Greg Reynolds got his second win of the season tonight in the Rockies 10-2 win against the Cleveland Indians. He pitcheed 6 innings and gave up 1 earned run on 5 hits with no walks-which he has struggled with. He was looking like a totally different pitcher after his last game against the Giants. He seemed in control and in his element tonight. He wasn’t alone; the rest of the team helped out with some offense and outstanding defense. 

The Rockies got started in the 2nd when, after 2 outs,  Willy Taveras got on first with a fielders choice.  Then came something not many players get the chance of doing; Jeff Baker hit an inside the park homerun. Baker’s ball was hit right on the nose; in any other part of the field it would have been a traditional homerun, but this one hit the deepest part and then bounced off the fence into the middle of no man’s land in left center and Baker turned on the jets and made it into home with plenty of time. In the next inning Brad Hawpe homered and brought in Garrett Atkins for 2 more runs. 

The defense was also on it’s A game tonight. The biggest play in the game came in the top of the 6th when the score was 5-1 Rockies and the Indians loaded up the bases. Reynolds got the first out with a strikeout but the bases were still loaded and the tying run was at the plate. Choo was at bat and hit a screamer in Omar Quintanilla’s direction. Quintanilla backhanded a line drive and fired the ball to Baker and got the double play. It is going to be a webgem tonight if you want to check it out. 

After that great play in the field, the Rockies once again came out with their bats. In the bottom of the 6th they scored 2 runs on three hits. And in the 7th scored 3 runs on 4 hits. It was a night the Rockies should see a lot more of with some major players coming off the DL. Troy Tulowitzki and Clint Barmes are supposed to be heading back to the show after rehabbing in the minors. 

Someone new was welcomed to the big leagues today; Doug Bernier made his major league debut today as a Rockie. The Rockies brought him up from AAA for three games until Tulowitzki makes his comeback. The Rockies made this move at a more reasonable hour than some other National League teams. 

The Rockies are going for another win against the Indians tomorrow. The Indians didn’t seem to have a problem with their pitchers batting today unlike an American League owner who blamed the NL for a pitcher’s injury, but you never know: tomorrow is another day. 

 

ROCKSTAR of the game: JEFF BAKER

Post info: By claplante on June 18th, 2008
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Although the Rockies did not, once again, get the sweep, they took 2 out of 3 games against the White Sox. It would be nice for them to finish a series with 3 or 4 W’s but I will take just winning out right; beggars can’t be choosers. Today’s game was not won without drama.

Aaron Cook had another great outing on the mound. He pitched 6 innings and gave up 3 runs on 10 hits, 2 of  which came off of a Dye homerun in the 5th. Cook had some offensive help today from former White Sox Scott Podsednik who drove in 2 of the Rockies 4 runs. This was a key game for Podsednik who has struggled lately. The Rockies started out hot today scoring 2 runs in the first, with Podsednik bringing Willy Taveras home on a double and on the next pitch, Matt Holliday doubled in Podsednik.

After the White Sox tied up the game in the 5th off of Dye’s homerun, Brad Hawpe, who is an internet celebrity for his sewer pipes and instructional video (on youtube search Brad Hawpe), took Contreras deep in the 6th and gave the Rockies the winning run. Chris Iannetta added an insurance run in the 9th with a bomb off of Logan.

The bullpen threw another great game. Ryan Speier, Taylor Buchholz and Brain Fuentes all came in and combined threw 3 innings -each threw 1 full inning- and only gave up 1 hit. Fuentes’s outing was a little scary for the Rockies because he loaded the bases off of a single and 2 walks with 2 outs.

And that’s not all, Rockies fans cringed as Holliday and Omar Quintanilla both were running for the last out, a popup by Crede. At the last second Quintanilla dropped off and almost ran right into Holliday who by some miracle bobbled the ball and then caught it bare handed. It was an unconventional out but it counted and the Rockies won by 2 runs.

The win today was a good Father’s Day present for my dad, who sits and watches every game with me. I know that the Rockies were winning it for him and all their dad’s back home. Tomorrow is another day and the Rockies have a one game series- a make-up after the snowed out game in April- against the Braves. Chipper was cooling off today and hopefully the Rockies can bring him below .400.

Rockies Blog

Post info: By claplante on June 16th, 2008
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Jorge De La Rosa had an amazing start after his total bomb against the Phillies. The close games lately haven’t been going the Rockies way but today it was a different story. The Rockies finished the game with more offense than the White Sox and the pitching couldn’t be touched.

De La Rosa pitched 5 innings and only gave up 1 hit. Something just clicked tonight with De La Rosa and he looked like a true major league pitcher. It might have been less stressful for him being in the American League and not having to bat, but whatever it was he was a different player than his last start.

De La Rosa wasn’t the only pitcher for the Rockies shutting down the offense. Jason Grilli, Taylor Buchholz and Brian Fuentes all did their part to earn the team a much needed W. All together they gave up 2 hits and no earned runs. The bullpen was looking like it did last year, solid. If the bullpen can keep healthy and perform like they did today the Rockies should be getting closer to that 500 mark.

The offense wasn’t producing much tonight but thanks to the pitching that didn’t matter. Only one run was needed but the Rockies got a little insurance. The first run was scored in the top of the 7th with a ground rule double by Jeff Baker and a sac bunt by Yorvit Torrealba to move the the runner up, and with 2 outs a little blooper hit just beyond the second baseman by Willy Taveras brought Baker in for the winning run. Taveras had a great night tonight after being in a little slump. He went 2 for 4 and had 5 stolen bases, just short of the Rockies record of 6  by Eric Young. With Taveras getting back into the grove hopefully all the Rockies will follow suit and the team will break out of their losing record.

Tomorrow is Fathers Day and the final game of the series in Chicago and the Rockies will go for the win. I am banking on a Rockies win tomorrow because I haven’t gotten a present yet for my dad and a Rockies win would be perfect for my budget as a college student. So, GO ROCKIES!

Rockies Blog

Post info: By claplante on June 14th, 2008
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Today was a day to forget for the Colorado ball club with a tough 10-7 loss against the Giants.  After winning the last two games against the Giants the Rockies couldn’t get the sweep.

Greg Reynolds started today’s game on a high after winning his first game against Milwaukee last week, but it was a different story for the young pitcher today. He looked good in the first only giving up one hit but couldn’t get the third out in the second until  4 runs were scored; 3 out of the 4 were on a 2 out homerun by Fred Lewis. Reynolds only lasted 3 2/3 innings and gave up 10 hits.

The rest of the team tried to help Reynolds out with some offense, but  couldn’t bring in the runs. In the second inning Todd Helton lead off with a single and Garrett Atkins brought him home on a double.  Two batters later Yorvit Torrealba knocked in a run with a single.  After the Giants scored another 2 runs in the 3rd the Rockies came right back with 2 runs off of a Matt Holliday double. It looked as if the Rockies had a chance to come back, but couldn’t bring Holliday in from second.

The Giants came right back with 2 more runs in the 4th. In the 5th inning the Rockies had a chance of catching the Giants.  Jeff Baker swinging a hot bat singled to left to start the inning and was followed by a Holliday single.  Helton walked and the bases were loaded for Garrett Atkins who doubled to right and brought in 3 runs.  Atkins was left on second for 2 consecutive outs and was joined on first by Omar Quintanilla.  With 2 men on Ian Stewart couldn’t capitalize and struck out looking. Once again the Rockies left potential runs on base.

Again in the 7th the Rockies had a chance to reach the Giants. With 2 outs the Rockies loaded the bases with  singles by Torrealba and Quintanilla and a walk to Jonathan Herrera, but Ryan Spilborghs struck out looking.  In fact the Rockies struck out a total of 13 times, including 3 strikes by both Holliday and Hawpe.

The Rockies didn’t lose because they didn’t have the opportunities, they lost because they couldn’t finish. Reynolds threw only 3 2/3 innings; Manuel Corpas gave up 2 runs in the 7th with 2 outs- the Giants scored 5 runs with 2 outs-and the Rockies couldn’t clear the bases.

Today’s loss could have easily been a win if only the team could complete what they started. The only good to come from this loss is the 4 tacos for a dollar at Taco Bell tomorrow because the Rockies scored 7 runs.  The Rockies need to regroup and get ready for a quick road trip to the windy city for some interleague play against the White Sox. The Rockies have played well in interleague game it would be nice to get back to a winning streak.

Rockies Blog

Post info: By claplante on June 12th, 2008
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The Rockies 1-0 win today over the Giants was a big one.  Not just because they are in dire need of wins but because the entire team played a part.  The Rockies win when they play as a team. The playoff run in September of last year was spectacular because the team became a family.  Tonight’s win was a glimpse of what could turn out to be another close knit team with playoff potential.

It started off with Ubaldo Jimenez not giving up in the first.  He threw a total of 29 pitches but kept his confidence and got out of the inning unscathed.  Jimenez proved today that he belonged in the show.  In 7 innings he only walked one man and gave up 4 hits.  For a young guy struggling with control one walk is a big deal.  Although he personally didn’t get the W he was a key aspect for the club win.

The defense was some of the best I have seen from the Rockies all year. Willy Taveras, who has been off and onn defensively this year, was definitely on tonight with a spectacular catch in the 6th to give the Rockies the first out of a 1,2,3 inning.  He caught it over the back, reaching out, on the run in dead center field.  Taveras wasn’t the only one playing some defense, for a guy who was drafted as a third baseman,  Ian Stewart has proved that he can also play a pretty good second base, with 8 assists in 7 innings on the night.  His most impressive assist was in the first, with Lewis on second, Winn on first and  2 outs in the inning; with  a ball hit up the middle Stewart ran over and made an off balance perfect throw to get Rowand out at first for the third out. If he doesn’t make that play the score would have been 1-0 Giants in the first.

The defense was perfect tonight while the offense was dormant with the Giants ace Lincecum on the mound. It wasn’t until the bottom of the ninth inning that the first and last run was scored. Brian Fuentes earned his money tonight by getting three outs in the top of the ninth without a run, and earning himself a win which was his first of the season.

In the bottom of the ninth with Garrett Atkins occupying third, off of a walk and single by Brad Hawpe, and then Hawpe on second due to a passed ball, Chris Iannetta stepped up to the plate. He looked at a couple balls go by and then decided to swing, when he made contact the ball went off of his knee and he went down in pain.  It was a scary moment for the catcher who has had one of the best starts to the season on the team, but he finally got up and walked off the pain and made it to first with 4 balls.

The bases were loaded for Jeff Baker who flied out to Rowand in center; Atkins faked going in but made the right decision in going back as a good throw would have definitely caused an out.  Up off the bench then came Yorvit Torrealba who hit a  short fly ball right to Giants left fielder Lewis, who made a perfect catch and quickly threw the ball to Molina who was in perfect position on the plate.  The Ump called Atkins out but forgot to look for the ball that was rolling in the dirt in front of Molina.  Atkins was safe at home. Torrealba didn’t get the RBI but the only thing that matters is the club got the win.

It was an unselfish night for the Rockies that really paid off. They have won 6 of their last 7 games. The Rockies will go for a sweep tomorrow afternoon at Coors Field.

Rockies Blog

Post info: By claplante on June 12th, 2008
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The Colorado Rockies defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers once again this time by the score of 2-1.  With the victory, the Rockies took two out of three games against the Dodgers in their three game series.  We will have to see if this momentum carries over into the weekend when they start a series with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Aaron Cook shut down the Dodgers for nine innings to get the win and improve his record to 8-3 on the season.  Cook gave up six hits on only one run while striking out six baters and lowering his era to 3.16.  Closer Brian Fuentes pitched the ninth inning and notched his eighth save of the season.

Both of the Rockies runs came in the second inning on a Jeff Baker two run home run.  Chris Iannetta was the other player to score on the home run.  The Rockies offense was lucky that the pitching straff made two runs hold up.  The batters struck out 11 times and left 14 other runners on base in the game.

The Rockies will be off on Thursday and then start up a series with the Brewers on Friday.

Rockies Blog

Post info: By MileHighRocks on June 4th, 2008
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The Colorado Rockies finally ended their eight game losing streak as they beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0 on Tuesday night.  There was a benches clearing brawl in the game as well, and that just might be the little spark that the Rockies need at this point in the season.

Matt Kemp was upset with a tag by Yorvit Torrealba in the bottom of the eight inning and the two got into a wrestling match as the benches cleared.  Only Kemp and Torrealba were tossed from the game as the rest of the players kept the emotions under control.

Jeff Francis improved his record to 2-5 on the year as he tossed seven innings.  Francis only gave up four hits in his seven innings of action as he had great control and movement on the ball.  Taylor Buchholz pitched a scoreless eighth inning before Brian Fuentes came in and allowed two hits but zero runs and picked up his seventh save of the season.  Grea shutout by the three pitchers!

The Rockies got two of their three runs in the third inning as Scott Podsednik had a sac fly and then Todd Helton had a rbi single.  The Rockies would not score again until the ninth inning when Chris Iannetta hit a solo home run.

Will the Rockies go on a nice little win streak now that they finally snapped their losing streak?

Rockies Blog

Post info: By MileHighRocks on June 4th, 2008
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The Colorado Rockies were rocked out in Los Angeles on Monday night as they lose to the Dodgers 8-2.  It was the eighth straight loss for the Rockies who are playing terrible baseball right now.  If they don’t turn things around soon, we are really going to see a lot of trade rumors etc happening as they have already started up some.

Greg Reynolds was the loosing pitcher for the Rockies on Monday night as he tossed five inning.  Reynolds gave up seven hits and six runs (four of the runs were earned), as he dropped his record to 0-3 on the season.  Reynolds needs to keep the ball down unlike on Monday when he gave up two home runs.

Jorge De La Rosa came in to pitch the next two innings for the Rockies and also had trouble as he gave up two runs and a home run.

Garrett Atkins had gotten the Rockies a 1-0 lead with a rbi single in the first inning that scored Ryan Spilborghs.  The next run for the Rockies didn’t come until the ninth inning when Yorvit Torrealba doubled in Todd Helton.  You are not going to win very many games when you only score two runs.

I don’t know what the Rockies problem is right now.  It appears that they have no confidence, and why should they when they just lost their eighth game in a row?

Rockies Blog

Post info: By MileHighRocks on June 3rd, 2008
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The Colorado Rockies had trouble in the late innings on Thursday night as they lost to the Chicago Cubs by the score of 8-4.  The Rockies had two errors by pitchers late in the game that really hurt them as the Cubs scored five runs in the seventh and eighth innings to pick up the win.

Matt Herges took the loss and is now 2-2 on the season after giving up two runs in the seventh inning.  Taylor Buchholz then gave up three runs in the eighth inning as the Cubs blew the game wide open.

Rockies starting pitcher Jeff Francis lasted five innings and gave up six hits and three runs.

Willy Taveras led the Rockies at the plate with two rbi while Ian Stewart and Yorvit Torrealba both had one rbi in the game.

Rockies Blog

Post info: By MileHighRocks on May 29th, 2008
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The Colorado Rockies continued to play terrible baseball on Wednesday night as they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 6-1.  The Phillies had no problems sweeping the Rockies in the three game series.  After the terrible series, the Rockies are now 20-32 on the season.

Greg Reynolds pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up five hits and six runs as he took the loss.  Reynolds is now 0-2 on the season.  Jason Grilli and Matt Herges both pitched in relief with out giving up a run so atleast that was a good thing.

Todd Helton had a rbi single in the third inning.  That was the only run for the Rockies as they continue to swing the bat bad.

The Rockies will now fly to Chicago and begin a four game series with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.

Rockies Blog

Post info: By MileHighRocks on May 28th, 2008
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