The experiment goes on until further notice.
Eric Young Jr. is the leadoff hitter and Dexter Fowler bats second. That’s the top of the Rockies’ lineup that manager Jim Tracy wants to utilize as the struggling team hits the road for a seven-game trip starting tonight in Cincinnati.
“Eric and Dexter at the top of our lineup have created energy, and they’ve created run-scoring opportunities for the guys below them in our lineup,” Tracy said Sunday after the Rockies lost 3-2 to the Washington Nationals at Coors Field.
Since putting Young into the leadoff slot 11 games ago, the Rockies have scored an average of five runs a game. That’s more than half a run better than what they averaged the first 104 games of the season.
With the Rockies giving Young every chance to prove himself and the return of Carlos Gonzalez from the disabled list, right fielder Seth Smith has been the odd man out.
“I think I should play every day,” Smith, a .282 hitter, said before Sunday’s game. “I wasn’t playing very well for a few days, and that’s the way it works. I hope they’re looking at ways we can make a run at it and get to the playoffs.”
Smith came to the plate Sunday as a pinch hitter with two runners on in the seventh inning and flied out to short right field for the third out.
Rockies hitting coach Carney Lansford has Smith working on hitting to all fields. Doing that helped Smith get off to a strong start this season.
Smith batted .306 in April, .303 in May and .308 in June but only .233 in July. Since July 1, Smith has hit .229, including one home run and nine RBIs. He’s 4-for-19 in August.
“I was getting unlucky a little bit and having to deal with some swing issues,” Smith said. “Here recently, I’ve been working in the cage trying to get my swing back to where it was.”
Tracy bristled when asked if the use of a younger lineup indicates the Rockies (53-62) are looking ahead to next year.
“Until the asterisk goes up next to the team at the top of the division that says they’ve won it, this isn’t over,” Tracy said. “Seth has slowed down a little bit as of late. As for our experiment with Eric Young in left field, we’re not going to abort that right now because we’re getting results and we’re playing good offense.
“I’m looking for people who want to consistently perform day in and day out in a team-oriented concept.”
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
