SAN FRANCISCO — The temptation is to focus on the future.
On potential trade pursuits of Pittsburgh’s Ian Snell and Florida’s slugging second baseman Dan Uggla, or the solution to the dilemma of keeping Matt Holliday and Garrett Atkins. But before burning up the phone lines can commence, there’s a slight problem: This season has not been reduced to dial tone.
In Vonage or Pac Bell or AT&T Park — whatever they call the China Basin field these days — the Rockies refuse to say goodbye, wiring together an exhaustive 7-2 victory Tuesday night.
This was to games what “Ugly Betty” is to sit-coms, charming in its awkwardness. What it lacked in aesthetics, it made up for in importance. The win over the Giants moved the Rockies within six games of the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks.
To put that in perspective, the Rockies haven’t been five back since April 21. And on this date last season, they trailed the Diamondbacks by 6 1/2 games. So forgive the Rockies if they believe those crumbs from the chocolate chip cookies Todd Helton passed out Monday are magic dust.
How else to explain Jorge De La Rosa’s outing? He labored through 71 pitches in the first three innings, making Nuke LaLoosh look like Greg Maddux. De La Rosa walked pitcher Matt Palmer, endured 16 foul balls in the first inning and yet finished with his seventh win. Annoyingly wild became effectively erratic as the left-hander permitted just one earned run in six innings despite three walks.
Promising rallies by the Giants turned to rumors, namely because of impatient clutch at-bats and a nifty fourth-inning unassisted double play by Troy Tulowitzki.
In contrast to De La Rosa, the wild Palmer had no out pitch — and, consequently, no way out. He represented a classic 4A starter, nibbling his way to disaster. He issued six walks and hit a batter. Atkins and Chris Iannetta punished his carelessness in the third inning with a pair of two-RBI singles. Ian Stewart, who has driven in 35 runs since the all-star break, swelled the lead to 6-2 with a sixth-inning single.
When the Rockies completed a horrific 3-7 homestand two weeks ago — a low point that could still ultimately spoil this season — they vowed not to quit. If nothing else, they have fulfilled their promise.
They faced adversity Tuesday without so much as a flinch, winning for the 13th time in their last 18 road games. Closer Brian Fuentes left the team to tend to a family issue, placed on the bereavement list, leaving him unavailable for at least two more days. Fuentes was placed on waivers Monday to explore his trade value since he will be claimed. Still, he’s unlikely to be dealt, given the Rockies’ demands and their latest surge.
This team has become part cockroach, part Chuck Norris. The Rockies just won’t die.
“I know it’s hard to believe, but we are still in the race,” center fielder Willy Taveras said. “Wouldn’t that be something if could get to the playoffs again?”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
