A 3-2 victory is as commonplace in the majors as spitting sunflower seeds in the dugout. But for the Rockies, today’s win over the Marlins provided a giant sigh of relief.
It was the Rockies’ first one-run victory of the season. They entered the day 0-8 in one-run games this season, an albatross that was getting heavier by the game. The victory also snapped a three-game losing streak and took just a little bit of heat off manager Clint Hurdle.
Aaron Cook, who started the season derailed by fastball command issues, is clearly back on track. His line – six innings, four hits, two runs (one earned) — is testament to that. In a one-two-three third inning, Cook got Jeremy Hermida, Chris Volstad and Emilio Bonifacio to bounce out to Todd Helton in quick succession. Cook improved to 2-1 and whittled his ERA to 5.03. The victory was his 54th in a Rockies uniform, leaving him alone in second place in franchise history. He trails only Jason Jennings, who had 58.
The Rockies jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first. Streaking Troy Tulowitzki hit a solo homer to right, his fifth of the season. It was his seventh RBI in his last seven games.
Helton followed Tulo’s homer with a triple off the scoreboard in right field. Helton scored on Brad Hawpe’s sacrifice fly to left. It was Helton’s first triple since June 5, 2007. On that day, he did it twice against the Astros at Coors Field.
Helton added a run-scoring double in the fifth, driving in Cook who had reached on an error by Bonifacio at third. Helton’s hit proved the game-winner. With two hits, he moved within seven of 2,000 for his career.
Colorado’s bullpen, for a change, didn’t crumble trying to protect a fragile lead. Rookie Matt Daley, quickly becoming the club’s most dependable reliever, relieved Cook and threw a perfect seventh. Alan Embree retired the Marlins in order in the eighth, although it took Seth Smith’s leaping catch against the left-field wall on a drive by Wes Helms to do so.
Huston Street collected his fourth save, but not without a little drama. Ross Gload hit a one-out double down the left-field line, but pinch runner Cameron Maybin got caught in no-man’s land between second and third and got tagged out in a rundown. Street struck out Jeremy Hermida to clinch the game.
The sixth inning was a fielding misadventure that could have cost the Rockies the game. Cook gave up a leadoff double to Emilio Bonifacio, who scored on a single by Hanley Ramirez.
Hoping for a double play, Cook induced a come-backer to the mound from Ross Gload. But when Cook wheeled and tried to force Ramirez at second, Cook’s throw squirted out of his hand and into center. Ramirez moved to third and scored on Dan Uggla’s grounder to third baseman Garrett Atkins. Atkins’ throw to second baseman Omar Quintanilla was way off line, but Quintanilla managed to hold on to r the force out. Cook got Cody Ross to ground out, ending the inning with the Rockies clinging to their 3-2 lead.
The Rockies are off Monday before hosting Tuesday night.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
