CHICAGO — A catcher face-planted on a slide. And a downhill skier with Colorado ties sang smoothly.
Just another typical day in the Rockies’ magical misery tour through the Midwest. Miguel Olivo chin-bopped into second base, nearly knocking himself out. Not long afterward, Lindsey Vonn knocked the crowd out with a solid rendition of “Take Me Out to The Ball Game.”
In a season that has made little sense, give the Rockies this: They command an audience. They lost 6-2 to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, their success ironic, their failures painful.
First baseman Todd Helton, one of the season’s biggest disappointments, hit his first home run in 130 at-bats dating to last season. He posted his first game with multiple extra-base hits.
And yet, the two-run blast to right field off Cubs starter Carlos Silva — he clobbered an elevated fastball — felt hollow because it didn’t ignite the offense or produce a victory. The Rockies have scored three runs or less nine times on the road this season.
“We have some significant offensive players where their best is yet to come,” manager Jim Tracy admitted.
Helton’s hits couldn’t camouflage Jhoulys Chacin’s wildness and a leaky bullpen (slumping Rafael Betancourt was charged with three runs in 1L innings). The rookie Chacin looked more like a nervous kid than the burly right-hander who had dominated the Giants and Dodgers on the road. He didn’t allow a run in either of those games. His scoreless streak in visiting parks was quickly snapped at 17L innings in the bottom of the fourth.
The Cubs sent eight batters to the plate, scoring three runs. Tyler Colvin and Kosuke Fukudome delivered RBI singles. Fukudome should have never batted, but third baseman Ian Stewart, who suffered through a difficult series, botched a routine double play by bobbling a groundball.
The Rockies rallied, if only briefly. Helton drew them to within a run in the seventh. After doubling down the right-field line in the fourth, he yanked a full-count fastball into the right-field seats.
Olivo followed with a walk, then perfectly timed a delayed steal. The execution of the slide, however, was excruciating.
Olivo dived into the bag, slamming his chin into the dirt as the crowd groaned. Olivo lay motionless for a few seconds before regaining his senses. He was removed from the game as a precaution.
It was symbolic of a Chicago trip that was a forgettable bump in the road.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
