LOS ANGELES — Fifty-four Colorado mountaintops reach higher than 14,000 feet. Since June, when the Rockies began crawling, clawing and climbing out of the deepest valley, they have scaled peak after pinnacle. But, on Saturday night, just when they were so close to ascending the last cragged rock face, there was a slight slip into Chavez Ravine.
The Rockies fell to the Dodgers 5-0.
Because of the early dominance of Clayton KKKKKKKKKKershaw and the untimely injury to Jorge De La Rosa, the Rockies finally struck out in their game, gallant, bold bid to win a division title for the first time in their 17 seasons.
Now, onto more important things.
Phillypeat. The Rockies open the playoffs Wednesday in Philadelphia. They rocked the Phillies in three straight in 2007.
The Rockies actually can relax this afternoon and play for the fun of it. The postseason is secured.
However, the Rockies had scared the Dodgers to an inch of their National League West lead.
And into the seventh inning on Saturday night, the Dodgers still were nervous and worried despite winning 12 of 16 games vs. the Rox in 2009. The score was 0-0 when L.A. pinch-hitter Ronnie Belliard, who has played for the Rockies (among many others), singled off Todd Helton’s glove and drove in Casey Blake from third.
That wasn’t enough for the Dodgers and ex-Rockies. Juan Pierre singled in a run; L.A. scored five in the inning; and the Dodger Stadium crowd, which was, as usual, late- arriving, was soon-departing, but not until after disparaging the Rockies with an ill-natured chant.
Nevertheless, the good fight had been well fought by the Rox. They had made the Dodgers blink.
Just when the Rockies had seemed to have all the troops healthy for the playoffs, some unhealthy issues have developed.
Señor September, Yorvit Torrealba, has, as they say across town, a lower extremity problem — a tweaked hamstring. Ian Stewart, Dexter Fowler and Josh Fogg are ill with flu symptoms.
Then, in the fourth inning, as De La Rosa was pitching a perfect game — well, it was — he pulled up lame on his third pitch.
An extraordinary pitching duel between exceptional left-handers was setting up when De La Rosa had to leave. He became the latest Rockies starter to come up short of tying the club record for victories (17). The Rockies must be concerned on the flight to Philadelphia about the injury to De La Rosa, the recent ineffectiveness of reliever Franklin Morales — who was held responsible for all five runs — and the inconsistency of Jason Marquis and the unknown possibilities about Jose Contreras.
Aaron Cook and Huston Street, though, are back on the mound and back on target.
Kershaw, who had struck out 10 or more in three previous starts this season, certainly was homing in on the Rockies. He struck out all three Rockies in the opening inning and two more in the second. Through five innings, he had struck out six position players and the two pitchers (De La Rosa and Contreras). He had 10 K’s, and the Rockies seemed to be just fanning away on a cool evening in California.
De La Rosa had equaled Kershaw through two, getting all six hitters (although he had assistance from Carlos Gonzalez’s sensational diving catch).
De La Rosa, the Rockies’ best pitcher after an 0-6 beginning this year, had won very big games in the stretch drive. And he seemed primed to do it again before, after the third pitch of the fourth, he had to shut down.
Even though the Rockies held on through six scoreless innings, and Kershaw was pulled out, there was a suspicion that the dam might break.
What a dam break! And the seven inning stretched.
The Rockies lost a game, but not their confidence. Yet, there is this: The Rockies have not been overpowering against left-handed starters this season, and Kershaw was another example. The Phillies will throw every lefty except Steve Carlton and Phil Mickelson at the Rox.
Oddly enough, the only Rockies player to ax the wood for two hits was, you guessed, left-hander Todd Helton.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers tried to bring out all the big sticks in Diamond Vision appearances — Tommy Lasorda, as always, and Yoda and Kobe Bryant. And maybe there was a bit of wild-card-achieving hangover a day later.
The Rockies went quietly on Saturday night, but the Dodgers knew they had been pursued, and they really don’t want the Rockies to return here. The Dodgers celebrated, as the Rockies had on Thursday.
The Rockies quickly walked away. They have more rising peaks to climb.
Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com
