ATLANTA — They left spring training a mountain of menace. They arrived at Turner Field a mound of meek. Attention has to be paid to the Rockies because you never know what will go wrong next.
They have lost their top two stars to injuries for a few days, Ubaldo Jimenez is impersonating a fifth starter and their new ace has lost his way. The Rockies have long stressed the importance of this potentially season-defining road trip. They need to do the little things well, ailing outfielder Carlos Gonzalez said. Everyone needs to do their part, hurting shortstop Troy Tulowitzki reminded.
Rather than follow strict detail, the short-handed Rockies were coloring outside the lines again, their season morphing dangerously from a portrait to stick figures. They lost again Tuesday, falling 5-3 at Turner Field — their fifth straight defeat on the road at a time when they can’t afford another lengthy skid.
“There was opportunity for us there. We battled back. I laud the effort, but it wasn’t enough,” manager Jim Tracy said. “We know we need to get healthy. In the meantime, we have to find a way to get some wins.”
Leave it to Jhoulys Chacin to create enough concern to overshadow Tulo and CarGo for one night. He has allowed 10 runs in his last 10 innings. He tied a season high with six walks, pitching for the first time in a week after last Saturday’s start was moved back because of right forearm stiffness.
Chacin was healthy, a sliver of optimism. In fact, he was too strong, the extra rest seducing him into throwing his pitches too hard. It compromised his command. He sprayed his fastball and spiked his slider, leaving him unable to use his changeup as an out pitch. The free passes eventually bit him in the fourth inning.
After issuing back-to-back walks to Dan Uggla and Nate McLouth, both of whom need a telescope to see a .250 average, Chacin made a costly mistake to pitcher Derek Lowe. On his 74th pitch in a 2-2 count, Chacin wanted to paint the outside corner with a fastball. Instead, the 91-mph offering ran across the inner half, right into Lowe’s bat.
“It’s fun to be a part of it from the hitting standpoint,” Lowe said.
A part? He delivered the finisher, smoking a bases-clearing double down the left-field line.
“That’s what I get,” Chacin said.
The Rockies never fully recovered, unable to provide an equalizing hit against the Braves’ stingy bullpen in the sixth or eighth innings. A prime opportunity unfolded late with runners at second and third, but all-star Jonny Venters struck out Chris Iannetta and Jason Giambi looking. He locked up Giambi on an 87-mph slider after setting him up with a 95-mph sinker in the previous pitch.
If the Rockies are going to climb back into the National League West race — they sit four games under .500 with five games remaining until the all-star break — they desperately need Chacin to regain traction and more consistency from Jimenez.
Their starts provided the best matchups in this series. Now, the Rockies, who will be without Gonzalez and Tulowitzki again today, have potential All-Star Game starter Jair Jurr-jens and veteran Tim Hudson standing between them and a crippling sweep.
“We have no choice,” Tracy said, “but to keep battling.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
Looking ahead
WEDNESDAY: Rockies at Braves, 5:10 p.m., Root
The game has gotten late early for Aaron Cook (0-3, 4.66 ERA). By the time his sinker arrives in the third inning, the Rockies are trailing. Cook showed progress in working out of jams against the White Sox but continues to live dangerously. The Rockies are 1-4 in his starts. The right-hander owns a 4.19 ERA in seven games at Turner Field, and July has been his best month (18-8 career). Jair Jurrjens (11-3, 1.89) is a strong candidate to start the All-Star Game, with the choice likely him or Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay. The right-hander has allowed two earned runs or less in 13 of 15 starts. Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Upcoming pitching matchups
Thursday: Rockies’ Juan Nicasio (3-1, 4.10 ERA) at Braves’ Tim Hudson (7-6, 3.57), 11:05 a.m., MLB Network
Friday: Rockies’ Jason Hammel (4-8, 4.31) at Nationals’ Jason Marquis (7-3, 4.11), 5:05 p.m., Root
Saturday: Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (3-8, 4.39) at Nationals’ John Lannan (5-5, 3.50), 5:05 p.m., Root
Sunday: Rockies’ Jhoulys Chacin (8-6, 3.28) at Nationals’ Ross Detwiler (1-0, 3.38), 11:35 a.m., Root
