Jorge De La Rosa went to work on Labor Day, crafting one of the best performances of his career.
The Rockies’ talented but inconsistent left-hander was brilliant today, pitching seven scoreless innings in the Rockies’ 4-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
It was the latest indication that De La Rosa will be an integral part of next season’s rotation.
The Giants managed just four singles off him, never reaching second base. De La Rosa, who improved to 8-7, struck out six and walked only one. The seven innings of work matched his season high.
With just 23 games remaining in their season, the Rockies need a September to remember to have any chance to make the postseason. The Rockies entered the day six games behind first-place Arizona in the National League West. The Diamondbacks hosted St. Louis this afternoon.
The Rockies were fortunate De La Rosa was so sharp today, because their bats took a holiday. Colorado had four hits total, managing just three off Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez, two of them by Troy Tulowitzki.
Colorado grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second on Tulowitzki’s RBI-triple to right-center, followed by De La Rosa’s single to left to score Tulowitzki. It was De La Rosa’s fifth hit of the season and his fifth RBI.
The Rockies scratched out another run in the third without benefit of a hit. Willy Taveras led off with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on Matt Holliday’s groundout. Taveras raced home on Garrett Atkins’ shallow sacrifice fly to left.
Taveras also walked in the eighth, stole second and third and scored easily on a wild pitch by Giants reliever Keiichi Yabu. Taveras increased his franchise-best stolen base total to 65.
Though De La Rosa threw only 91 pitches and looked in total command in the seventh when he struck out Benji Molina and Aaron Rowand, manager Clint Hurdle lifted him in favor of the bullpen. Manuel Corpas came on in the eighth and promptly served up singles to Emmanuel Burriss and Eugenio Valez, but Corpas wriggled out of trouble.
Closer Brian Fuentes gave up two hits in the ninth but notched two strikeouts and gloved a grounder by Burriss to end the game.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
