Game Recap: Rockies 6, Giants 1
Key to the Game
After a shaky July, Ubaldo Jimenez has resumed his role as the Colorado Rockies’ stopper. For the 13th time in 2010, Jimenez won after a Rockies loss, improving his overall record to 17-2, tying the franchise’s single-season record for wins and lowering his ERA to 2.61.
Jimenez allowed one run in the sixth inning on back-to-back doubles by Aubrey Huff and Buster Posey, two of the four hits he allowed in the game. He walked one and struck out nine in seven innings.
At the plate, Jimenez reached on an infield single with two out in the second inning and scored from first on Ryan Spilborghs‘ double to put the Rockies up 2-0.
Other Highlights
– Carlos Gonzalez made up for strikeouts in his first two at-bats with home runs in his next two, a two-run shot in the fifth and solo shot in the sixth for his first career multihomer game. Gonzalez went 2-for-4 to raise his batting average to .319, scored twice and drove in three runs.
– Troy Tulowitzki homered for the first since being activated from the disabled list. He hit a solo home run in the sixth, going back-to-back with Gonzalez. He also doubled in the first and singled in the third.
– Ryan Spilborghs doubled in the Rockies’ first two runs in the second inning but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple. However, the easy out of Spilborghs — the last of the inning — likely enticed the Giants to cut off the relay throw and let Jimenez score, avoiding a play at the plate involving the Rockies pitcher.
– Todd Helton was 2-for-5 and scored a run.
– Every Rockies starter reached base at least once. Clint Barmes and Brad Hawpe each went 0-for-3 but walked once.
– Dexter Fowler, who suffered bruised ribs on a game-saving catch Sunday against the Chicago Cubs but avoided the disabled list, entered the game defensively in the top of the eighth inning and popped out leading off in the bottom of the inning.
– Relievers Matt Belisle and Rafael Betancourt combined for a scoreless eighth and ninth innings. Belisle allowed a hit and struck out two while Betancourt struck out the side.
Now that’s a ballplayer, Ubaldo. He hustles out a ground ball for a single, scores on a 2b, walks out to the mound and strikes out the side.
He even dresses like a real ballplayer with the stirrup sox and all.
Oh yeah! 17 Ws isn’t too bad for Aug. 4.
We will catch the Giants, there is no doubt in my mind. Their hitting is overachieving big time and will come back down to earth as the season closes, while we make another one of our late runs.
From ESPN.com recap…”Troy Tulowitzki also homered for the streaking Rockies, who have won five of six and played some of their best baseball of the season since the All-Star break.”
What the heck road trip did the AP see that we must not have? Glad to see winning 5 of 6 right now, but I still remember 2 out of 13. Still trying to claw and cling to hope. Next two weeks will be crucial.
I know I know, broken record here.
Amazing what happens when a guy throws strikes and competes. Hint Hint!!
The confidence level for the rest of the team is sky high when Ubaldo pitches. Its middling when DLR, Hammell and Francis pitch. When Cook pitches the confidence is nil. How else do you explain the Rox curling up yesterday, yet today they crank out some big hits?
ProgMatinee – right you are about confidence level. It’s Baseball 101 that the starting pitcher sets the tone for a game. I have to believe that Chacin vs. Cook as a starter is simply a no-brainer. The Rockies need JC in the rotation next turn.
After Cook’s latest debacle, I find myself asking the question, “What would the Yankees do?” considering that organization and the NY fans demand the very best, and pay for it. Cook and Corpas would have been history a long time ago. Maybe its brutal, but winning requires that attitude, IMHO.
Looks like all Ubaldo needed to get back to form was Tulowitzki’s return.
Ubaldo’s ERA with Tulowitzki: 1.17
ERA without Tulowitzki: 8.18
CarGo is an animal …it’s that simple
I haven’t been able to watch the last couple games. How is Helton looking?
Is he driving the ball at all? or simply punching singles?
Helton has had some solid line drive hits…opposite field.
He made a great catch on a foul ball in the tv camera well.
After watching these two games I actually think SF is the team to beat. Only one game back of SD and they are hot. The Rox have to prove they can win on the road before I will consider them threats to make a run. You can dominate at home all you want, but you have to be decent on the road too. And 12 games under .500 isn’t decent.
Ubaldo is some player all righty! So is that kid Carlos Gonzales. Maybe they should put him on the All Star team.
It’s funny how the Rockies lose a game and we all think the sky is falling. Then they win a game and the WS is within our grasp.
Tonight the Giants fans are probably complaining how little desire their team had today and how they should have gotten more than 5 hits. I know, it’s a different situation because it was our #1 against their #5, but that’s how baseball plays with your emotions.
@Miketober – Excellent point on the bipolar nature of baseball! First game I’ve had a chance to go to since the Stewart/Giambi 9th inning homeruns off Papelbon. Much better start for Ubaldo this time. I think some of the difference in the offense today can be traced to the difference between Jonathan Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner/Denny Bautista. Even though Cook really pitched poorly last night, the Rockies know it’s go-time and the early 4-0 and 5-0 leads I don’t think phased them. They simply didn’t get any hits. Once we got down 7-0, 10-0, that definitely sealed it. Like everyone else here, I think it has to be Chacin time. We know Chacin is still a rookie and he is probably going to have a flew flops here and there, but the upside of Chacin sure beats the heck out of Cook’s.
Helton drove one near the warning track, which for him was almost like watching him hit a homerun. I guess those well-struck balls that drop harmlessly into the centerfielder’s glove aren’t nearly as frustrating when the Rockies are leading 6-1. It was also nice to see Dexter be able to come into the game, and to see our relief pitchers keep the ball in the infield and away from the centerfield wall.
One other pointless observation: How in the world is Denny Bautista still in the major leagues? I don’t know if I have ever seen a guy who has been around as long as he has struggle with his command so bad, but I haven’t been watching baseball since the 60s like some of you guys. Hope Melvin Mora is going to be ok after taking that heater to the knee. On the flip side of the pitching inside coin, it was nice to see Ubaldo brush back Renteria and Burrell a couple times on pitches that were obviously purpose pitches, and not just Ubaldo getting wild. I think we all knew after the Giants got whatever it was, 19 hits last night that Ubaldo had to pitch inside and he did a great pitching job all around today. Gotta love Ubaldo!
Watching since the 60′s u say.I gather alot of posters,like me,saw our 1st MLB in the 50,s! Gurt Gowdy,and Dizzy Dean-”he slud into third hard”,and the WABASH CANNONBALL.One black&white game every Sat. in the summer.Usually N.Y.,Chicago teams w/Bosox,and Cards thrown in.Remember the 50′s had the great N.Y.teams[all 3 of them!]Yanks,Dodgers especially.
Great to see Ubaldo back on track, lovin it baby, lovin it.
ok that was a nice win, but what happens when CarGo’s bat cools off some, who in the lineup is going to carry the Rockies to the playoffs? I just don’t see it happening this year, as the Rockies simply don’t have enough consistency or diversity in that lineup. And don’t get atarted again on TOO many left handed hitters.
The rotation and bullpen have a few issues to be sure, but the serious problems remain with the hitting! I am probably the only one here that wishs both Herrara and EY2 were still on the MLB roster. Without the table setters like Fowler, EY2 and Herrara – the 1-8 lineup doesn’t do much for me.
Sorry Rockies – if we somehow make the playoffs – I’ll gladly admit to being totally wrong about this. And finally I too am old enough to remember those Saturday black and white Games of the Week. Back then the “Game of the Week” didn’t mean it was the highlighted matchup, it meant that was the only game you were gonna get.
I must be a bit younger. I loved the Sat games too, but they were in color. And teams like the Reds (Johnny Bench) and Dodgers did it for me. Remember the Reds-A’s WS? That was exciting.
Rich you are probably right. I hope the team keeps it kinda close the rest of the way, continues to back up Jimenez, and gives us fans our money’s worth. And if they do get hot you never know.
As usual, great posts, guys. Today we say “bi-polar” whereas before we said, “Winning cures everything.” The bottom line is we all want the Rox to win and recognize the season-long problems persist. Hope Cook finds his way to the DL and not the bullpen and Helton can continue to play with the same energy he showed yesterday. Lastly, I’m with you Gary. Loved it when Diz would sing and talk about the Gas House Gang. I can still here him say, “He had a ripple,” whenever the batter took a big swing and came up empty.
Doc, that’s what he used to say, I was trying to remember what it was. He had a ripple, what a classic. Also remember that Mel Allen used a 2 minute egg timer to remind him to give the score and inning every 2 minutes. These guys on the radio today talk so much and there are so many promos that you have to wait for 3 outs to get score and inning majority of the time.
I’m glad this site has a bunch of old farts (though I like the younger guys, Prog is 32 I think, also) like me who remember those great old days. My Dad would leave the morning paper open to the sports section on the kitchen table so it was the first thing I saw when I went to have breakfast. Now the info is too easy and not nearly as anticipated as those mornings.
Every team in our division has had a long extended run at some time during the season, hope its our turn now. Other than Cincy here for 4 games, the whole month of Sept is in division.
Rod’s interpretation of Miketober’s exasperation with fan emotions,calling it the “bipolar” nature of basebnall fandom is classic. It is true though, that for many of us the sky seems to be falling if one game is lost, and the sky is the ceiling if one game is won. The marathon which is a baseball season must be kept at the mind’s forefront by the GM and the manager, but us fans can complain about the day’s lineups and the roster needs as our emotions take it that day. Great to be a fan!!!
I think that the Rockies have an excellent chance of making the playoffs but I don’t see a championship team. Only Jimenez has reached championship level so far. To become a championship team, there are young players who will need to find their potential realized – they are Stewart, Iannetta, Tulowitzski, Fowler, Smith and Gonzales among position players and DLR among the pitchers. Cargo, Tulo, and DLR are clear possibles, and they are the primary reasons that I think the Rockies have a good chance at the playoffs. If some of the others lift their games enough from here on out, this team can compete with the big dogs; if they don’t, we could finish out of the money – like Rich M has said is likely in his opinion. The veterans, Helton, Hawpe, Olivo, Mora and Giambi, together with Francis, Cook, and the veteran bullpen guys will do what they can with what they have left, but leadership of this team is moving from those guys to the youngsters. So – VIVA Cargo, VIVA Tulo, VIVA DLR, VIVA —- Stewart???—–
yep, i’m a young’n. the first players i really remember are George Brett, Ozzie Smith, Ricky Henderson, etc. its cool to here about the earlier players some of you saw like Walter Johnson, Christy Matthewson and Ty Cobb…just kidding!
I, too, remember the great 50′s in New York, and the intense competition between the Giants and the Dodgers. But, as a Cardinal fan, my interest began with the 1943 World Series – I was home from school in Denver with the flu and heard the games on the radio. When I improved, Mom let me stay home until the Series was over, bless her, as she saw how captivated I was with the games.
Rooting interest in the Cardinals was a family thing – the Cards were the furthest team west in those days. And also, Houston was the place where my older brothers grew up, it was a Cardinal farm team, and Dizzy and Paul came through on their way up. They would come out in the evenings and play ball with the kids – all games were day games for the pros – and my brothers got to play catch with the Dean boys.
As a former Cardinal fan, I can compare Gonzales with Stan Musial – the first time I have seen a player who can compare. Not, of course, the batting stance, but in the way that the ball comes off his bat – line drives to all fields – and in the ferocity of the swing. Gonzales is a bigger man than Musial and I think that he has a chance to hit more four baggers than did Stan, but if he learns the strike zone better, he may put up similar batting averages. Both are outstanding in the field, Gonzales a shade better, and Gonzales has a considerably better arm. I hope that Gonzales can realize his talent – he is on the way.
Jasper you may us all beat, 1943 world series. Wow!!! I’m 59 and the earliest I really remember is 1956 when Mantle hit for the triple crown and my Dad was really excited. Other than that the move west by the Giants and Dodgers because it caused such a furor in NY. But what really ruined my whole year was Mazorowski (spelling?) in 1960. The longest winter of my life waiting for spring to come again. Great fun to reminisce.
Ah yes, Diz and PeeWee on Sat. afternoon, Jack and Harry doin’ the Cards on the radio. Sneaking a transistor into school (earpiece cord run up through the long sleeve shirt and into the palm) for the WS games played in the daytime.
Stan the Man, Ernie Banks, the Willies in SF, Whitey and the Mick, Yaz: lotsa good mems for me.
So…Cookie looks like the DL for 15, probably on 8/9 which makes him eligible on the 24th. He could stay longer, maybe past the Sept call up date. Hopefully JC, can make his chance stick in that time. 2-4 starts to do it tho.
If Mora’s DL’d who do you bring back, Jonny H or EY2? I like Hererra better. More complete a package. All EY has is speed. He’s gotta get on for that to be a factor. Don’t think he can hit ML off speed stuff tho.
I don’t think Mora is getting DL’d, track record with others injuries, they let them stay on and he has been playing well of last 6 weeks.
I don’t think they can bring Herrera back for another week. Isn’t it a ten day rule? Maybe different if other player is dl’d? Good for knowledge if anyone can help to clarify.
Guys this has been tremendous listening to your baseball origins. I was born in 1970 and think the first game I saw was Chambiliss’ walk-off to go to the series in76. Game of the week, yep, remember that. Hated it when little league game started early because would miss it. One game, plus during the summer “Monday Night Baseball” on ABC. I seem to remember watching a no-no on a “Game of the Week” by the Tigers (Morris maybe) at the start of the 1984 season. And then suddenly someone in the still small world of cable (other than Ted Turner that is) realized baseball fans like to watch baseball and now my kids (all 9 and under) think that baseball is on 24 hours a day and you can simply pick which game to watch.
One of the many reasons that baseball is the greatest game going is the 162 grind. A team can get hot in every other sport and ride its way into the playoffs, but over 162 games the truth of a team gets revealed. That road trip (has anyone here come up with a catchy name for that debacle) may indeed be the truth of this team. Or mayb we will see the truth revealed in the next two months. This is a good team, with great talent, but through the season we have not yet seen them play up to their potential, and if they do they will win this division. If not, well over 162 games they will probably end up 87-75, not a bad season but short of expectationsn (honestly Rock fans since day 1, did you ever think that 87 wins would be a disappointment?)
Kudos to Cargo (love the Musial comp btw, since Stan the Man somehow go missed on the all century team and CarGo missed the All-Star team…a little greatness not appreciated) and Ubaldo. Whatever this season is, they have been worth the investment in watching.