness, however, continue to plague him. In the sixth, for instance, the Nationals scored a run without a hit. Austin Kearns walked to open the inning, moved to second on De La Rosa’s wild pitch, advanced to third on Jesus Flores’ flyout to center and scored on Aaron Boone’s grounder to short.
Taveras, pinch-hitting in the seventh, singled and quickly swiped second base for his 54th steal of the season, bypassing Eric Young to set a new franchise record. Young stole 53 bases in 1996.
Not satisfied, Taveras singled and stole second again in the ninth, increasing his total to 55. Taveras has been remarkably efficient on the bases this season, getting caught just six times in 61 attempts.
Hawpe’s hot bat powered Colorado to a 4-2 lead in the fifth. Seth Smith, starting in center field for the first time in his big-league career, began the rally with a single to center. Smith scored, tying the game at 2-2, on a Matt Holliday double that screeched over the head of Nationals center fielder Lastings Milledge. Up came Hawpe, who blasted a two-run homer to right off Nationals starter Tim Redding. It was Hawpe’s 20th homer of the season. Of those 20 home runs, 12 have either tied the game or given the Rockies a lead.
Troy Tulowitzki broke his long summer drought by blasting a solo homer in the third. His deep drive to the center-field seats was just his fourth homer of the season and his first since July 2, a drought of 92 at-bats. Last season, in his injury-free rookie season, Tulowitzki hit 24 homers.
Helton update. First baseman Todd Helton, out since July 2 because of a chronic lower back problem, is not close to returning.
“Baseball activity is really the furthest thing from my mind right now,” trainer Keith Dugger said. “Todd needs to be pain-free.”
The last time Helton tried to swing a bat, the motion sent his back into spasms again.
Cook on Sunday. Staff ace Aaron Cook, his lower back strain much better, will start Sunday’s game against the Nationals. After Monday’s off day, Ubaldo Jimenez will start Tuesday’s game in Los Angeles.
“I’m feeling good, ready to go,” said Cook, who has 14 victories but has dropped two straight games.
“He’s feeling good and we wanted to get him out there as soon as possible,” Hurdle said.
Second chance. Livan Hernandez’s first start in a Rockies uniform was a disaster. Facing San Diego on Sunday, Hernandez was blasted for nine runs on seven hits, including two homers, in just 2-2/3 innings.
Hernandez, acquired from the Twins off waivers on Aug. 6, blamed his poor start, in part, on a 10-day layoff. Friday, he said his next start in a Rockies uniform would be better.
“I know I can pitch better,” he said. “I feel good, we’ll see. I’ll go out tomorrow and see if I can win a game.”
Injury updates. Hurdle would like to start catcher Yorvit Torrealba (sore left knee) in Saturday night’s game, but he’s taking a wait-and-see approach. Dugger said Torrealba would be re-evaluated after running and taking batting practice. In case Torrealba has to go on the disabled list, outfielder Cory Sullivan, officially optioned back to Triple-A, has remained with the team in case he’s needed to fill a roster spot.
Outfielder Scott Podsednik (broken finger) hit in the batting cages Friday and took part in outfield drills. He will take full batting practice on Saturday. There is a chance Podsednik will begin a minor-league rehab assignment when the Rockies go Los Angeles. Dugger said outfielder Ryan Spilborghs (oblique strain) is “a little behind Podsednik, but not much.” Spilborghs, out since July 9, is swinging a bat again and doing outfield drills. He’ll accompany the team to L.A., but a rehab assignment for him has not been scheduled.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
