CINCINNATI — Three hours before game time, the rituals commence. They begin taping their wrists, applying the eye black, and meticulously preparing their weapons.
It seems like a scene from “Braveheart.” It takes a brave heart to face the Rockies’ hitters on nights like Saturday.
Not one guy weighed less than 205 pounds. None was under 6-foot-1. They held a lumber party for starter Ubaldo Jimenez, bullying their way to a 6-2 victory at Great American Ballpark.
The win moved the Rockies one-half game ahead of the Giants in the wild-card race. Jimenez has rarely been less challenged this season, allowing only three base runners after the second inning.
“We all know how talented he is,” said shortstop Troy Tulowitzki of the right-hander who reached 100 mph several times on the in-stadium radar gun. “He can be dominant.”
Jimenez won for just the second time since June 18 as the lineup soothed lingering concerns in the process.
For all the hand-wringing over the bullpen, the Rockies’ offense quietly underachieved last month. The games were closer, creating a daily dissection of the relievers, because Colorado wasn’t hitting enough. The Rockies batted .249 in July, 28 points lower than NL-best mark in June. They averaged 4.5 runs, a full run off the previous month.
“We have the type of offense, that when we get it going again, and we will,” manager Jim Tracy promised recently, “somebody is going to pay dearly.”
In a less-than-desirable outing, Reds’ starter Homer Bailey received a thorough pounding, unable to make adjustments against the Rockies’ hitters the second time through the lineup. Trailing 2-0, Colorado loaded the bases against the right-hander in the fourth inning. After fighting off 95-mph heat, Ian Stewart smoked a hanging split-finger changeup into the right-field gap, tying the score. Carlos Gonzalez followed with a sacrifice fly. He started in center field – Dexter Fowler was on the bench for three straight games for the first time – as Tracy attempts to maximize the skills of both players.
Ideally, Tracy admitted, he would like to start Fowler and Gonzalez together, leaving Seth Smith and Garrett Atkins as dynamic bats on the bench. That won’t be considered until Gonzalez can produce like Smith. And right now, he’s not close.
Smith homered Saturday – his ninth – swelling a white-knuckle lead into a three-run bulge.
Jimenez guarded the lead with Secret Service vigilance. He finished with eight strikeouts in eight innings, and avoided the single devastating mistake that has marred too many of his outings. Newbie Joe Beimel made his Rockies’ debut with a scoreless ninth.
Colorado, which has won 13 straight games against NL Central opponents, goes for the sweep tomorrow with Jason Marquis facing Bronson Arroyo.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
