Recap: Dodgers 1, Rockies 0
Turning point: Pitcher Jason Hammel unsuccessfully strained to try and make a diving catch of Juan Castro’s bunt, but short-hopped the ball. Brad Ausmus, who opened the inning with a single, took second. Russell Martin pinch ran for Martin and scored when pinch hitter Rafael Furcal followed Castro’s bunt with a run-scoring single on Hamel’s 2-0 pitch.
At the plate: The Rockies, who went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position, were held to three two-out hits, doubles by Brad Hawpe in the first, Ian Stewart in the seventh and Hawpe’s single in the eighth. After Hawpe’s double, Garrett Atkins popped out. After Stewart’s double, Paul Phillips was intentionally walked, and right fielder Andre Ethier made a nice running catch on the track in right-center on a ball hit by Hammel. The Rockies struck out 10 times and a total of 39 times in the three-game series.
On the mound: Hammel threw the first complete game of his career, allowing one run and five hits in eight innings with no walks and five strikeouts. His five-game winning streak ended as he lost for the first time in eight starts since May 19. …Clayton Kershaw allowed just one hit in five innings with five walks and five strikeouts but was lifted for a pinch hitter after throwing 97 pitches. …Jonathan Broxton earned his 19th save and ninth at Dodger Stadium, where he is 9-for-9 in save opportunities with an 0.42 ERA (21 2/3 innings, 1 earned run) and two walks and 37 strikeouts.
Numbers game: 2 games decided by 1-0 scores for the Rockies this year, both losses. They also lost by that score in 10 innings at San Francisco on May 3.
The Dodgers are loaded with strikeout pitchers in their rotation and bullpen. The Rockies lineup is filled high strikeouts hitters. It will be difficult for them to score against (and consistently beat) the Dodgers until that dynamic changes. It’s a bad matchup.
The speed guys, Fowler and Gonzalez, need to improve at getting the ball in play to take advantage of their speed. That’s the most frustrating thing for me. That, and Tulowitzki was clearly pressing at the plate again.
Sucks that our offense was held in check for all but 5 at bats during the series. However, I am impressed with their overall performance. Nice job Jason(s). Hopefully the offense comes to life during the Arizona series. We need to start bunching wins against NL West teams.
Great effort by Hammel – he has really turned the corner and our staff is all the better for it.
39 strikeouts in 3 games? …even with a 13 inning game that is a amazing number
Let’s hope that coming home and playing some genuinely bad teams helps wake up the bats.
Last Dodger series and there was a managerial change. Now after this one and there still has not been a catching change as of now. Is there going to be a trade before the weekend series in the next 48 hours now? Also will be a decision on Baker by friday too correct?
Does anyone have any idea as to why Tracy didn’t bat Smith or Helton for Spilly in the 9th? I would would think a LH bat would have had a better chance against Broxton.
Jack or Tracy- where do the Rockies rank in the NL/ML in strike outs? My guess is that they are in the top 5.
Depends on what you mean, but in terms of strike outs as a percentage of plate appearances, the Rockies are 6th in the NL (19.8% vs. 19.9% for the Marlins) and 7th in MLB. Though to be fair we should subtract pitcher strikeouts.
I’d like to see where they ranked in strikeouts the first six weeks of the season and the last six weeks.
It SEEMED to me that they were conscious of the strikeout early in the season, leading to more swings early in ABs. They’ve since become more patient, which has led to more strikeouts.
I could be completely wrong in that perception.
They’ve definitely struck out a lot the last 4 games. Could just be a bad stretch, esp. since it was a team effort in the extra innings game, and you even had Hawpe get the golden sombrero in the last Oakland game.
Rockies K/PA
Apr: .199
May: .185
Jun: .208
Rockies runs/game
Apr: 5.40
May: 4.48
Jun: 5.50
Tracy R has reported that the team worked with Stewart not to leave the bat on the shoulder too often but most of the guys are just selective and it helps them get a pitch to drive.
Some of these guys just strike out a lot. Barmes and Gonzalez are really the only two hackers.
Night and day when you compare how the Rox battled this Dodgers series versus last. Looks like real baseball now. We’ve got the Dbacks and Nats at home, so hopefully we can wake the bats up and put together another nice little run.
It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out that at the end of the season, the Rocks are going to look back and see that their inept play against the Dodgers cost them dearly. What is it going to take to beat these guys? Rocks sure havent figured it out!
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