ATLANTA — It was the perfect setup for a milestone: the most dominant Rockies hitter ever against an overmatched pitcher.
On the mound stood Atlanta’s Eric O’Flaherty. In the box, Todd Helton dug in. He smoked a line drive one-hopper past Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar. The ball never touched his glove. Yet Helton, sitting at 1,999 hits, got no love from the official scorer. It was ruled an error.
That was the only thing that didn’t go as scripted Monday night in the Rockies’ 5-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.
In an effort soaked with redemption after Sunday’s embarrassment against the Pirates, the Rockies finally put their foot down. Or more specifically, their boot on an opponent’s chest. Jason Marquis set the tone. It was not his best outing as a Rockie — that came against San Francisco earlier this month — but it was his most important. Colorado needed someone, anyone, to scream enough’s enough.
Marquis provided the voice of reason with eight innings of one-run ball.
“Every time I go out there, I think I can shut down the other team. That’s how you have to think up here,” Marquis said.
It was not a Picasso as much as aesthetically pleasing stick figures. Marquis had 71 pitches after four innings but finished with 103, a testament to a devious sinker and a terrific defense that turned four double plays.
“We have had a few guys take that mentality to the mound or to the plate that (they are going to strike back), but he put it into action,” Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said.
Marquis bested Atlanta’s Derek Lowe, who has been arguably the best free-agent pitcher signed last winter. Using the outside corner more than normal, Lowe matched Marquis’ eight innings. The Rockies, however, turned two groundouts into runs, including one from Helton.
Those moments represent the difference of when the Rockies’ offense works and when it doesn’t. Quality outs are embraced, a sign that the team’s habit of overswinging in the clutch might be finally dissipating. The Rockies added on in the ninth with RBI singles from Chris Iannetta and Ryan Spilborghs.
The win came with an unusual twist when Helton was denied in his bid for the 2,000th hit of his career, but it’s not official yet. Hurdle will speak with official scorer Jack Wilkinson before tonight’s game in an attempt to have the call changed on Helton’s behalf.
“I thought it was a hit,” 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 said. “There’s no error involved for me in the games I have watched. It’s a poor call.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
Looking ahead
TODAY: Braves at Rockies, 5:10 p.m., FSN
Jason Hammel (0-2, 4.62 ERA) got a tough draw. Originally scheduled to face a kid in his big-league debut, the Rockies right- hander goes against Braves right-hander Jair Jurrjens (3-2, 2.06), one of the National League’s best young starting pitchers. Hammel has not allowed an earned run on the road this season in 10 innings (three appearances). Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Wednesday:
Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (0-3, 3.16 ERA) vs. Braves’ Javier Vazquez (3-3, 3.71), 5:10 p.m., FSN
Thursday:
Rockies’ Aaron Cook (2-1, 5.71) vs. Braves’ Kris Medlen (major-league debut), 5:10 p.m., FSN
Friday:
Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (3-4, 4.30) vs. Tigers’ Rick Porcello (4-3, 3.86), 5:05 p.m., FSN
Saturday:
Rockies’ Jason Marquis (5-3, 4.75) vs. Tigers’ Armando Galarraga (3-3, 5.62), 5:05 p.m., FSN
