Game Recap: Rockies 1, Diamondbacks 0
Key to the Game
The Colorado Rockies again struggled to score runs, managing just a single run in the series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Fortunately for the Rockies, though, Jhoulys Chacin allowed just three hits and a walk in 7 2/3 shutout innings, yet another solid outing from a starting rotation that has put its team in a position to win multiple times in the past week.
The bullpen — Joe Beimel for one out in the eighth and Huston Street with a much-needed one-two-three inning in the ninth — kept the Diamondbacks quiet the rest of the way to reward Chacin with his first win since July 2. Chacin struck out nine in the longest major-league outing of his career.
Other Highlights
– Dexter Fowler stole at least a double from Adam LaRoche with a diving catch in the fourth inning. He took a few minutes to recover from a hard landing, but stayed in the game and later drove in the Rockies’ only run with a single in the eighth inning. Fowler was 2-for-3 with a walk, the fourth time on the current road trip he has reached base at least twice in a game.
– Eric Young Jr. singled to start the eighth inning, stole second and scored on Fowler’s single.
– The Rockies, who had runners on base in five innings, had only two other significant scoring opportunities. In the fourth inning, Miguel Olivo singled to center with runners on first and second and two out. With the pitcher’s spot due up, Troy Tulowitzki, who singled to start the inning, was sent home and thrown out easily at the plate for the final out. In the ninth inning, the Rockies loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a double, but couldn’t score an insurance run.
I am really liking the 1-2 punch of EYJ and Dexter (I also really like Dexter and Herrera 1-2 as well.) Definately something positive to build on for next year.
Dexter is absolutely a joy to watch defensively. He puts it on the line everytime.
Very glad to see Street get that 3rd out, though I think Chris Young bailed him out swinging 3-1. About time Street got a break. Had he walked Young, who knows what happens to his confidence.
Chacin looked fabulous. Look forward to him getting a full season next year.
Good win guys!
How about that Olivo AB in the top of the 9th? I told my son, here comes a strike-out. Sure enough, I don’t think Miguel got one pitch in the strike zone.
Prog, I agree Young bailed Street out. Tracy Ringolsby pointed out the other night that in many/all of Street’s blown saves he has walked the tying run. Sure enough he went 2-0 and 3-1 to Young.
A win is a win and I am going to enjoy my $7 taco on Monday.
Chacin has quietly made great strides this season. As things stand right now, 2011 with open with Ubaldo as #1, Chacin as #2, Hammel and Cook as #4/#5. De La Rosa would be a nice choice as the #3, with the option declined on Francis. Not a bad rotation at all if it stays healthy, with Esmil Rogers probably making a contribution either as a starter or a reliever.
Now, about that offense …
Here’s a thought about the hitting. Perhaps their are too many voices in the hitters’ heads. I have nothing to base this off of besides tv and Coors Field, but what if there are too many hitting coaches? My point is, we have Baylor and then the team also has Helton, Giambi, Mora et al giving advice. Then with the constant lineup changes and tinkering that Tracy is doing to try to get the offense going, perhaps this team has too many leaders?
Just a point that while I am a big Giambi fan and Helton has Hall of Fame numbers the fact that they have to try to lead the hitting because Baylor or Tracy is giving them other signals and one voice is not clearly saying this is how to do it could be contributing to the issues this team’s offense has.
But great performance by top two in the 8th and Fowler all around wow today. Bigger performance by Chacin to show potential and remind us that light is at the end of this tunnel.
Back home now, so just build off of this and try to get one vision for hitting…put the ball in play is where I would start.
Taco Bell’s latest promotion. When the Rockies score 7 or more runs on a road trip.
I guess Tracy hasn’t ruined Chacin after all?
Chacin’s young and is still learning to control his pitches, so there will be ups and downs. Pretty awesome to see him put it all together at a time when the team really needed it.
I don’t know what to say about the hitting: 8 runs in 6 games. I doubt having vets is a problem, but anytime players are in slumps I am sure they receive more advice than they need. Part of learning to be a pro is learning to manage slumps, road games, etc. Giambi was on the pre-game saying he didn’t know what was going on, which of course is right–if someone knew, they could flip the switch.
Nice win. It was good to see Street have a quiet inning as well, I hope that helps settle him down.
I cannot describe how much I appreciated todays game. I love games like this one. Awesome. I guess I saw it from a different perspective. For me, this game was more about two guys having great outings and not so much about a lack of offense.
Both pitchers deserve credit for a great game. We probably saw a preview of 2 young pitchers on their way to success. I hope so anyway because I’m looking forward to seeing them face each other again.
This is the best Chacin has looked since ATT Park.
Again, Fowler throws caution to the wind and makes an outstanding catch.
Thankfully, they won.
All I ever want is for the team to play well and not beat itself. In that respect, today’s game was excellent. Even though the bats were relatively quiet, shutout pitching and stellar defense is a surefire recipe for victory. A very gratifying win and definitely something to build on. Who knows, maybe facing one Hudson today will help wake up the bats against another Hudson tomorrow.
I listened to the first 5 innings on the radio and didn’t hear the final until about 6 o’clock. Imagine my suprise. Maybe they will win when I don’t watch. No, that didn’t work when they were on the road trip to NY and Pittsburgh and I was out of town. Must be the law of averages.
Glad to see that Street was finally able to come through and save the game. However lets not get carried away. The offense had the same problem today as yesterday and most of the year. They get lots of guys on and nobody scores. 9 left on base today, 8 yesterday. Just too many opportunities wasted. Still 7 or 8 runs scored on a six game road trip is terrible.
Olivo…runners on 2nd and 3rd…1 out…K.
I’m sure there were MANY others by other hitters(?) but that had to be the worst at bat of the year.
Horrible at bat.
Did I mention it was a horrible at bat. Sit him the rest of the year. Let’s see if Iannetta can “finish.” If not, adios, muchacho.
I just looked at the box score on ESPN.com. Is it really true that the D-Backs never got a man to 2nd? Wow! Great performance Chacin, Beimel and Street.
A great outing for Chacin. Thanks for the impressive stat, Bill.
Happy to see Street with a worry-free outing.
Did anyone see the Tulo play at the plate? On the one replay I saw the catcher tagged Tulo with his glove but had the ball in his hand. I couldn’t tell if he also tagged Tulo with the ball too. It was a nice throw.
Everyone seems to be in agreement. We all are happy with Chacin’s performance and he did pitch great. We are not the only ones thinking that. “Jhoulys Chacin looked more like Ubaldo Jimenez on Sunday than Ubaldo Jimenez did on Saturday”
So, if Chacin pitched a great game, why can’t the same be said of Hudson? Why does yesterdays game have to be about a lack of offense on the Rockies part? Because, once again, they left the bases loaded late in the game? Ok, agreed, but to me it was more than that.
Here is the sad part, from my perspective. Many are now so upset about this ending road trip and lack of offense their mindset seems to be stuck in the no offense mode. The focus seems to be more on leaving the bases loaded, yet again. They may have missed yesterday’s game, at least through 7 innings, for what it really was.
“Hudson twirled seven shutout innings, allowed only four hits and equaled Chacin’s strikeout total (nine).”
Two young starters, on their way up, went toe to toe. For me, it was awesome to watch.
I guess I just appreciate good pitching matchups. I happen to believe we witnessed one yesterday.
Excellent point, Mike. Hudson was undeniably good, as well. I think the trouble all Rockies fans are having right now is discerning when an opposing pitcher was good and beat them or when the Rockies hitters beat themselves. Regardless, Chacin was just slightly better and that made the difference in this game.
Good game. Notice that when the Rockies don’t score it is because they are lousy hitters and when the other team doesn’t score it is because the Rockie pitchers were really good.
I think Olivo has hit the wall. I don’t think he has ever played this much this soon. Even last year he alternated with John Buck. This winter he needs to prepare better for a long season. He has always been a free swinger but he is gotten totally out of whack in the pitches he is swinging at now. Also, he is letting more balls get by him as he has stopped shifting his feet and is just reaching for the ball. To me that is a sign of fatigue. Maybe Iannetta needs to play more the next three weeks and see if Olivo can recover.
Steve, thanks for making that point. Sitting safe on my couch it is hard to think whether or not a curve is baffling, a fastball moving sharp, etc. All we can judge by is whether they should be “on” by their prior stats, but as we saw with James MacDonald that night in Pitt, a guy who has never been great can look outstanding on any night.
MoRockie, I have to admit I did not think about Olivio maybe just being tired. That is a lot of games (did he play winter), and he does look just a bit slow all the way around , compared to early this season. I guess I feel bad for ragging on the guy so much of late. Time for Chris to carry the load for a while and get him rested in case we do make a run (yes, i know, pigs will fly and North Korea will become free ,etc.).
Still not sold on Rogers as a starter but the more guys showing what they can do the better, because as we saw this season, only one starter who has made all his starts, we need all teh depth we can get. Ideally Chacin would be the 4 or 5 next year, to give him a chance to continue to matuer. He is still only, what, 22? Could be a very interesting pitcher in a year or two if he can continue in any way like Jiminez (who is clearly a superior talent, while Chacin ceiling is probably lower). Can imagine though where 2012 we have those two guys 1-2 creating as powerful a front end as any in the NL.