ATLANTA — It was blinking manure as Vin Scully might say.
In a year that has been so impossible, the probable happened — another embarrassing fielding error. Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin whiffed on a throw from catcher Wilin Rosario. The normally harmless gaffe became the glaring error in the Rockies’ 1-0 loss Thursday to the Braves.
Manager Jim Tracy could only recall it happening one other time to cost a team a game, when former Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez botched a toss, allowing the winning run to score in Oakland.
“I don’t know that the (heck) happened,” Tracy said. “It’s hard to believe. It’s just really difficult to take.”
In the second inning, Juan Francisco was perched at third base and Brian McCann was at the plate. On the return throw from Rosario, Chacin appeared to glance over toward third. The ball bounced off the side of his glove and wound up between the mound and second base. Francisco took off for the plate, and scored with a headfirst slide.
“I thought I got it and I put my head down and I just missed it,” Chacin said.
The Rockies lost back-to-back games 1-0. Both runs allowed were unearned. The Braves certainly weren’t going to score on their own. Their lineup excels in stranding men (Atlanta had one hit in its last 30 at-bats with runners in scoring position and finished 3-for-35 in the series).
Not that the Rockies were much better, going 3-for-28 in those same situations.
Nonetheless, the gaffe stung Chacin.
“It’s embarrassing to give up a run this way,” he said.
Lost in the latest Rockies’ defensive mistake slated to go viral was a peek into the future. Josh Rutledge started at second base for the first time since he joined the Rockies in the series following the all-star break. Rutledge is a shortstop by trade, but he projects as the opening-day starter on the other side of the bag. The Rockies will give Rutledge a string of starts at second as two-time all-star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki gets closer to returning to the big leagues.
“It wasn’t hard. I played a lot in Tulsa at second, and I have been working there before games,” Rutledge said. “I am excited about getting a chance to work together.”
It won’t be the first time. The pair trained in Las Vegas for a couple of weeks last December, when Rutledge made a strong impression with his attitude and work ethic. The duo also turned double plays before a New York Mets game a few weeks ago.
Rutledge’s healthier left quadriceps (it was strained, limiting him for nearly two weeks) made the switch possible. Now, it’s Tulo’s turn to heal. He played five innings Wednesday for Double-A Tulsa, diving in the field and running harder on the bases than he has since he began his rehab two weeks ago.
He has crossed a bridge mentally to where he’s trusting his leg more and willing to push to find out how it will respond. There’s a chance he will tear scar tissue, but the doctor who performed the surgery on his left groin said that’s expected and should not be a concern.
The idea of Tulo and Rutledge together is nothing short of muscle flexing. Tulo has averaged 22 home runs over the past six seasons, despite missing significant time in 2008 and this season. Rutledge has seven home runs in 47 games, which projects to 24 over a full season. Even if Rutledge only reached 18, there are few double-play combinations capable of producing 40.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1294, trenck@denverpost.com or
