PHOENIX — By now, the Rockies have become adept at shrugging off losses. They’re even finding a little gallows humor in it all, what with laughing beating the alternative, which, as Tom Hanks can attest, isn’t allowed in baseball.
The line of the year so far was delivered by Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd, who described second baseman Mark Ellis in this manner after acquiring him from the Oakland A’s: “Obviously he’s struggling offensively, so he’ll fit in well.”
Then there’s Jason Hammel, who, by his own accounting, had no-hit stuff in the bullpen Saturday night, only to get blown up for seven runs in the first two innings of a 12-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“It’s almost comical to me because that was the best I’ve felt all year,” Hammel said. “I don’t know if they had a camera on me, but I was smiling all night. I was laughing at some of the things that were happening.”
Such is life for the Rockies. They think they’re going to have a big night, they struggle. They believe to a man they’re on the verge of seizing some long, lost momentum and they’re out of the game barely after the twilight’s last gleaming.
“We’re down 7-1 and we haven’t even gotten to the bottom third of our order,” said Rockies manager Jim Tracy. “That’s not how you go about winning games in this league.”
The Rockies hoped they had made a statement the night before when they rolled out some impressive offense in an 8-4 victory to open a nine-game road trip. Instead, they retreated to their schizophrenic ways as their record fell to 48-53.
A few details about the loss before we destroy the evidence: The first six Arizona hitters reached base, including Justin Upton and Miguel Montero, who had two-run doubles in the first inning. By the time the fat lady grabbed the microphone, each had tied his career high in RBIs, Upton with six and Montero with five.
And to think, Hammel, who allowed 12 hits and eight runs in 5 2/3 innings, thought he might go all Verlander on the Snakes.
“It’s just a big question mark,” Hammel said. “The whole way, from the get-go. I was thinking no-hit stuff. It’s pretty frustrating when you get tagged for eight after that.
“I’ve just got to keep plugging along. I know I’ve got all the talent in the world. For this team to take the next step, I’ve got to be a big part of that. I’ve got to take that next step too.”
Hammel’s season mirrors the entire team’s year. He showed signs of a career year in spring training, then jumped out to a fast April, finishing 3-1 with a 3.23 ERA. But he has faded since then with a 2-4 mark and a 6.75 ERA in his last seven starts.
At this point, the question isn’t so much whether the Rockies are going to take the next step. Question is, what is the next step? They’ve had to recalibrate their goals. And no, they have nothing to do with catching first-place San Francisco.
The Rockies can’t so much as cast a casual glance toward the Bay Area. Their goal has to be more modest, more immediate than making a run at the Boys of Bochy.
They need to get to .500.
“You can’t be staring at that first-place situation,” Tracy said. “You have to have incremental modes you go through from day to day. . . . First and foremost, we need to get back to shore. We’re under .500. I guarantee you you’re not going anywhere if you don’t win more than you lose.”
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com
Looking ahead
TODAY: Rockies at Diamondbacks, 2:10 p.m., Root
So much for Ubaldo Jimenez’s problems. Jimenez (6-8, 4.00 ERA) has pitched like a No. 1 starter for several weeks. He has won his last three starts and is 3-1, 2.77 in July after a 3-2, 2.45 June. His .158 opponents’ batting average on the road is the best in the majors. Micah Owings (3-0, 2.76) has pitched well enough out of the D-backs’ bullpen (2-0, 2.37 in 14 appearances) to get his third start. That, plus he’s your basic Rockies killer (3-0, 1.02 in three starts). Footnote on Owings: Proceed with caution when he’s at the plate. He’s hitting .299 with nine homers and a .544 slugging percentage since 2007. Jim Armstrong, The Denver Post
Upcoming pitching matchups
Monday: Rockies’ Juan Nicasio (4-2, 3.88 ERA) vs. Dodgers’ Rubby De La Rosa (3-4, 3.73), 8:10 p.m., Root
Tuesday: Rockies’ Jhoulys Chacin (8-7, 3.60) vs. Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw (11-4, 2.72), 8:10 p.m., Root
Wednesday: Rockies’ Aaron Cook (1-5, 5.84) vs. Dodgers’ Hiroki Kuroda (6-12, 3.19), 8:10 p.m., Root
Thursday: Off
