Today featured Jorge De La Rosa, who, to this point in the season was a paltry 2-7, with a 5.81 ERA for the Rockies, against Paul Maholm, a strong left hander, 4-3 with a 4.23 ERA, much more respectable numbers.
De La Rosa can be electric, with a fastball in the 96-to-98 mph range, but his location is very suspect. He leaves too many balls high in the strikezone, especially fastballs.
Maholm is similar, in that he has a mid-90s fastball, but unlike De La Rosa, he can put his pitches where he wants. Though, his youth shows as he lost composure after getting rocked by the Rockies.
The game started off quickly, literally for the Pirates, which forced the Rockies to climb up hill all day.
Andrew McCutchen had another amazing play and day overall, for the second day in a row, as Pittsburgh's lead-off man hit a rope to center field that missed the ball by mere inches. The ball rolled all the way to the wall and McCutchen ran so fast he floated all the way around third base, until he was stopped late, before he almost got a inside the park homerun.
It was all good though for Pittsburgh scored on a Sanchez single, and De La Rosa eventually walked the bases full with only one out. But Luckily, De La Rosa got his head together and struck out his second in the inning, then got the third out on a come-backer.
The Rockies loaded the bases as well in the first inning, as Garett Atkins had an opportunity to come through with some huge hitting. But Atkins could not come through and the Pirates remained up 1-0.
De La Rosa continued on his rollercoaster of a ride-like pitching, as he struck some out, then allowed hits, and a homerun in the second that gave Pittsburgh the 3-0 lead.
But, the offense saved De La Rosa in the bottom of the inning as Dexter Fowler came up with a hustling double that turned into an RBI for him, then there was an equally great hustle play by Clint Barmes, who ran out a double as well. Ryan Spilborghs smashed a rope down the left field line to tie the game at three in the second.
The Rockies scored again the next two innings, as they hit well early rather than late today. Following a Troy Tulowitzki double, Garett Atkins hit him home. Colorado went up 4-3, but Maholm battled back to end the inning. Then in the fourth inning, Maholm gave up a homerun to Barmes.
In all, the young pitchers both had up-and-down outings. They could look bad against one batter, then strikeout the next couple and end an inning.
De La Rosa finished with 5.2 innings pitched, four earned runs, and six strikeouts. He looked great at times, and horrible at others. After giving up a homerun in the second, De La Rosa pitched a one-two-three inning, followed by more dominant pitching the next four innings, before giving up another run and being pulled.
Maholm went five innings, giving up five runs, but striking out seven. While De La Rosa fought back from giving up big innings early to pitch well late, Maholm was rattled and had to be yanked out of the game after the fifth.
Josh Fogg came in to pitch for Colorado, followed by Flores, and Joel Peralta who didn't give up any runs. Overall, the bullpen for the Rockies was very effective on the day, as Huston Street came in, closed, and got the save for Colorado.
The bullpen for the Pirates had to work a bunch of innings, but pitched well, as well.
In the end though, Colorado won the game 5-4, securing their 16th win in 17 games, as this stretch has become reminiscent of 2007. De La Rosa got his third win of the year, but Colorado's strength was hitting again.
Some great offense propelled the Rockies to the top of the mountain, as the Rockies swept the Pirates and went 8-and-1 on this current home stand, the best in franchise history.
Tulo' had a big game today going 3-for-3 with a walk, and Barmes did as well, going 2-for-4, including a two-run homerun.
Now Colorado goes on a nine-game road trip against the LA Angels, Oakland Athletics, and division-leading LA Dodgers. This could prove to be a huge trip, especially the last three games against the Dodgers. Now, Colorado at 36-and-33 sits a mere nine games back of LA in the NL West, and the Rockies (1-8 vs LA) need wins against the Dodgers in a bad way.
As long as they keep on these winning ways, or something close to it, the Rockies should have no problem running down LA, or at least grabbing the NL wildcard at the end of the season.
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