Reaching .500 is not much of a dream for a major-league baseball team, unless you are the 2009 Rockies.
On May 27, they were hiding in the basement of the National League West with an 18-28 record.
After defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 on Thursday for their 13th win in 14 games, the Rockies are back to even (33-33) for the first time since Tax Day. That was more than two months ago.
“We were in a huge hole, and we have climbed out to where we can see above ground,” said manager Jim Tracy, who is 15-5 since taking over. “The important thing now, after working that hard to get to this point, is that there is no letting up.”
A team once searching for a positive identity is the hottest team in baseball, featuring a starting rotation that’s evolved into a June juggernaut. Ubaldo Jimenez notched the latest win, striking out seven and scattering six hits over 6 2/3 innings. He did it against a Rays’ lineup that is among the most potent and versatile in baseball.
Rockies starters have earned wins in 12 of the club’s last 14 games. Since June 4, the rotation is 12-1 with a 3.14 ERA, and that statistic includes Jorge De La Rosa’s meltdown Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the hard-throwing Jimenez continues creeping toward ace-like status.
“I am getting so much more experienced, and that makes me a lot more comfortable out there,” Jimenez said.
Thursday’s game was billed as a showdown between two ultra-talented 25-year-old right- handers: the Rays’ Matt Garza vs. Jimenez.
Garza was untouchable through the first two innings, striking out four. In the third, he was nicked by a one-out bloop single by Jimenez. Garza struck out Seth Smith for out No. 2, but hung a 2-2 breaking ball to Clint Barmes. Garza paid for the mistake when Barmes fired a two-run homer to left, his seventh homer of the season. Barmes was 2-for-4, boosting his average to .296. His 27 hits in June lead the National League.
Garza next tried to throw a high fastball past Todd Helton. Helton belted it deep into the right-field seats, giving the Rockies a 3-1 lead. In the fourth, Carlos Gonzalez hit a solo homer to right off of a Garza changeup. Gonzalez’s first home run in a Rockies’ uniform extended the lead to 4-1.
The game ended with a sigh of relief. B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford opened the ninth with back-to-back singles off closer Huston Street. They advanced on a double steal.
Street dug deep, striking out Evan Longoria with a slider and Carlos Peña with a masterful changeup. But Ben Zobrist laced a two-out single to center, scoring Upton and Crawford.
Enter Gabe Gross. He drilled Street’s four-seam fastball into the second deck in right field — foul by a section. Street escaped when Gross lined out to Barmes at second. It was Street’s 15th save in 16 opportunities.
The Rockies’ climb back to respectability, and dare we say wild-card contention, has been a tough road. They took three straight from the Brewers in Milwaukee; four straight from the Cardinals in St. Louis; three straight from the Mariners; and two of three from the Rays.
All of those teams, except for the Mariners, have winning records.
“We are having fun now because we are playing good baseball again, like we should have been all along,” Barmes said.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
Rockies Recap
Getting to .500 major theme on a successful afternoon
The Rockies’ magic number on Thursday was .500. By defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3, the streaking Rockies improved to 33-33, squaring their record for the first time since April 15. What’s more, manager Jim Tracy evened his career record at 577-577, and starter Ubaldo Jimenez improved to 6-6 this season and 22-22 for his career.
In the swing.
Jimenez, who was awful with a bat prior to this season with an .064 average (6-for-51), has been Todd Helton-like. He banged out the Rockies’ first hit Thursday, raising his average to .304 (7-for-23). “Just lucky, I guess,” he joked. But a few lockers away, Clint Barmes said, “It’s not just luck. He’s a lot better now.”
Finally.
Carlos Gonzalez, starting in center field, hit his first homer in a Rockies uniform, ending a stretch of 95 at-bats without a major-league home run, going back to Aug. 14 when he was with the A’s. That homer was a two-run shot off the Rays’ James Shields.
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
Looking Ahead
TODAY: Pirates at Rockies, 7:10 p.m., FSN
Sinkerballer Jason Marquis (8-4. 3.77 ERA) arrived in Colorado with a reputation as an innings-eater. Thus far, he’s been gluttonous. The right-hander has pitched at least six innings in 11 of 13 starts, including his last six. He got a no-decision in his last outing, surrendering just one earned run on seven hits through seven innings. The Rockies scored twice in the eighth to rally for a 5-3 victory. Marquis is 8-6 in 23 career games (19 starts) against the Pirates. Pittsburgh right-hander Ross Ohlendorf (6-5, 4.56) has never faced the Rockies. He’s coming off an impressive start against the Tigers in which he gave up one run on just two hits in six innings. Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
Upcoming Pitching Matchups
Saturday:
Pirates’ Charlie Morton (0-0, 0.00) vs. Rockies’ Jason Hammel (4-3, 4.10), 6:10 p.m., FSN
Sunday:
Pirates’ Paul Maholm (4-3, 4.23) vs. Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (2-7, 5.81), 1:10 p.m., FSN
Monday:
Rockies’ Aaron Cook (6-3, 4.23) vs. Angels’ Matt Palmer (6-0, 4.13), 8 p.m., FSN
Tuesday:
Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (6-6, 3.73) vs. Angels’ Ervin Santana (1-3, 7.47), 8 p.m., FSN
