Sometimes a stolen base is just a stolen base. Sometimes it qualifies as much more than that. Eric Young Jr.’s first-inning steal Saturday night, for example. For one thing, the Rockies hadn’t stolen a base in their previous 11 games, going 0-for-3 in that span. For another, Young stole it off Yadier Molina, who three times has led the NL in throwing out runners, including 2010 at 49 percent.
Hard times.
How hard was Rockies starter Juan Nicasio throwing? Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia threw a fastball in the first inning clocked at 86 mph. Nicasio, called up from Double-A, threw a handful of changeups at 86.
Who knew?
Buy a lottery ticket and be quick about it if you predicted Nicasio (1-0) and Esmil Rogers (3-1) would have more wins in late May than fellow Dominican pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez.
