The Rockies are no stranger to history. They are attempting to come from further back than any team to win a division title. But they broke a mark at Coors Field that they’d rather forget.
Not only did they lose to the Mets 8-3, they lost to Pat Misch.
Until Thursday, no other major league team could say that. Ever. In his first 12 games, the Mets and Giants, his previous, were winless, tying the longest mark of futility by a starter to begin a career with Seattle’s John Cummings in 1993-94.
Misch made a pair of mistakes, bearing no resemblance to his Biggest Loser reputation. Chris Iannetta and Ian Stewart delivered back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning. Those were two of the four hits off Misch in seven innings.
Jason Marquis, who still has an outside shot of setting a Rockies’ single-season record for wins, was no match. He was gone after five innings and five runs. The Mets erupted for four in the fifth, though a sparse crowd witnessed it. The paid crowd of 22,566 was the smallest since May 27, Clint Hurdle’s last game as manager.
The Rockies hold a half-game lead in the wild-card standings pending the outcome of San Francisco’s night game against Philadelphia. Ace Tim Lincecum is facing Pedro Martinez.
This loss was hard to stomach for a team that is beginning to feel victimized. Before the game, Huston Street left the clubhouse to undergo an MRI on his right biceps. He believes it’s just tendinitis, but he’s not expected back until next week at the earliest. Franklin Morales will replace him at closer.
The Rockies are already feeling the pinch in their rotation, having lost opening day starter Aaron Cook to a shoulder strain. Jose Contreras will occupy his spot on Saturday against the Diamondbacks.
Marquis picked a bad day to have a bad day, given his reliability this season. The Rockies had won six of his previous eight starts. Instead, this day will be remembered for Misch’s first win as a starter.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
