Game Recap: Pirates 8, Rockies 7 (10 innings)
Key to the Game
The Colorado Rockies, who managed just four hits in the first eight innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates and entered the ninth inning down 5-2, battled back with a three-run home run by Ian Stewart in the ninth and a two-run home run in the 10th by Todd Helton to take a 7-5 lead.
But Rockies closer Huston Street couldn’t hold it in the bottom of the 10th. Street, the last man available in the bullpen, allowed a leadoff double to Andrew McCutcheon that was initially called a home run but overruled as fan interference on review. After a fly out and strikeout, Street walked Garrett Jones then allowed a walkoff three-run home run to Pedro Alvarez.
The Rockies bullpen was inconsistent all night. Manny Corpas allowed three hits without recording an out in the sixth. Randy Flores and Taylor Buchholz each allowed a run. But Rafael Betancourt pitched a scoreless seventh, Joe Beimel picked up the final two outs in the eight and Matt Belisle pitched a scoreless ninth.
Other Highlights
– For a second consecutive game the Colorado Rockies took a shutout into the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and for a second consecutive game the Pirates erased the shutout with a three-run home run. Jorge De La Rosa struggled with a high pitch count and walked four, but was otherwise solid for the first five innings until the Pirates Chris Snyder chased him with a three-run shot with one out in the fifth. De La Rosa, though, was bailed out in the ninth when the Rockies tied the game.
– Todd Helton’s home run in the 10th was his 2200nd career hit. He collected his first major-league hit and home run on Aug. 2, 1997 in Pittsburgh.
– Carlos Gonzalez was 2-for-5 to raise his batting average to .321. He scored the Rockies’ first run on a sacrifice fly by Troy Tulowitzki after hitting a triple off the top of the wall to start the fourth inning.
– Brad Hawpe was 2-for-5 and scored the Rockies’ second run in the seventh after singling and scoring on a groundout by Miguel Olivo.
Wow …. that was a heart breaker huh. What a waste
anyone not see that coming the moment Street walked the preceding batter? The way our pitching staff looked tonight, I knew this was going to happen and told my wife.
Helton coming through there could have had a lasting impact on the rest of the season, now I’ll be shocked if the Rox win 2 more games on this trip.
Blame it on the humidity.
Well, I think we have established that Huston Street should not be allowed to pitch 2 games in a row.
I missed most of the game, but turned on KOA just in time for the Beimel strikeout/wild-pitch/passed-ball that resulted in a run. You might almost say the Rockies lost the game there (although Street would have just blown it an inning earlier). This was typical with how the season has gone. They get the strikeout, but Olivo can’t catch the ball. Or Belisle gets the come-backer against SD and throws wildly to home instead of turning the 1-4-3. Or they work hard to load the bases but then the next batter swings at the first pitch and pops it up. They are so close. They are good enough to create the situation they need, and then end up blowing it.
Street has been nibbling the whole time back. He’s nowhere near the force he was in 2009. I don’t see a closers confidence. Did Olivo catch Street’s other walk off? The walks and subsequent homers the last couple of weeks have been killers. DLR was overthrowing the entire sixth. Again, left in one batter too long.
Wow. Not sure what to say about that game. Good pitching for 5 innings again. Nice to see Helton homer. But…the pen is killing us. Huston’s give-up of the one in Florida to the rookie turned what was about to be a .500 trip at that point to the debacle road trip. Tonight’s homer after a walk simply unacceptable. Time for Tracy to be the skipper – he has to make a change in the closer. If Belisle wasn’t so overworked I would go with him. Betencourt is an 8th inning guy and has had trouble this year. Do we try Beimal?
The Florida game and tonight are the difference between being 4.5 out right now and 6.5 out. Still positive, especially after getting some clutch hits the last two nights on the road. Have to get the pen figured out ASAP (and if that means a trade, maybe we have to do it).
Still believing, but now they have to find a way to steal one they should lose on the road in its place.
ITR gentlemen…is the trade front quiet? Is Mr. O’Dowd working behind the scenes at all? Not panicing, but this team is still only 6.5 out and there are no dominant teams out there. The offense seems to be coming around since Tulo came back, we have good depth in the farm system, so does Dan make a big move for a starter or to shore up the pen? We are still low enough on the pecking order that few playoff teams can block the move, right?
Oh and whats the point of having Corpas pitch at all?
I’m sorry to say it, but the truth is the Pirates are just a better team than the Rockies. This aint the same Huston Street we had last year. Last year he was fearless, this year he’s fearful. Sorry for the negative post, but I think the season is over.
Street should not have pitched for the third night in a row.
Pirates are thirty plus games below .500 not really a better team but have killed the Rockies in the past. This loss really hurt and this game the Rockies should have won but there were some positives. Yes Street have gotten the save but Helton’s performance at the plate, DeLa Rosa’s solid outing. Hope Rockies win tomorrow…
I knew they would lose when they brought Street in to pitch the 10th.
Then I really knew they would lose when all his pitches were up.
Then I really really knew they were going to lose when Street had that terrified look in his eye while walking Garrett Jones.
Then I really really REALLY knew they would lose when the FSN guys said, “It’s hard to hit home runs.”
Instead of Street who should have pitched?
This is a team with a lot of talent though (Pirates)…
OMG! I thought Matthew had his facts wrong, but he is right. Street pitched an inning in the 5-1 loss 2 days ago. That’s 3 days ago. Now why in the h— did Jim Tracy put him in there in that game?? Am I missing something? This one is on Tracy for mismanaging his bullpen.
Corpas has pitched a lot, I think he needs a dead arm DL stint and bring someone up who can actually get people out consistently right now. Great to see Stewart’s home run as well as Helton’s but we all know the make up of this team and saw this coming. We were all hoping that they could somehow close this out but Street is not his former self right now and is nibbling right now and hoping for outs. Rough game, Doc you are right and only 6.5 out, but losing four of six to Pirates!!! is completely unacceptable.
Guys should have stolen this game back with the late Hr’s but gave it back. Frustration boling over for us all I think with this loss.
Doc, don’t really see the Rockies making a trade. Would have liked to see them make a move at the deadline for a right-handed bat or a starting pitcher, but I’m not sure who would be able to clear waivers that could help the Rockies significantly at this point. Complicating matters is the fact that many of their best trade pieces are on the 40-man roster, which means they would also have to clear waivers to be traded. Christian Friedrich isn’t on the 40-man, but even with his up-and-down season at Tulsa, I wouldn’t trade him from a short-term rental, which is what would be available this time of year.
The Rockies need their current roster, with its current strengths and weaknesses, to play up to its ability for once this season. That was a heartbreaking loss, especially given Helton’s home run.
Does anybody else think that Iannetta is better defensively behind the plate. He blocks balls that Olivo can’t. Just think he should be the guy right now.
I thought Tracy needed to take out DLR right after the walk in the sixth. And why on Earth do you bring in Corpas at this point for any reason other than to eat innings in a blowout. Doesn’t anybody out there have a hill of beans that the Rocks can trade Corpas for? I would rather see Barmes pitching than Corpas.
The fact that Corpas gets so much work for this teams should scream out loud that the Rockies have bailed on this year. Manny, er sorry, Manual Corpas is a batting practice pitcher. A very highly paid one. You know if we had just exoected the Rockies to be a team trying to build for the future, then this wouldn’t be so maddening to watch. But, with expections so high comming out of spring training, this is beyond insanity.
not a single bullpen arm pitched well last night, and I rhink we used them all. now the pen, which I was saying was gassed 2 days ago is even further gassed and the starters are struggling to go past 5 or 6 innings. its a vicious circle at this point.
I’m numb. No other way to put it. Unless we see a repeat of 2007 at the end or 2009 in June/July (I think it was 17 of 18) then we are done. I’m starting to feel like Rocky, and I’m sorry for the negative post also, but I just don’t see this team responding to the opportunities they are given or create for themselves. Too many times this season they have put themselves in a position to win and blew it. Too many times this season they have had a series or multiple series against losing teams and not capitalized on the opportunity. Looking forward to Rogers and Chacin in the rotation just to see what we have to build on for next year.
SFO and SDG both lost last night, so there went a great chance to pick up a much needed game.
again this loss brings me back to a depressed state about next year. Where will the bp help come from next year? Give Franky Morales another shot? YIKES.
tlow, I have seen Olivo misplay around 7 or 8 pitches that major league catchers should not miss. They have all cost us by either by a run scoring or base runner advancing to a base in which he later scores. All at critical times. Simply put, he tries to catch a ball in the dirt instead of trying to block the ball. Oh sure, he uses his body when the pitch is in the middle of the plate, but when it is inside or outside he doesn’t even TRY to slide and block the pitch with his body. Very poor mechanics all season.
I hate his plate (lack of)discipline. Hope I’m wrong but I’m afraid he will be at .275 or so before the season ends. I know some of you like his offense, but to a defensive purist like me, I am very disappointed with his effort. He’s better than Torrealba but that is a relative term.
I have huge reservations on my next statement but let’s “sink or swim” with Chris I. He is way better defensively and I believe(hope) he can be even better than Olivo on the offensive side. Let him start 4 out of 5 the rest of the year and if he fails, but him loose at the end of the year.
Thanks for letting this old catcher vent.
I was a big proponent of letting Olivo play while he was hot, but he’s cooled off significantly and Iannetta is still considered the future at catcher especially with Rosario again getting injured.
So I agree that Chris should play a majority of games now. There’s nothing to lose, since we’re fading out of contention anyway.
Ah, the maddening game of baseball. Nothing quite like it, really. The starting pitching falters and suddenly your dependable bullpen is overworked. In hopes of keeping your lineup sharp throughout the year, you end up over-managing the confidence right out of your everyday players and field a different dysfunctional unit each night. I feel like I’ve been watching auditions for utility players, players that are somehow flawed and not deemed worthy of a fulltime job because they “don’t match up.” It’s no wonder they have an inferiority complex.
Time to put up or shut up. If we’re going to the playoffs, it’s with these players. Give them a chance to jell, learn how to play as a team—just like last year, Mr. Tracy. No more of this wishing and hoping. Can Iannetta be the starting catcher? Can Stewart learn to work the count, become a savvy batter rather than a savage hacker? Was Herrera playing way over his head? Let’s find out once and for all.
I’d still like to see Mr. Late Night get regular playing time in right field. Give him a month in a consistent role to prove his ability to hit left-handed pitching, wicked curve-balls and improve his fielding. I’d like to see Spilly as the super-sub in the outfield and Hawpe to suddenly realize he’s got an infected ingrown toenail that’s been making him wiggle at the plate like he’s leaning a new dance step. 15 days on the DL, and then a couple of more weeks on rehab to figure out how to quiet and shorten his hitting stroke. Call him up in September.
Herrera takes Hawpe’s place on the active roster and takes over 2nd base full time. There’s no doubt to what Barmes brings to the table—he’s a super sub. Plus glove with some pop off the bench if he’s not overexposed. Mora has guts and has been productive with the bat. Good for him, but he’s still an older utility guy and, like Giambi, should be used to plug into the lineup a couple days a week.
Other immediate roster moves: Chacin takes Cook’s place. Rogers takes Corpas place. If Frances continues to falter, then DL him and call up the best reliever we have and let Rogers start.
Batting order:
CF – Fowler
2B – Herrera
LF – CarGo
SS – Tulo
RF – Smith
C – Ianetta
1B – Helton
3B – Stewart
P —
If nothing else, we’ve got to answer once and for all the questions we thought we’d already answered. Ah, baseball. You gotta love it.
I love Spilly, but the guy has declined 2 or 3 straight years. His defense and base running is actually starting to look bad. He’s striking out a lot. I certainly think he has a place on the club, but I no longer think he’s the best 4th outfielder in the league like I used to back in 07 and 08.
Huston Street’s problems started in the division series last year. That fearful look you all are talking about started against Philly. I said it last year at that time that Street looked like a scared little girl out there pitching in the playoffs. He went from being aggressive and fearless during the season to a scared little girl hoping to not get killed. He looked the same last nite. Just nibbling around the plate, falling behind then having to throw one right down the middle. Hes a scared little girl out there. We got Corpas who is as inconsistent as they get. Morales who is as fidgety as they get. Street whos scared. Then we got Belisle, Betancourt, and Beimel who are good guys but not near closer material. Rox will not make a serious run cuz they can’t win on the road and their bullpen is tremendously shaky. Hey how does losing 4 of 6 to the worst team in baseball sound?
Anonymous, I’ve been saying all year that our pitching staff minus 2 or 3 of them are softies and easily rattled. Many of them have either an “aw shucks I’m just hapy to be here” or “deer in the headlights” look. I miss Brian Fuentes so much. He was such a bulldog. Was he the most talented? Maybe not, but I never felt he’d go out there and puddle around and throw soft balls.
This bullpen is actually very talented on paper. They have the tools. But not the mentality. If this is the pen going into 2011, then I think Abodaca needs to be gone and a coach with some fire to them come in.
Exactly Steve Foster! I couldn’t agree with you more.
Many seem to be pointing fingers to Huston and to some lesser extent the BP. Did anyone not see this coming? In June I pointed out several times what is happening right now with the BP would be the end result if the starting rotation didn’t start going more than 5 innings consistently. At that point, many seemed to believe the rotation would be fine.
My frustration lies more with manager Jim Tracy.
1) coach Tracy should have been the one heading to the mound in the 6th, with urgency. Jorge’s performance in the 5th should have been a red flag to keep a close watch in the 6th. He was done. He had no control and the more he tried the more he seemingly overthrew his pitches.
2) why try to finesse pitch around Jones? I believe Drew Goodman was very astute and dead on. I also believe that Huston may have not agreed with the game plan. Remember, he called Olivo out to the mound. A quick camera shot to Jim Tracy showed him immediately get up with a look of questioning on his face. Instead of just watching, he should have paced right out to the mound.
There was some positive.
1) Todd Helton had a great game. Too bad his home run wasn’t the game winner. The posts today would be very different.
2) several other key teams lost
First of all, I’m with those of you who would like to see Iannetta get a greater share of the catching duties. He has really impressed me lately, both behind the plate and hitting. Olivo hit a nice 3-run HR against the Cubs in the Cargo game, but has been disappointing lately otherwise.
Second, on the overworked bullpen: The problem goes back to the offense. About midway through last year Jim Tracy (I think) made the comment that if the starting pitcher gave up 4 runs or less, that was a good enough performance and gave them a chance to win. The best defense is a good offense. This year the team needs shutout ball for 7 innings to win because they score only 2 runs per game. So they pull the starter after 5 because he gives up a few runs. Then the pen gets overworked. They need to score more runs, taking advantage of weaker teams and 1-8 pitchers.
Third, I have not found any explanation why Street pitched an inning in Thursday’s 5-1 loss. Is this another one of Jim Tracy’s “Street needed the work to stay sharp” situations? So Saturday was his 3rd consecutive game. Anyone surprised by the result?
Miketober:
Drew Good man said Street asked Tracy to put him in for an inning to stay sharp since he had been sitting for the last 5-5 days; that live pitching was better than bullpen sessions to stay sharp.
the more I watch baseball (relatively new to this game) the more I think it is a game of luck and breaks, with just a little skill involved…
And, to add to that: “some you win, some you lose, some get rained out, but you always suit up for the game and never say die….”
And, adding again: Todd Helton is a class act. FSN showed him pat Street on the back last night in the dugout. (I’m sure some teammates felt like killing him). And, Helton when asked about Cook and his 2 inning game also defended Cook in his last game by saying that “he would line up behind Cook anyday, that Cook is having his struggles like any of the rest of us from time to time.” Helton is one classy guy and great teammate.
Rockieswin, thanks for the explanation.
Jim Tracy could have said no, we might need you tomorrow.
Street is obviously having problems. The FSN guys said Apodaca and he were working on some technical problems that were causing his pitches to not sink. But it sure seems to me (without confirming with hard stats) that he is great on the first day, but diminishes with consecutive appearances.
Again, to the point I’ve been worried about all season, the starting rotation and an unfortunate consequence, the BP being overworked. I think having BOTH Francis and Hammel in the BP today pretty much sums up how out of gas the BP may be.
Steve, again, thanks for answering the questions we pose. You guys are class acts and simply the best source for Rocks news out there.
Heard Tracy on the air this morning before the game started on KOA on the way home from church and Tracy alluded to the physical issues, the mental issues and the need for Huston to simply step up. I didn’t mean to come down to hard on Huston last night (I had forgotten he pitched in the 5-1 game). But that closer spot has to get fixed. If trades are not a possibility, does anyone wonder if there is a starter at the AA or AAA who has a great 1 pitch, a decent 2, but the lack of 3,4,5 means he will never be a starter? I just think back to Wainwright’s arrival in 2006 and how that propelled the Cards to the WS. Of course that guy has turned out to be a super stud starter, but if a deal is out of the question, this pen looking a little ragged, one wonders if there is an arm down on the farm who could step up and be a short-term closer in the KRod or Wainwright mode (yes, I really this is a bit of fantasy time…but this team is too good to be undone by the back of the pen).
Anyways, thanks again Steve. Not the answer I wanted (agreed on not giving away Friedrich for Doyle Alexnader…have to plan ahead).
“Street’s problems began in last years playoff.” maybe he isn’t as tuff as he makes out to be. Can the Rockies ever get a closer who comes in and says “heres my fastball see if you can hit it.”