Not that the offense is struggling or anything, but the biggest hit at Coors Field Thursday was Chris Andersen.
The Birdman dropped by to see his buddy Jason Giambi, and spent the afternoon posing for pictures with adoring fans behind home plate.
The Rockies were reduced to a puzzling distraction, beat for a third time in four games by the Houston Astros 5-4, the National League’s second worst team.
It’s impossible to rationalize this. Yes, Roy Oswalt was on the mound, and he has owned the Rockies (1.94 ERA in 33 games). And there was too much Tommy Manzella, whose career-high three RBIs were six fewer than his season total prior to the game.
But the Rockies were home. Against Houston. And healthy. These are games that will provide sleepless nights if the wild-card race is tighter than Saran Wrap in September.
The plot wasn’t much different than the previous nights. The Rockies lacked clutch hits, though on this day the pitching and defense were pedestrian. Colorado entered the game ranked dead last in the big leagues in runs scored after the fifth inning.
That was hardly comforting then when the Rockies fell behind 5-2 after six innings, Jhoulys Chacin’s home struggles continuing (four earned runs, eight strikeouts).
The Rockies provided a tease in the eighth that maybe, just maybe that the Otter-pop bats had thawed. Carlos Gonzalez, Todd Helton, hitting second for the first time this season, and Troy Tulowitzki singled, shaving the deficit to 5-3. Helton delivered his first multi-hit game since May 25.
Miguel Olivo’s groundball to third left the Rockies within a run with runners on first and third for pinch-hitter Jason Giambi. He hit for Ian Stewart. Giambi flew out to center field, ending the threat.
The last gasp came in the ninth when Gonzalez, the game’s last batter, drove a ball to the left-field warning track.
There is slight solace in the schedule. Ubaldo Jimenez pitches Friday against the Blue Jays. But his brilliance won’t matter if the lineup doesn’t start performing better.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
