Before Tuesday night’s game, Aaron Cook leaned back in a clubhouse chair, relaxing, going over the game plan in his head.
During the game, he sat in the trainer’s room, coming to grips with the pain in his neck.
Welcome to the Rockies’ 2011 season, which has been defined by Ace bandages and disappointments. Since the second week of April, the Rockies have been everything but consistent, finding every way imaginable to lose.
The Philadelphia Phillies thumped them 5-0, magnifying their problems at Coors Field.
“Home? We haven’t played well anywhere,” Rockies first baseman Todd Helton said.
Tuesday marked the Rockies’ 28th loss this season at Coors Field, where they lost only 29 games last year and just 30 in 2009. And former Arvada West star Roy Halladay awaits today.
Since Coors Field’s doors opened for the first time in 1995, the Rockies have endured only three losing seasons at home. The last came six years ago, when the Rockies were still crawling out of the Todd and the Toddlers youth movement.
“We just haven’t been able to put it together. A hit here and there, but we aren’t getting that big hit,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. “We aren’t extending rallies.”
This season has been perplexing on many levels. The Rockies used to feast on mediocre pitching at Coors Field, doing everything but floss their teeth with No. 5 starters. But Kyle Kendrick, an afterthought until injuries struck the Phillies’ rotation, toyed with the Rockies.
That underscored Carlos Gonzalez’s absence. The Rockies are 4-7 without the outfielder and miss his power in what has become a very pitchable lineup. Ian Stewart and Dexter Fowler have no home runs. Ty Wigginton and Seth Smith have one since June 29.
Kendrick preyed on the Rockies, pitching eight shutout innings while allowing four hits.
“That’s not going to get it done,” Tracy said after his 51-59 team tied a season worst by falling eight games under .500.
Kendrick finished with a career-high seven strikeouts. Four were looking, including two by Fowler. The Rockies were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
Another large crowd watched the Rockies stumble. But many of the 39,128 in attendance were adorned in Phillies red and wearing Halladay T-shirts and jerseys. Halladay remains a strong candidate to win back-to-back Cy Young awards.
Kendrick looked the part Tuesday. It didn’t hurt that he took the mound with a 2-0 lead.
Unable to build on his best performance since 2008, Cook was hit hard early before leaving after four innings because of a neck stinger. Edgmer Escalona pitched three scoreless innings in relief. Cook expects to make his next start.
Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki left with a right pinkie injury after eight innings but is hopeful that he will play today.
Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard blasted two home runs. And the Rockies couldn’t counter against Kendrick, a right-hander they had hit at a .344 clip entering the game.
“I wish I had an explanation,” Helton said.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
Looking ahead
WEDNESDAY: Phillies at Rockies, 1:10 p.m., Root
The Rockies’ front office will decide in the next two months whether to try to move right-hander Jason Hammel (6-10, 4.65 ERA) in the offseason. Hammel was talking career year coming out of spring training, but it hasn’t happened. He is 1-6 with a no-decision in his last eight outings at Coors Field. Arvada West alum Roy Halladay (13-4, 2.44) is in the hunt for his second Cy Young Award in two seasons in the National League. He’s 2-0, 0.77 in three career starts against the Rockies. Ty Wigginton could be back in the lineup, given his .318 (7-for-22) average against Halladay, including a home run. Jim Armstrong, The Denver Post
Upcoming pitching matchups
Thursday: Nationals’ Ross Detwiler (1-0, 2.35 ERA) vs. Rockies’ Esmil Rogers (4-1, 7.31), 6:40 p.m., Root
Friday: Nationals’ Jordan Zimmermann (6-9, 3.12) vs. Rockies’ Juan Nicasio (4-3, 3.95), 6:40 p.m., Root
Saturday: Nationals’ Livan Hernandez (6-10, 4.08) vs. Rockies’ Jhoulys Chacin (8-8, 3.38), 6:10 p.m., Root
Sunday: Nationals’ John Lannan (8-7, 3.65) vs. Rockies’ Aaron Cook (2-6, 5.34), 1:10 p.m., Root
