Todd Helton chose the perfect time for his first home run of the season. Two outs, bottom of rain-soaked ninth, Scutaro on first after being drilled in the shoulder by an errant pitch and Helton gets a hold of a fastball and deposits it in the right field seats, ending one of the craziest games ever played at Coors Field.
For those that stuck around after the 1:11 rain delay, one that saw the Rockies take shelter with a 5-1 lead after four, the hope of a win was all but crushed. The Rockies came out with a comfortable lead, only to watch as the Diamondbacks took control of the game that turned into an error-fest by Colorado. Tulo made two errors in the sixth, the pitching melted down and sloppy play continued to be the theme of the season.
Down 7-5 in the 8th and with the fans getting restless, Eric Young hit a run scoring double to breathe a little life into the crowd. But it was Marco Scutaro’s actions after getting hit by the pitch in the ninth that really seemed to fire up the team. On a knock-down fastball that, luckily hit his shoulder and not his head, Scutaro jumped up and yelled, “come on!” at the dugout as he sprinted to first. The rally call seemed to be all but wasted, as Giambi popped out and Tulo struck out, setting up a depressing end to a game of wasted chances.
Then Todd Helton came to the plate, watched the first ball, fouled off the second and then crushed the third pitch over the right field scoreboard into the hands of the few fans left. His home run trot was a thing of beauty and his meeting at home plate brought chills, as the Rockies increased their walk-off total for the season to a nice respectable 1!!!
I am very (very!) jet lagged and got home late after my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary celebration, but I had to watch the game before falling asleep. I was nodding off the whole game and (thanks to my nephew who told me they lost before I even started watching) had no hope when Todd came up in the 9th. When he hit that walk off I freaking jumped out of my skin (quietly so I didn’t wake my beautiful wife) and instantly grabbed my laptop…i looked to see if there was a post-game wrap-up and when I didn’t see one I quickly typed up something. It isn’t much, and after reading Jeem’s amazing post-game’s it is quite pedestrian, but I just couldn’t go to sleep without writing something!
Thank for those that pitched in to cover me while I was in limbo, 26.5 hour flights are no fun. I am so glad I recorded the games and had MLBtv to watch them because I would have been depressed had I not been able to witness the past two games myself. Todd is showing that he still has it in him and I am excited to see if the rest of the team can keep the bats awake!
Yo Boys and Girls our leader returns, sneaking this post-in before I could notice. Well, I won’t waste this last “substitute” summary:
ROX WALK OFF! Helton Blast Nets Win Over D’backs.
Defense Continues to Blunder on Rainy, Cool Night.
Todd Helton insisted he wasn’t having trouble seeing the ball. “I was just trying to get a grip on the bat at that point. It was raining pretty hard.” The veteran Rockies first-baseman lofted a 1-1 pitch high down the right field line, driving in second-baseman Mario Scutaro, who had walked to lead-off the bottom of the ninth, lifting Colorado to its 4th victory of 2012, evening the record and 4-4.
Jhoulys Chacin started Colorado’s fifth Coors Field contest of the season after a short 15 minute delay preparing the field after a pre-game shower, as soggy weather moved into the Denver area late Saturday afternoon. The right-hander’s 64 pitch outing was a considerable upgrade over his first on Monday, when he allowed four runs in four innings in the home-opening loss. Chacin opened throwing strikes, going 0-2 on both Ryan Roberts and Gerardo Parra. Roberts knicked a shallow pop between Scutaro and Rockies right-fielder Michael Cuddyer, and Parra followed with a line-single to left, a feat he would duplicate in his subsequent two at-bats. Chris Young plated Roberts with a two-out ground single to left.
The Rockies assumed control in the bottom of the second on back-to-back home runs by Ty Colvin, starting for an under-the-weather (figuratively) Carlos Gonzalez, and Ramon Hernandez, who hammered one into the Coors fountain area for the second night in a row. Chacin worked-through an Arizona second-third threat in the top of the third, and Colorado pushed the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the inning, with Cuddyer singling in Dexter Fowler, who had walked with one out and moved-up on a walk to Helton. With the steady rain that had been falling throughout intensifying, Colorado made it 5-1 in the fourth when Chacin drove in Jordan Pacheco, who had tripled to right-center, with a ground ball to Diamondbacks shortstop John McDonald.
Play was halted after the inning, the teams retreating to their clubhouses for a 69 minute delay. Josh Roenicke relieved Chacin when play resumed and promptly surrendered a 3-run bomb to Arizona catcher Miguel Montero, who has been going “all James Loney” on the Rockies for some time now. Rockies manager Jim Tracy raised some eyebrows with his ensuing deployment of his already taxed (it’s mid-April after all) bullpen, bringing on Matt Reynolds to get lead-off lefty Lyle Overbay, then going to right-hander Matt Belisle, who had logged two innings in Friday night’s 7-6 triumph. Belisle surrendered the tying run on a McDonald double to left, scoring D’backs second-baseman Aaron Hill, who had reached on the first of two Troy Tulowitzski throwing errors.
Arizona took the lead in the seventh on pinch-hitter Paul Goldsmith’s sacrifice, which drove-in Justin Upton after he and Diamondbacks’ center-fielder Chris Young had singles. The D’backs increased the margin to 7-5 in the eighth on a Parra sacrifice bunt that drove in McDonald, at third on reliever Wade Miley’s single after his second double of the night.
Miley had stifled Colorado in the fifth, sixth, and seventh, then gave way to David Hernandez in the bottom of the eight. The Rockies managed a run back against Hernandez on an Eric Young (on in left-field on a double-switch) double that scored Colvin, who had singled to center with one out.
After Tyler Chatwood disposed of Arizona in the top of the ninth, D’backs manager Kirk Gibson went to closer JJ Putz to subdue the Rockies in the inning’s bottom. Putz hit Marco Scutaro leading-off, then retired pinch hitter Jason Giambi and Tulowitzski, leaving Helton at the plate as the winning run with the game on the line. On a 1-1 count Putz delivered his third 90 mph four-seam fastball to the Rockies’ long-time all-star, leaving the left-hand batter to deposit it in the stands for Colorado’s second come-from-behind victory in a row, its fourth in four wins.
Dicey weather figures to continue for the series finale scheduled for 1:10 pm MDT at Coors. Colorado will be activating lefty Drew Pomeranz for the start, necessitating a Rockies’ roster move. Pomeranz, 2-1 lifetime in four major league starts will face Arizona’s Trevor Cahill, who is sporting a 1.50 ERA despite walking six in his first start Tuesday against San Diego. TV coverage will be provided by Root Sports with the radio broadcast as always on am 850 KOA.
Hi everyone!
Well, another comeback, this time a rough one because of the rain.
I managed to watch the game until the rain delay. Went out with some friends to dinner. When I arrived home looking if the game was still running, I caught it right in the top of the 9th.
I think I didn’t see the BAD part of the game, so I can’t talk about it properly. So, about the good stuff, I think the team spirit is growing, and this something that I saw in two precise actions:
- Dex heading home in the Cuddyer’s infield hit in the 3rd inning.
- Scutaro lifting up, shouting to the club and running to first base after getting HBP in the 9th inning.
GO ROCKIES!
Well said. The good parts of this game were really good, and the bad parts were really bad.
Cuddy’s hustle, Dex’s speed and slide, Scutaro’s attitude, Colvin and EY’s big hits, and the Toddfather – all good.
Bad pitching, poor bullpen management, poor D by Tulo and Scutaro, poor AB’s, and general listless attitude after the delay – all bad.
Too many highlights and lowlights to remember them all, but it doesn’t matter. One swing by Todd and all is forgiven.
I’m really digging Scutaro. Takes very professional AB’s. Sees lots of pitches. Taken out at second at least twice last night (I’ll confess that I didn’t make the whole game – so maybe more than twice), but just gets up and plays. I can appreciate that!
OK Tracy – don’t go all Sunday on us today. Granted, Cargo may still be out sick, and Helton probably should get a day, but play Scutaro.
I guess this is one Sunday where I would not blame Jim Tracy too much for playing some subs. But I sure hope we have a good infield to give Pomeranz as much support as possible. I’ll be doing my rain dance; a complete rain out would help the team.
This is why I love baseball!
2 great write ups Jaredean and Jeem!
I agree that the passion Scutaro showed was great! He did tough it out all game, but we need to see some of those hits start to fall, otherwise he’ll be this year’s Jose Lopez?!?
I was pretty impressed again that this team fought hard to win. Lets grow that confidence.
Still mad I missed the ending. I had to turn on Alanna this morning to see what I missed. I typically don’t leave games early but I really didn’t think that game was going to resume last night. arrrrgggggg.
Alanna didn’t cover all the bad Miketober mentions but something must have gone terribly wrong between when we left and when I turned on the tv and went into melt down mode.
I’m guessing Matt Reynolds gets sent down to make room for Pomeranz today. I know that would leave only Brothers and his last 2 outings have been shakey but that is my guess. I’m not sure they would want to give up a bat with Colvin or Pacheco. Maybe Herrera?
Mike, like other’s have said on the other thread, the Rockies played like it was a cold wet night and the ground and ball were wet and slippery and just did not execute. The DBacks played like it was a warm sunny day. Finally the Rockies woke up in the bottom of the 8th.
Breaking news- Giants closer Brian Wilson is headed for Tommy John surgery and out for the season-OUCH!!. I guess we won’t have to fear the beard for awhile!
Here’s your minor league for Sat.:
Col. Springs (W3-2)
Alex White- 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 Ks, 6 H (4.32 ERA)
Edgmer Escalona (W 2-0) 2 perfect innings, 2 Ks. Has yet to allow a run in 5 IP this year. He’s a pitcher we should see in the Majors soon to add some BP depth.
DJ Lemahieu- 3-4, RBI (.350 BA)
C. Blackmon- 1-4
Matt McBride- 1-4 (.342 BA)
News of Tim Wheeler isn’t great. He hurt his hamate bone in right hand and may be out 3-6 weeks.
Tulsa (W 10-3)
Parker Frazier- W 1-0 (professional debut in home town of Tulsa) 6 IP, 10 H, 2 ER, 2 Ks, 1 BB
Josh Rutledge- 1-4, double (.263 BA)
N. Arenado- 1-4, Double (.371 BA)
Modesto (L 4-2)
Cory Dickerson- 1-4, double (.444 BA)
Ashville (W 4-2)
Rosell Herrea- 1-4- 2 RBI (.286 BA)
One kid to keep an eye for the season is the Ashville first baseman, Harry Belafonte Riggins. No joke, that is really his name. His parents were obviously music fans of that era or are from Jamaica. He’s a big 22 year old kid drafted last year out of NC State. He’s 6′ 2″ and weighs 245 and has some pop in his bat. He’s currently batting .345. Could he be the next heir to Helton?
Picked up Santiago Casilla in my fantasy league last night. I’m such a vulture!
Appreciate the wrapup, Cisco – I’m not one to go digging for this stuff, but I’m interested.
It doesn’t get said all that much anymore because, well…..it goes without saying. But how incredible a ballplayer is #17? Everything he does. What a privilege we’ve had all these years.