ATLANTA — Rockies scouts, executives and coaches gathered at the team hotel for organizational meetings Tuesday. Beyond discussing prospects, the focus remains establishing a back-to-basics fundamental approach at every level.
For those wondering why, the Rockies provided a glaring example in a 5-4, balk-off loss to the Atlanta Braves.
They committed three fielding errors in the infield, misplayed two base hits in the outfield and failed repeatedly with runners in scoring position, negating home runs from Brad Hawpe, Chris Iannetta and a ninth-inning, tying blast from Garrett Atkins.
Befitting a sloppy performance, Taylor Buchholz balked in the winning run in the 10th inning, inexplicably stopping halfway through his delivery, sending Kelly Johnson home. Manager Clint Hurdle popped out of the dugout to protest, but left after simply throwing his arms in the air.
There were times the Rockies looked uninspired and flat, but in reality that’s always the case when a team doesn’t hit. There were times they looked electric, if not magical, specifically when Troy Tulowitzki turned in his best defensive play of the season with a diving stab to start a bases-loaded double play in the ninth inning.
Yet, the Rockies inched closer to death, their season a stronger reflection of their overall record (67-78) than their position in the standings (6 1/2 games behind the division-leading Dodgers pending the outcome of their late night affair).
Omar Infante was hitting with runners at second and third when Buchholz suffered a brain freeze for his second straight loss in as many games. It sent the small gathering home happy with Bobby Cox bobbleheads and a rare victory for a team that clinched a losing season Sunday.
Tuesday featured all the ingredients necessary for a tasty appetizer. Aaron Cook was attempting for the second time to win his 17th game, tying the franchise single-season record. He owns 10 road wins and the Rockies were 14-8 in visiting parks since the all-star break.
Those became empty stats on a yet another teeth-grinding night.
While he insists he’s healthy, Cook continued to battle command issues that have plagued him since the all-star break. His sinker elevated early, he failed to work seven innings for the seventh consecutive start.
The Braves tagged him for three runs in the first inning on a RBI single from Brian McCann and run-scoring double from previously slumping Casey Kotchman. It continued an ugly trend. The Rockies have been outscored 61-36 in the first inning on the road this season.
Brad Hawpe sliced the deficit to 3-2 with his 24th home run in the fourth inning, tying him with Matt Holliday for the team lead. On the recently- completed homestand, Hawpe hit .375, while rest of the club batted .169 in 177 at-bats.
The Braves inflated their cushion to 4-2 in the sixth on Jeff Francouer’s double that scored Kotchman from first. Center fielder Willy Taveras raced into the gap to retrieve the ball and misplayed the ricochet. He wasn’t given an error, though Clint Barmes, Ian Stewart and Aaron Cook all had gaffes.
Stewart’s fumble on a gift-wrapped doubleplay groundball left bases loaded and one out for Kotchman, numbing the good vibe from Atkins blast in the top of the ninth. That shot off Mike Gonzalez broke the reliever’s streak of 39 consecutive saves dating June 25, 2005 while with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
