Recap: Diamondbacks 7, Rockies 5
Turning point: After the Arizona Diamondbacks put the first two runners on in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Colorado Rockies looked like they were going to get of the jam when Jason Marquis induced a double-play grounder from Gerardo Parra. But with two outs and a runner on third, Marquis allowed an RBI single to Ryan Roberts and a two-run home run Brandon Allen to tie the game at 4-4. The Diamondbacks took control of the game from that point on and took the lead until the seventh inning when Brad Hawpe couldn’t make a play on what turned out to be a two-run double by Parra.
At the plate: Yorvit Torrealba singled with the bases loaded in the first inning to drive in the Rockies’ first two runs. He singled again in the ninth inning and is 8-for-23 (.348) with six RBI on the road trip . . . After Troy Tulowitzki hit a two-run home run in the third inning, Brad Hawpe drew a one-out walk. He was the last Rockies hitter to reach base until he drew another walk to lead off the ninth inning . . . Tulowitzki was 1-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and two RBI . . . Carlos Gonzalez led off the game with a double and later scored the game’s first run. After a walk in the second inning, he was caught stealing for just the third time this season . . . Todd Helton was 0-for-4 and is now just 1-for-20 on the road trip . . . Ian Stewart drove in a run with a ninth-inning single . . . Jason Giambi and Garrett Atkins struck out pinch-hitting in the ninth inning.
On the mound: Jason Marquis failed for the second time to win a career best 16th game as he struggled with his command, walking five in six innings. He also struck out seven, including five in a row starting after back-to-back walks in the second inning. He walked the bases loaded in the sixth inning — his last — but pitched out of the jam . . . Randy Flores allowed a base hit to the one batter he faced in the seventh inning, Stephen Drew, who scored later in the inning . . . Matt Daley struck out the first two batters he faced in the seventh, but a walk and a double allowed two runs to score. He got out of the inning when Gerardo Parra, hit the double, was thrown out trying to advance to third base . . . Matt Belisle allowed a solo home run to Ryan Roberts in the eighth inning. It was the first run Belisle allowed since returning to the Rockies for September . . . Diamondbacks starter Kevin Mulvey, making his second career start, allowed four hits and four walks in four innings. He struck out five and mostly settled down after a shaky first inning during which he threw 33 pitches and allowed two runs on Yorvit Torrealba’s single . . Diamondbacks relievers Daniel Schlereth, Leo Rosales and Scott Schoenweis combined for four perfect innings of relief . . . Juan Gutierrez allowed two hits and walk in the ninth, but settled in to pick up the save.
Numbers game: 6.00 ERA for Marquis in his past five starts dating to Aug. 29. In those games, Marquis is 1-3 and has allowed 23 runs, 20 earned, in 30 innings with 15 walks and 21 strikeouts. While matching his season-high Friday with five walks, Marquis threw just 56 of 104 pitches for strikes.
So now Hawpe along with Marquis are taking their miserable 2nd half of the season to heart.
I was really hoping the big win and the off day would have this team energized and ready to finish their business. It looked that way early, but man, when it falls apart, it falls apart all the way. Especially on offense. They go through 4-5 inning stretches without a baserunner almost daily. That’s awful.
These next two games are going to be very difficult with Scherzer and Haren on the mound. Yeah, I know about Haren’s ERA lately, but I respect his ability to shut a team down any time he goes out there. To win one is going to take an extraordinary effort from the pitching staff, because I have little reason to believe the Rockies can score more than 2-3 runs in either game.
The Rockies must find a way to win the next two against the D-backs. This is the most important series of the season. Arizona is better than their record indicates, and they’ve underachieved in 08 and this season. Now is not the time for Arizona to start playing well.
The miserable second half I am most concered about is Barmes. He is hitting .182 with a (and I wish I had a better ajective)terrible .233 on base average. I mean at least Ian Stewart will take a walk and get on base. Put in EY already.
I don’t look for Hawpe to start against Haren on Sunday. He’s one for 11 this season with six strikeouts. He can’t hit Haren’s split-fingered pitch.
I would look for Barmes and Hawpe to sit the next two days really. They aren’t producing.
I know Torrealba is doing well at the plate, but is Iannetta just done for the season? He hasn’t even pinch hit lately if I am correct? What is the team’s record in Torrealba’s starts lately? I know that’s not the way to look at it with the pitching besides Marquis and Jimenez, but wonder if maybe those two are affected by lack of confidence or something with respect to Yorvit.
I am grasping at straws I understand. Just tired of this team playing like this. This feels like the first 46 games when a move ‘had to be made’.
Brad Hawpe dropped another flyball!! What a suprise! You can live with his slow pitch softball caliber defense when he hits the ball like he is capable of, but when he doesn’t hit for going on 3 months now, it’s tough. He drew some walks last nite, but where is the extra base hit power he has shown throughout his career? Hawpe has a great arm, no doubt about that. But seriously how often does that come into play?
This team seemed to be handling the pressure so well not too long ago, but after last night’s debacle I’m starting to wonder if they have what it takes. Please Rox, prove me wrong!!!!
Karl, are you seriously equating the Rox losing with Torrealba’s starting? Whaaaaa??!! You are trying to correlate his starting with our losing? Please explain your rationale for this statement. Torrealba has been ridiculous for all of Sept! (8-for-23 (.348) with six RBI on this roadtrip). And he did throw out a runner last night. He makes contact, gets on base, handles the pitchers well and plays with some fire.
Also, Yorvit is very well respected especially by Jimenez and DLR. Ubaldo suffered a rusty game after an injury…And Marquis has had some problems during the 2nd half. If you are going to try and draw some correlation with how he handles the pitchers, then, rightly you need to give him the credit for DLR’s best game in his career.
I agree, credit where credit is due for DLR on last start. I just wonder what the stats are on Yorvit’s starts in terms of win loss. I fully am aware that I am grasping at things, but I am just asking about the psychology of the effect of Yorvit starting and then the correlation on the pitchers other than DLR, he I will give him to Yorvit.
I don’t think it is healthy to ride out the Yorvit hand all the way to end of the season and just let Iannetta sit on the bench and not be given the chance to use his tools as well. I am not saying he should be starting all the time as he was, because we was struggling a lot as well. I just believe that he should not be banished right now. I still think he is a better defender than Yorvit and seems to be able to control his emotions and passions better.
I just personally don’t think Yorvit is the long term answer here and while he is definately the ‘hot’ hand right now behind the plate while hitting, I just don’t know that I agree he is the best to handle all of the staff right now. I may well be wrong in this now, and he may still come through tonight or more the rest of the season but I see a lot of talent in Iannetta and would like to see him on the field more as the team tries to clinch in the next two weeks.