MIAMI — Bags under his eyes, his conversational tone absent, manager Jim Tracy sat in the first seat in the Rockies’ dugout Tuesday night. He could see the whole field clearly. That was the trouble.
The Rockies lost 7-6 to the Marlins. It was Colorado’s sixth consecutive loss and 15th in 18 games.
People are starting to talk about the Rockies. For all the wrong reasons. On a day when owner Dick Monfort told The Denver Post he supports general manager Dan O’Dowd and manager Jim Tracy, the Rockies remain on pace for 100 losses, a low point never reached in franchise history.
“Their support means a lot,” Tracy said. “When you look at the last three days and how we keep battling back, I think my message is being heard loud and clear. This is just extremely frustrating and painful as heck to go through.”
Turning point. The Rockies grabbed the game by the nape of the neck in the first inning with three runs. Juan Nicasio just as quickly let it slip through his grip. Miami countered with two first-inning runs, and the dread and weight of the last three weeks became palpable. When Marlins pitcher Ricky Nolasco, who had three hits in 17 at-bats this season, doubled home two runs in the third inning, the outcome seemed inevitable.
“I didn’t have energy early in the game. It’s the second time this is happened. It’s unbelievable,” Nicasio said. “I felt much stronger the last innings. I don’t know why. I need to get it fixed.”
On the mound. Nicasio battled command issues. The right-hander allowed three walks and nine hits.
At the plate. Three times the Rockies led off innings with doubles and three times they failed to score. The ninth inning was as painful as any. After Jordan Pacheco roped a shot to left and moved to third on Carlos Gonzalez’s groundout, Troy Tulowitzki popped up and Todd Helton struck out looking against closer Heath Bell, making Nolasco the Marlins’ all-time leader in wins.
What it means. The Rockies’ dizzying ride to nowhere continues. The team hasn’t had a starting pitcher win back-to-back games this season.
