NEW YORK — This road trip represents a potential turning point, divorcing the Rockies from their annoying relationship with the mediocre. They overcame several obstacles Friday in a 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees that would have slowed them like gum on their heels just a few weeks ago.
“We feel like things are starting to come together,” starter Ubaldo Jimenez said.
Not even a misguided cab driver could send Troy Tulowitzki in the wrong direction or prevent him from hitting his fifth home run in New York this season. The cabbie drove the shortstop to Citi Field. Right sport, wrong league, Ace.
Not even a 21-pitch first inning could sabotage Ubaldo Jimenez, who won back-to-back starts for the first time since Aug. 4. Not even the pressure of returning to New York could chill Jason Giambi, whose second-inning home run off A.J. Burnett created a sense of equality in a matchup with the Yanks, baseball’s resident bully.
“It put us right back into the game,” Tulowitzki said. “Every time he’s up right now we feel like he’s going to get a big hit.”
The Rockies have won seven of their last nine games, and wake up in the city that never sleeps above .500. After doing their best to drop out of sight in May, they are knee-deep in the National League West race.
This isn’t to suggest that they don’t have flaws. Their remaining two starting pitchers in this series — Aaron Cook and Juan Nicasio — are on notice. They have to start eating more innings to preserve the bullpen or be replaced or split in the rotation.
But while the Rockies internally discuss trade candidates, everyone in the organization knows the best solution is already in-house.
Jimenez still isn’t the pitcher of 2010, his sunburst season. He can, however, be effective in a slightly different form.
After wiggling out of trouble in the first inning — second baseman Chris Nelson speared Robinson Cano’s line drive and fired to second base to double off Alex Rodriguez — Jimenez improved his command.
He accomplished it in interesting fashion, establishing his split-fingered changeup and slider for strikes before returning to the fastball.
“His mix of pitches was excellent,” manager Jim Tracy said. On his season-high 119th pitch, Jimenez ended his outing by striking out Brett Gardner on a 95-mph heater.
Tulowitzki has made a splash in many cities, but the big stage serves him well. He has five home runs in five games against the Mets and Yankees this season. Growing up idolizing Derek Jeter, this game held special significance, and yet it didn’t.
“I will probably think about (homering here) and playing here for the first time down the road. The focus now is on winning games,” Tulowitzki said.
Even Tulowitzki’s performance paled to Giambi’s. The 40-year-old is 7-for-16 with four RBIs as the DH this week. In his return to New York, where he played for seven seasons, Giambi homered, collected three hits and earned one memorable salute from the Bleacher Creatures in right field.
“That’s the greatest thing in baseball,” Giambi said. “I’ve always loved those guys.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
Looking ahead
TODAY: Rockies at Yankees, 11 a.m., ROOT
It’s time for Aaron Cook (0-2, 4.67 ERA) to roll up his sleeves and get down to business. His first three starts have been pedestrian. The Tigers hit him hard in his last start and there’s an easy explanation. Cook has not consistently displayed a good sinking fastball, especially with runners on base. He’s survived by using an improved curveball. The last time Cook pitched at Yankee Stadium he worked three scoreless innings in the 2008 All-Star Game. CC Sabathia (9-4, 3.39) is a bona fide ace. He’s worked at least six innings in every game, save for one, but has been tagged for 14 runs over his last three starts. Ty Wigginton has homered off the lefty. Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Upcoming pitching matchups
Sunday: Rockies’ Juan Nicasio (2-1, 4.71 ERA) at Yankees’ Ivan Nova (7-4, 4.13), 12:05 p.m., Root, TBS
Monday: Rockies’ Jhoulys Chacin (8-4, 2.71) at Cubs’ Matt Garza (3-6, 4.11), 12:20 p.m., Root
Tuesday: White Sox’s Gavin Floyd (6-7, 4.31) at Rockies’ Jason Hammel (4-7, 4.13), 6:40 p.m., Root
Wednesday: White Sox’s Mark Buehrle (6-5, 3.73) at Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (3-7, 4.50), 6:40 p.m., Root
