SAN FRANCISCO — An array of Rockies lounged on the couches in the middle of the visiting clubhouse at AT&T Park prior to the team’s roller-coaster comeback win on Thursday, trying to brainstorm a new celebratory move for when Colorado batters got on base.
The ideas flew back and forth. Nolan Arenado advocated for pointing with both index fingers down at the bag upon reaching second, as if to say, “I’m right here, drive me in.” Charlie Blackmon threw out the idea of a honking motion: “Like a big rig’s passing you!” he quipped with a smile.
With that smile, the main motivation behind the rendezvous was revealed. And it was not to recreate a flashier version of the Rangers’ now-vintage claw move.
“We decided that we needed to do something as a team to get the offense going and make hitting fun again,” outfielder Noel Cuevas said. “After a lot of discussion, came up with the double fist-pump, so you’re going to be seeing it quite a bit.”
The Rockies double fist-pumped all the way to a much-needed 9-8 victory over San Francisco on Thursday, avoiding the sweep and snapping a four-game losing streak.
After being 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position in the first two games of the series, the Rockies were 5-for-10 in the situation in the finale, and Cuevas (pinch-hit double), Carlos Gonzalez (double, run scored), Ian Desmond (two-RBI triple) and Gerardo Parra (2-for-4) were among those who broke in the newly elected team celebration.
Not spotted doing the double fist-pump, though, was Mr. Speak-Softly-But-Carry-A-Big-Stick himself, DJ LeMahieu. With his usual quiet intensity, LeMahieu was 3-for-5 with a career best five-RBIs including the go-ahead, two-run homer in the top of the ninth off Giants’ right-hander Sam Dyson.
Arenado and others tried to recruit LeMahieu into the pregame braintrust that decided the double fist-pump, but the uber-traditionalist rebuffed them. “We should be an old-school big league team,” he said instead, and then made his way off.
About seven hours later, following his momentum-swinging dinger and after enjoying a beer and then a hug from reliever Adam Ottavino — whom LeMahieu got off the hook for the loss after the right-hander surrendered two runs in the eighth — the second baseman reiterated this position on joining the clubhouse’s celebratory movement. “I’m not into that stuff at all,” he said.
That’s just fine with his Colorado teammates. “Everybody’s going to have a different style to their celebration, and some hitters might not do it at all,” Cuevas said. “As long as we’re hitting, as long we we’re having fun — that’s a good recipe for this offense.”
LeMahieu leading off, stoic as a ballplayer of old, quiet in his demeanor as well as his improvement in plate discipline (swinging at a career-low 21.9 percent of pitches outside the strike zone) and power (easily on pace for career-high in homers). And after him? The Rockies hope there’s a whole lot of double fist-pumping.
It’s definitely not a perfect plan for turning the team around for a run at the division crown, but some offensive energy sure sounds like a good place to start.
Looking ahead
Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (4-3, 4.62 ERA) at Dodgers LHP Rich Hill (1-2, 5.30), 8:10 p.m., ATTRM
Los Angeles has hit Anderson well to the tune of a .326 team average, including five runs in five innings in a loss to the Dodgers on June 1, the beginning of Colorado’s slide from first in the division. The southpaw has also been getting raked by righties, allowing them to hit a .344 average, and has given up homers in six of his last seven starts. For the 13-year veteran Hill, catcher Chris Iannetta has two homers in just a dozen at-bats against the lefty and Colorado is hitting a collective .259 (7-for-27) off him. Hill has been on the disabled list twice this season due to problems with inflammation and a blister on his fingers.
Saturday: Rockies RHP German Marquez (5-8, 5.53) at Dodgers RHP Kenta Maeda (4-4, 3.84), 5:15 p.m. FOX
ܲԻ岹:Rockies RHP Chad Bettis (5-1, 5.07) at Dodgers RHP Ross Stripling (6-2, 1.98), 2:10 p.m., ATTRM
Monday: Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner (2-1, 2.51) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (7-6, 3.29), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM
