ANAHEIM — In this case, the anxiety an opponent felt against the Rockies led to something worse than trepidation and helplessness.
Desperation.
Prior to Tuesday’s game, Angels slugger Vladimir Guerrero shaved his dreadlocks, a coif he maintained so long that manager Mike Scioscia joked that “they found The Dead Sea Scrolls in there.” Then even with an eighth-inning lead, the Angels trotted out a skit with the Rally Monkey involving Star Trek.
That’s just bad karma. But on his cool evening, it finally produced a bad result for the Rockies, their 4-3 loss only their second in their last 19 games.
It stung only because it was avoidable, third baseman Ian Stewart the victim of an ugly eighth inning. The Rockies followed their patented script for seven innings. They received excellent work from a starting pitcher (Ubaldo Jimenez), solid defense and timely thunder (a career-high two home runs from surging Troy Tulowitzki).
Despite all this, it unraveled in the eighth inning, a reminder of a forgettable Rockies’ past that got Clint Hurdle fired. Leading 3-2, it started when Jimenez walked Jeff Mathis, allowing the Angels to show why they really are in a National League team in disguise. They went all small ball.
Light-hitting Erick Aybar bunted to Stewart. He was perfectly positioned, scooped, then goofed.
He pumped to second base, and when he threw to first it was too late. Chone Figgins exacerbated the problem when he too bunted. Jimenez pounced off the mound and fired to Stewart, who missed the bag as he backpedaled.
It was then, that even the Rockies couldn’t find a way out of this mess. Bobby Abreu roped a 3-1 single to right field on Jimenez’s 115th pitch, shoving the Angels ahead and killing the Rockies’ six-game winning streak.
Former Rockies closer Brian Fuentes stranded the tying run on second by striking out Garrett Atkins and Clint Barmes for his 20th save.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
