ATLANTA — This time the controversy was related to history, not a victory.
In perhaps their most impressive performance of the season given the time, the place and the proximity to Sunday’s meltdown, the Rockies snuffed out the Braves 5-1 at Turner Field.
The win came with an unusual twist. Todd Helton was denied in his bid for his 2,000th hit, but it’s not official yet. Manager Clint Hurdle will speak with official scorer Jack Wilkinson before Tuesday’s game in attempt to have the call changed on Helton’s fourth at-bat. The first baseman hit a low line drive at Braves’ shortstop Yunel Escobar that took an in-between hop. Escobar didn’t touch it, but was charged with an error after a long pause.
“All I can do is hit it, but I have never seen that ball ruled an error. I should have hit it higher or somewhere else. I thought it was a hit, oh well,” Helton said.
So, too, did Hurdle. He asked Rockies spokesman Jay Alves to request a meeting with Wilkinson. According to Hurdle, Wilkinson acquiesced. Hurdle will argue that the ball should be a hit, regardless of sentimentality.
“You want it to be clean. But at end of the day, it’s a smoked ball at the shortstop’s feet. He holds his ground and either picks that ball or not,” Hurdle explained. “There’s no error involved for me in the games I have watched. It’s a poor call. I will always support my players when I feel it’s warranted.”
Helton’s teammates are privately pulling for the call to stand. They want to celebrate the moment with him – not 20 hours later in an empty stadium. As for Helton, he’s never going to be confused for a human Hallmark card.
“If they call and tell me it’s a hit, I will take it. It’s just a hit. It wouldn’t bother me,” said Helton.
Helton was more pleased with the victory, which came almost solely because of Jason Marquis. He felt strangely confident prior the game despite being shelled in his last two outings. Marquis was comfortable in the unseasonably cold weather — 66 degrees at game time with an annoying breeze.
“I like it,” said Marquis, who allowed just five hits over eight innings.
Marquis was touched for a lone run on a double-play groundout by Braves’ first baseman Casey Kotchman. The Rockies’ story, like it has so many times over the last 12 years, ultimately revolved around Helton.
He drove in the Rockies’ go-ahead run with a groundout to second base in the sixth inning. But he was thwarted, in debatable fashion, in his bid to become Mr. 2,000. It went down like this. With Troy Tulowitzki aboard in the eighth inning, Helton stepped in against left-handed Eric O’Flaherty.
He drove the second pitch, a 90-mph fastball, toward shortstop Yunel Escobar.
The umpiring crew retrieved the ball for posterity’s sake. And Helton’s teammates stood draped over the top railing of the third-base dugout, awaiting a ruling on the scoreboard. After it was ruled an error, Hurdle glanced toward the press box, seeming to question the decision.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
