SAN FRANCISCO — At 10:20 a.m. Sunday, the clubhouse doors closed. Manager Jim Tracy called a team meeting. The message was simple and sprinkled with expletives: Pitchers throw more strikes, particularly early in the count, and hitters stop swinging from their heels and start using the big part of the field.
“He was mad and we were mad over how we’ve been playing,” outfielder Carlos Gonzalez said. “He gave us confidence.”
Sunday’s 4-1 victory was a blueprint for the way the Rockies want to play: strong starting pitching, patient, timely hitting and multiple puzzle pieces fitting.
Everything was different because of rookie Jhoulys Chacin. With the bullpen coughing up fumes, Chacin took the wheel and never lost his grip, racing to his first big-league win.
“The timing was huge,” shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. “This wasn’t a must-win, but it was a big game.”
Tracy challenged the starters to help Ubaldo Jimenez. Chacin did just that, working seven innings and allowing just one hit.
Just 22, Chacin is savvy. He sees there’s a job to grab based on how Greg Smith has pitched, regardless of when Jeff Francis and Jason Hammel rejoin the club.
“That’s out of my control,” Chacin said. “All I want to do right now is help this team win.”
There was nothing not to like about Chacin. He challenged hitters, using primarily a four-
seam fastball to set up devastating sliders and circle changeups. And his confidence belied his youth. At one point, he tricked Juan Uribe, shaking off a fastball to get to a slider. But he nodded his head so convincingly that Uribe figured the heater was coming.
“That’s confidence for you,” catcher Paul Phillips said. “His attitude all day, was ‘Here it comes, try to hit it.’ “
Chacin struck out seven, looking nothing like the kid who nibbled at the strike zone in his first big-league start last Aug. 11, when he lasted just eight outs.
All week, Tracy has been sending messages that improvement is necessary. He demoted catcher Chris Iannetta to Triple-A, moved Todd Helton to fifth in the lineup and Sunday used Manuel Corpas as his closer. Franklin Morales has blown two saves and lost Wednesday’s game. Tracy hasn’t lost faith in him, but switched his role Sunday to maximize his impact.
With one out in the eighth, Morales was summoned to face left-handers John Bowker and Pablo Sandoval. He struck out Andres Torres, a pinch-hitter for Bowker, and Sandoval, leaving the ninth for Corpas, who had allowed one hit in his last 26 at-bats. Aubrey Huff promptly crushed a home run, but the damage was isolated.
“I am not happy-happy because Franklin is the closer, but I have to be ready,” admitted Corpas of an experiment Tracy said he will employ again if matchups dictate it. “I don’t know anything about roles, just that we needed this game.”
There was a lead to protect because of a three-run fifth inning. The Rockies chased Jonathan Sanchez. Melvin Mora delivered the big hit with the type of at-bat the Rockies have been lacking. With bases loaded, he didn’t try to turn and burn on a 1-0 fastball. Instead, he lined it to right field, scoring two runs.
It was proof the pregame message had taken hold.
“If you are going to play winning baseball, those are the things you have to do,” Tracy said. “I just don’t want to see this thing get away from us and dig a big hole.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
