Let’s not get ahead of the calendar here. Before entertaining any notion of reprising Rocktober, the Rockies need a September to remember.
Can they do it? Can they pass three teams in the National League wild- card standings to make the playoffs for the third time in four seasons?
Only time will tell, but this much we know: Todd Helton suddenly is showing signs he’s going to help the cause.
Helton homered for the second straight game Saturday night in support of rookie right-hander Jhoulys Chacin as the Rockies beat the Dodgers 5-3 at Coors Field to stay within 4 1/2 games of the Philadelphia Phillies in the wild-card race.
Even though every win is precious in late August, this wasn’t about putting another notch in the left column. This game was about making statements.
There was Chacin (7-9, 3.79 ERA) holding the Dodgers to four hits through seven innings, stating his case louder than ever that he belongs in the middle of the Rockies’ 2011 rotation. And there was Helton, the self-described boat anchor of the offense in the first half of the season, providing more evidence he wants to salvage something out of his season.
“I feel healthy and I feel like I’m contributing a little bit,” Helton said. “I haven’t been good at all at carrying one at-bat over to the next, but I get lucky once in a while.”
Said Helton, when asked if he felt he could get hot in September: “I’d sure like to think so. Hitting five and six (holes), I’ve got to drive in some runs.”
Helton looks better at the plate, and his recent numbers reflect it. He’s 21-for-67 (.313) since coming off the disabled list, with four home runs and 10 RBIs after going into August with two homers and 16 RBIs.
But enough already with the numbers. Here’s what you need to know: Chad Billingsley, who throws in the low-to-mid 90s, had a 1-1 count on Helton in the sixth and threw a high fastball that Helton drove into the right- field seats.
“I got ready, got everything on time and was able to get to it,” Helton said.
So, Helton was asked, could he have caught up to that pitch two months ago?
“No. Absolutely not.”
The Rockies are starting to get a contribution from Helton, the likes of which Carlos Gonzalez has been providing all season. CarGo came up big again, tripling and scoring in the fourth before unloading his 27th home run, a two-run shot off Ronald Belisario, in the seventh.
Belisario, who opened the inning by hitting Ryan Spilborghs with a pitch, followed by plunking Troy Tulowitzki, earning an ejection.
The Rockies led 5-1 at the time, thanks largely to Chacin. Other than a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, he rolled through the Dodgers’ lineup.
“Another terrific performance by that young kid, just fantastic,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. “He’s really beginning to arrive.”
It’s a sight to behold when Chacin gets ahead and can go after a hitter with his breaking stuff. This time, it was his curveball that gave the Dodgers fits.
“I didn’t have my best command of my fastball, but I just tried to figure it out,” Chacin said. “I could make the pitch when I needed it. That’s what helped me.”
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com
Looking ahead
TODAY: Dodgers at Rockies, 1:10 p.m., FSN
Jason Hammel (8-7, 4.35 ERA) was 7-3 on July 10 but is 1-4 in his last eight starts. Now for the footnote: Six of the eight came on the road, where he’s 2-6, 5.40. At home, he’s 6-1, 3.43. The Rockies don’t have to scramble for video on Ted Lilly (8-8, 3.27). They flailed away at his breaking stuff on Aug. 19 at Dodger Stadium, collecting two hits and striking out 11 times. Lilly has kept the Dodgers on the periphery of the wild-card race, winning all five of his decisions and allowing 19 hits in 34 1/3 innings since being acquired from the Cubs. Jim Armstrong, The Denver Post
Upcoming pitching matchups
Monday: Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (5-4, 4.54 ERA) at Giants’ Jonathan Sanchez (9-8, 3.67), 8:15 p.m., FSN
Tuesday: Rockies’ Esmil Rogers (2-2, 5.66) at Giants’ Madison Bumgarner (5-4, 3.95), 8:15 p.m., FSN
Wednesday: Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (17-5, 2.71) at Giants’ Tim Lincecum (11-9, 3.80), 7:15 p.m., FSN
Thursday: Phillies’ Joe Blanton (6-6, 5.15) at Rockies’ Aaron Cook (4-8, 5.34), 5:10 p.m., FSN
