Amid the gloom of mounting losses, the Rockies keep searching for silver linings.
The latest exhibit was outfielder Jake McCarthy’s performance from the leadoff spot in the Rockies’ final-inning, 5-4 loss to Texas on Wednesday afternoon at Coors Field.
Hitting in the top spot for the first time since March 31, McCarthy hit a single in the first, stole second, and scored on TJ Rumfield’s single. McCarthy scorched a triple to right-center to lead off the fifth and scored on Tyler Freeman’s single.
“I think it’s a good opportunity to steal bases in the first at-bat of the game, if you get on,” said McCarthy, who is slashing 326/.367/.587 across 15 games in May. “That first inning was a good example of getting on … and it’s fun to make things happen.”
McCarthy is one of the fastest players in the majors. He showed off his speed with his triple, giving himself a green light from the jump.
“I think as an outfielder, I just know that the right-center gap, or even the left-center gap, is far away,” said McCarthy, whose three triples lead the team. “I know it’s going to take a really good throw to get me out at third. I’ve just got to find slug (slugging percentage) somehow, so I’m always looking to take extra bases.”
Manager Warren Schaeffer is excited about the prospect of McCarthy jumpstarting the offense from the top of the order.
“Jake has all of the skill set to hit at the top,” Schaeffer said. “In today’s game, it’s not necessary to have a bunch of speed to hit at the top, but it adds to it, for sure. His bat is really good right now and has been for a while.”
McCarthy appears to be in line to replace the slumping Edouard Julien in the leadoff spot. After batting .324 (23 for 71) during March/April, Julien is hitting a .065 (3 for 46) average and is 1 for 32 over his last 11 games.
Schaeffer definitely sees McCarthy — when he’s hot — as a game-changing weapon.
“That’s how Jake plays the game and you feel like he’s always going to take the extra base,” the manager said. “You felt like that when he was with the Diamondbacks and he did it against us. I know the feeling that puts on you — the pressure — so, we’re lucky to have him.”
Losing cause. Colorado fell to 5-13 in May and has not won a series this month after dropping two of three to Texas. The Rockies are 1-6 in rubber matches this season.
Wednesday’s loss was particularly harsh. The Rockies led 4-3 heading into the ninth and reliever Brennan Bernardino struck out Danny Jansen to open the inning. But Joc Pederson reached on catcher’s interference by Brett Sullivan, and then Justin Foscue and Alejandro Osuna singled to load the bases.
Roberto Mejia replaced Bernardino, but Sullivan misplayed Mejia’s 0-1 fastball to Josh Jung, and Pederson scored, tying the game 4-4. Sullivan was charged with a passed ball. Jung then singled to drive in Foscue with the go-ahead run.
Asked to explain Colorado’s failure to win close ballgames, Schaeffer said, “There’s nothing to address. They know. They are in the process of learning how to win. We had exactly what we wanted there in the ninth inning. lt was just unfortunate, it didn’t work out. Some things just didn’t go our way today.”
Doyle’s injury. Center fielder Brenton Doyle injured his left side in the first inning of the Rockies’ 10-0 loss to the Rangers on Tuesday night. He was not in the lineup on Wednesday. Doyle said he has a bruised left side and an oblique injury. It’s still unclear what the extent of the injury is. Schaeffer said the team will continue monitoring Doyle.
Also, struggling right-handed reliever Victor Vodnik (8.00 ERA) was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right ulnar nerve inflammation.
For openers. The Rockies have used an opener seven times this season to begin games. The results have been awful. The team is 1-6 with the openers posting a combined 12.71 ERA in those games.
Right-hander Jimmy Herget has opened three games, Bernardino two, and Sammy Peralta and Mejia one each.
Nonetheless, Schaeffer said the concept of using an opener is a good one.
“It’s been hit or miss, in terms of the results,” he said before Wednesday’s game. “But in theory, it is sound. The idea of an opener is to put up a zero in the first inning against the other team’s best hitters.
“And then having the second guy not have to face the team’s best hitters the third time through the order in a tight ballgame. In theory, it is sound. We just have to execute it.”
Pitching probables
Thursday: Rockies TBD at Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (4-1, 2.53 ERA), 7:40 p.m.
Friday: Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (4-3, 4.02) at Diamondbacks RHP Michael Soroka (6-2, 3.49), 7:40 p.m.
Saturday: Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-6, 7.03) at Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (2-4, 4.78), 8:10 p.m.
Sunday: Rockies LHP Jose Quintana (2-2, 4.08) at Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (1-3, 5.19), 2:10 p.m
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM
