NEW YORK — Aaron Cook patiently answered questions in the lonely clubhouse Saturday afternoon. His disappointment was as unambiguous as the 8-3 pummeling the Rockies absorbed at Yankee Stadium.
Cook’s responses were brief, like his last two outings, casting doubt on his long-term future in the Rockies’ rotation.
“It’s frustrating because I feel really good,” said Cook, winless in four starts this season and tagged for 10 runs over his last 11 2/3 innings. “I have to go back to the drawing board.”
Before Cook threw a pitch Saturday, the lineups on the chalkboard suggested trouble. Cook not only was facing the New York Yankees, a team sprinkled with all-stars, but squaring off against CC Sabathia. Rockies manager Jim Tracy flooded his lineup with right-handers, replacing outfielders Seth Smith and Charlie Blackmon with Ryan Spilborghs and Eric Young Jr.
The Rockies were overmatched and overwhelmed for three hours, dropping them back to .500 at 38-38 as the halfway point of the season approaches.
Needing his best start of the season, Cook was hammered for five runs in the first three innings.
Opponents are hitting over .400 against the right-hander the first time through the lineup as he struggles to keep his sinker down in the strike zone.
Asked if he was worried about Cook, Tracy refused to indict the winningest pitcher in Rockies history.
“Pitch-making is paramount,” Tracy said. “The last couple of starts, he has settled in in the middle innings. When you’re going against someone like Sabathia, you can’t do that. You can’t give him a five-run head start.”
In his last two games, Cook has drawn Justin Verlander, a potential American League All-Star Game starter, and Sabathia, the majors’ first 10-game winner. Still, his inability to muffle lineups not trotted out by the San Diego Padres is a concern.
Sabathia never let the Rockies up for air. He threw 103 pitches, only twice reaching three-ball counts. Sabathia’s performance was masterful, traced directly to his slider. Smith’s RBI single in the eighth inning was the lone blemish against Sabathia.
“He was lights out. He absolutely came with it,” said the Rockies’ Jason Giambi. “That’s why he’s their big ace.”
Playing the first of three consecutive day games in two cities, the Rockies’ lineup looked more suited for March than June. The pieces didn’t fit in an ugly performance. Playing right field, Young misplayed a single into an extra base and bumped into second baseman Chris Nelson on a popup. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and center fielder Carlos Gonzalez were pulled late as a concession to the upcoming schedule (no days off until the all-star break).
It was just one loss, and with one win today the Rockies can take back-to-back road series. Such optimism can’t completely stop the handwringing about the bottom of the rotation.
“As long as you see progress, you stick with (Cook),” Giambi said. “He’s had a tough time. But we need him to get through it.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
Looking ahead
TODAY: Rockies at Yankees, 12:05 p.m., Root, TBS
Rockies rookie Juan Nicasio (2-1, 4.71 ERA) is learning that just throwing strikes doesn’t guarantee success in the big leagues. The right-hander needs to counterpunch too, showing a better mix with his fastball and slider because hitters aren’t swinging at his changeup. In his last start, Nicasio lasted just 14 outs against the Indians as problems against lefties surfaced (.323 average in 65 at-bats). Rookie right-hander Ivan Nova (7-4, 4.13) has been a nice surprise for the Yankees. He’s coming off a career-high eight innings pitched, including seven strikeouts. He has won three consecutive starts. Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Upcoming pitching matchups
Monday: Rockies’ Jhoulys Chacin (8-4, 2.71 ERA) 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
Thursday: White Sox’s Jake Peavy (4-1, 4.23) at Rockies’ Aaron Cook (0-3, 5.48), 1:10 p.m., Root
