LOS ANGELES — Even before Jorge De La Rosa threw his first pitch, it hadn’t been a good day for the Rockies.
Catcher Yorvit Torrealba was stuck in the trainer’s room, sabotaged by a tight right hamstring. At least he wasn’t sequestered to a hotel room. That’s where Josh Fogg spent Saturday night with flu symptoms that have stricken, among others, Dexter Fowler and Ian Stewart.
Then on his third pitch of the fourth inning, De La Rosa hurt his left groin, an injury much more painful than the Rockies’ 5-0 loss to the Dodgers at a soldout Chavez Ravine.
The defeat brought clarity – the Rockies will open the playoffs Wednesday in Philadelphia – and concern. De La Rosa has been the team’s best starter since June 1, but when the Rockies need him most his status might be covered in doubt.
This much is clear. For the 17th consecutive season, the Rockies will not win the National League West. That dream faded to black in a sea of blue Saturday.
The Dodgers spewed lava in the seventh inning, scoring five runs against reliever Franklin Morales, whose latest poor outing could jeopardize his playoff role despite the Phillies’ stash of left-handed hitters. Ronnie Belliard unlocked a scoreless tie with a single that ricocheted off Todd Helton. Second baseman Clint Barmes had a play on the ball, but Morales forgot to cover first, symbolizing his outing.
A division title would have been a nice distinction, but its significance lay in home-field advantage for the postseason. Had Colorado won every game in Los Angeles, it would have opened at Coors Field.
Instead, the Rockies will face the defending champion Phillies on Wednesday and Thursday at Citizens Bank Park before turning to Denver for Game 3 on Saturday. That’s a likely landing spot for De La Rosa’s next start, giving him a week to recover and pitch at home, where his 10 wins are tied for the most in baseball.
De La Rosa hadn’t given up a hit when he exited. And he wasn’t even the best starter Saturday. Clayton Kershaw struck out seven of the first nine batters he faced. Of his 18 outs, 10 were K’s.
The Dodgers, gagging for a week, were strangely relaxed Saturday. Manny Ramirez set the tone when he arrived in the clubhouse. He cracked a joke, saying that he needed to change contact lens after striking out four times Friday. Ramirez delivered a hit in the seventh, knocking in a run.
He helped raise doubt on whether Morales should be in the playoff bullpen. He has been tagged for 12 runs in his past 4 1/3 innings. The Rockies will needed lefty relievers to counter Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez.
Colorado privately wanted to play the Cardinals, who will now begin the playoffs in Los Angeles. In Philadelphia, the Rockies face a team they eliminated during the magical 2007 playoffs. But the Phillies present problems. Their best starters, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and J.A. Happ, are all left-handed. The Rockies are just 27-25 against lefties, including 8-15 on the road.
Then again, it might not matter.
“The playoffs aren’t about who people think is the best,” said pitcher Jason Marquis. “It’s about who gets hot.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
