First, Rockies manager Jim Tracy surveyed the trainer’s room. Then he cast an eye toward the opposing dugout. That’s when he knew it could be a long day at the yard.
“This task that we have today is monumental,” Tracy said before Sunday’s series finale against the Giants. “I mean, let’s face it. When you look at the kids we have in that lineup playing against these guys . . .”
When you looked at the matchup, the one without Carlos Gonzalez, Todd Helton and Troy Tulowitzki, it was an uphill climb. And then Esmil Rogers made it a walk up Mount Evans.
Two hitters into things, Rogers had served up a two-run homer to Mike Fontenot. The Giants hit five more long balls, two by Pablo Sandoval in an eight-run fourth inning, in a 12-5 victory that gave them a sweep of the four-game series.
Afterward, Tracy lamented the six homers, the Giants’ highest total in a game since 2006. The rest of his summary amounted to a sentence: “There’s very little else to say.”
Unfortunately for Rogers, his pitching spoke volumes. He gave up home runs to Sandoval, Fontenot, Brandon Belt and even opposing pitcher Matt Cain. His first-inning ERA rose to 15.92. His Coors Field ERA skyrocketed to 11.68.
“I’m down and frustrated,” Rogers said. “I don’t know what I can do. They’re giving me the opportunity right now to show I can pitch at home, but all the games I win, I win on the road.
“All I can think about is what’s the difference for me? I don’t think about how high Denver is or something like that. I don’t know if my body feels different here or what.”
Rogers tweaked his setup and delivery before his previous start at Milwaukee, moving to the far right side of the rubber. The result? A six-inning, one-run performance that ranked among his best of the season.
But when he hit the altitude, the altitude hit back.
Clearly, Tracy’s patience is waning. He has had numerous conversations with Rogers and Jhoulys Chacin, another of the Rockies’ big-armed but inconsistent starters. Now he wants to see results.
Said Tracy: “I don’t expect them to be Sandy Koufax, but I know this: The message has been sent to both of these guys with regard to some of the little things mechanics-wise and delivery-wise. You’re waiting for sooner than later to see some consistency in that area.
“It’s not like you’ve heard it for the first or second time. . . . We’re on about the 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th time.”
As ugly as things were, they could get worse before they get better. Tulo, CarGo and Helton remain sidelined, with no target date for their returns.
The loss was the Rockies’ fifth in six games, conjuring images of last year’s 1-13 finish. Are they headed for a similar fate? One thing is certain: At 70-82, they’re bound for their first losing season since 2008, when they finished 74-88.
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com
Looking ahead
TODAY: Padres at Rockies, 6:40 p.m., Root
Kevin Millwood (3-2, 3.68 ERA) continues on the road less traveled as he tries to resurrect his career pitching in Denver. Millwood has pitched well enough to merit a spring training invitation, working into the sixth inning in each of his seven starts. Lefty Cory Luebke (5-9, 3.27), a 2007 sandwich draft pick, is yet another of those dynamic young arms in the San Diego system. He opened the season in the bullpen but moved into the rotation at midyear. The numbers don’t lie: 126 2/3 innings, 99 hits allowed, 139 strikeouts. Jim Armstrong, The Denver Post
Upcoming pitching matchups
Tuesday: Padres’ Mat Latos (7-14, 3.73 ERA) at Rockies’ Jhoulys Chacin (11-12, 3.73), 6:40 p.m., Root
Wednesday: Padres’ Anthony Bass (1-0, 1.88) at Rockies’ Aaron Cook (3-9, 5.97), 1:10 p.m., Root
Thursday: Rockies’ Alex White (3-2, 6.75) at Astros’ Henry Sosa (2-5, 4.74), 6:05 p.m., Root
Friday: Rockies’ Drew Pomeranz (1-0, 1.69) at Astros’ Brett Myers (6-13, 4.39), 6:05 p.m., Root
