ATLANTA — The mystery of the longman in the bullpen is solved: It’s Manuel Corpas.
He established single-game career highs in innings and pitches. That eloquently explains the disaster that was Friday night at Turner Field for the Rockies. They came here looking to make amends, and instead starter Jason Hammel made history.
He posted arguably the worst start of his career in the 9-5 bludgeoning by the Braves. Seven runs came in an achingly long second inning.
The second straight loss, equally as hollow as Thursday’s empty vessel against the Mets, continued to set parameters on the season. When Ubaldo Jimenez pitches, as he will today, the team looks capable of holding an October Blake Street parade. When anyone else throws, they seem vulnerable, a club that could just as likely be left pressing its nose against the playoff window pane.
That the Rockies were drummed is of small intrigue or concern at this point in the season.
The larger question is, when are the Rockies going to start playing well or consistently? Their pitching and defense, the club’s defining characteristics, have been lacking. Friday, the Rockies finally caught the ball better — at least the ones that didn’t threaten bodily harm.
The Braves went hammer time on Hammel, pounding out eight hits. All but a pair of singles by Martin Prado and Chipper Jones were delivered in the second inning. Hammel threw 44 pitches in the frame, retiring only two hitters. Rookie sensation Jason Heyward produced two hits. Melky Cabrera and David Ross, the latter spelling all-star Brian McCann because of the Braves’ morning arrival from San Diego, combined to drive in three runs. Every Braves” position player had a hit by the third inning.
Upon returning to the dugout, Hammel stared blankly into the dark sky. The sudden blistering left him seething. And Corpas pitching. With Esmil Rogers in Triple-A Colorado Springs resuming his career as a starter, Corpas was left to clean up the mess in aisle two.
He worked 2 1/3 innings, allowing just one run on 50 pitches. For a brief moment, he gave the Rockies a puncher’s chance at a comeback. They moved to within 8-4 on Seth Smith’s fourth pinch-hit home run, and first since Aug. 21 last season against the Giants. But a golf shot blast from Chipper Jones – it appeared to be a 3-wood – off Joe Beimel effectively undermined any mounting leverage.
So the game became defined by lingering disappointment and improving health. The Rockies are 1-3 on the road, where the starters other than Jimenez have posted a 12.00 ERA. But Carlos Gonzalez, out since Sunday with a hamstring injury, pinch-hit in the ninth and should start today.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
