KANSAS CITY, MO. — It’s late May, and Jim Tracy still is looking for ways to jump-start the Rockies’ anemic offense.
He played his latest card Friday night, inserting designated hitter Jason Giambi in the No. 2 hole against the Kansas City Royals. The results? The Rockies were shut out for seven innings by a pitcher whose pregame ERA was over 5.00.
Your final score from Kauffman Stadium: Royals 9, Rockies 2. So much for the Rockies, who were hitting .197 on the first four games of their seven-game road trip, having only one way to go.
The game marked the start of the Rockies’ interleague schedule. The Rockies since 2006 were 39-24 in interleague play, making them the only NL team with a winning interleague record.
That record wasn’t about to get better Friday night. Brian Bannister, he of the 5.09 ERA, shut them out on four hits in seven innings before serving up a two-run homer to Clint Barmes in the eighth. Todd Helton went hitless, snapping a streak in which he had reached base on eight consecutive plate appearances.
Rockies starter Jason Hammel wasn’t so fortunate. He was tagged for two home runs by Jose Guillen, the first a two-run shot, the second with the bases empty.The teams play an afternoon game today, with Jeff Francis squaring off against Kyle Davies.cq.rs
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
