ARLINGTON, texas — The moment arrived to jump on the opponent’s chest. And Josh Outman was left only to get something off his.
He entered the fifth inning with a 10-run lead. Even for a hemorrhaging staff against baseball’s best offense, it felt safe.
But the pressure hung in the air like humidity. Outman was at 69 pitches after four. The Rockies have placed their starters on a 75-pitch limit. When the left-hander jogged to the mound, manager Jim Tracy provided slack in the leash.
“We told him it was his inning,” Tracy said.
An inning with provisions. He couldn’t endure his worst frame as a Rockie. So, of course, that’s what happened, leaving Outman with no decision in the Rockies’ 11-7 victory over the Rangers.
He worked 4 ⅔ innings, leaving him unable to qualify for the win. There are few things that sting a pitcher more than not making baseball’s version of a layup. Five and dive. Take the W.
All Outman could do was take his place on the bench. His exit was eventful. He kept his head down as he handed Tracy the ball, slightly brushing shoulders as he walked off. It was unintentional, and Tracy didn’t take exception.
“I had no issue with it,” Tracy said.
Asked what he was thinking when he left the mound, Outman confessed, “You don’t want to know what was going through my head.”
Outman pointed the finger at himself, not the four-man experiment that is designed to teach pitch efficiency, but will continue to present its share of awkward moments.
“There’s obviously a bit of a learning curve going into this. To my knowledge, Tracy’s never done it,” Outman said. “I had been attacking hitters and with that scenario having a 10-run lead, you figured you’d get more than (75 pitches). I didn’t make some smart pitches and the wheels came off the wagon. At the end of the day, the team won. That’s the big picture.”
Outman might want to save that quote for his agent in arbitration. Maybe it will help his case. The Rockies’ starters are in a tough spot, set up to get losses or no decisions. But they’ve performed so poorly, especially at home, they have no compelling argument against this current scenario.
Tracy said Outman will have to be monitored closely to see if he can make his next start. The possibility exists that the Rockies could flip-flop the roles of Guillermo Moscoso and Outman on Wednesday, then revert back. It’s becoming increasingly clear that Tracy doesn’t want Drew Pomeranz in the big leagues until he’s strung together a few more solid outings in Triple-A. The walks are the biggest concern.
A case can be made to let Pomeranz develop while allowing Outman or Moscoso to deal with Coors Field.
Regardless, the Rockies had to win this game. There are losses. And there are Google searches for the 1962 Mets. Not once in the Rockies’ 20-year history have they squandered an eight-run lead. This would have been where rock bottom became Rockies bottom.
“That would have been really, really bad,” slugger Jason Giambi said. “I don’t even want to think about it. I really don’t. When it was happening, and they were coming back, I said, ‘This can’t happen.’ “
The final three relievers spared the Rockies the indignity. After Adam Ottavino allowed a three-run homer to Nelson Cruz, Rex Brothers pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh inning. It was his 22nd scoreless outing of the season as he gets back on track.
“That’s my middle name,” said a smiling Brothers when told that he swooped in like a vulture for the victory. “Everyone in Rockies gear here could sense the situation. We needed to come in and do our jobs and put this one away.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1294 or trenck@denverpost.com
