Where to begin?
On a night that included more than one “wow” moment, it is difficult to really capture what a wild ride Friday at Coors turned out to be.
It started out like a normal game, nothing special. Pomeranz took the mound at 6:40 and started his night against the New York Mets. What wasn’t know at the beginning was that he already felt the tightness that would pull him from the game after the fourth inning.
It was a little tightness. Not serious pain. It was something I felt I should be honest and tell them about it. I felt it in warmups…I will see how it feels tomorrow.
Pomeranz on the mound - Photo by Rox Addict
Why a pitcher feels it is more important to “work through” pain, rather than play it safe and tell the coaches right away, is baffling. It isn’t knowing if this will push his next start back or not, but it did cut his evening short, making room for Esmil Rogers.
Rogers came into the game in the fifth. Ah, the fifth inning. THE inning that will be remembered for quite a while. Esmil was just coming off a strong inning of relief against the Pirates, where he struck out the side, and he seemed like he would be effective after the first batter knocked a single to left. He struck out the next two batters and had Scott Hairston quickly on a 0-2 count. With one swing the game changed from routine to insane and this was the turning point of everything that would follow. Hairston hit a deep shot to center, just over Dexter Fowler’s head, causing Fowler to crash awkwardly into the wall.
Ah Fowler, you had to feel sorry for the guy that on the night he was being honored with his own t-shirt give-a-way, he was dropped to 8th in the lineup, has an error on the very first play of the game, lines out in his first at bat and he just missed catching a ball that would have kept the game tied at 2-2. He would eventually make up for it all, but more on that later.
So, the ball goes off the wall and Scott Hairston heads to third with the most difficult piece of the cycle tucked nicely in his back pocket. He would get the final piece, the double, in his next at bat.
By the time the top of the fifth was over Rogers had given up four runs on six hits. The score at that point was 6-2, and it seemed like it would be a long, frustrating game, if the past was any indication. In times like these the team would usually go cold, letting the beating of an inning coax the white flag of lost cause at the plate.
But, not tonight.
It all began with Eric Young Jr. That magical fifth inning. EYj came up in the fifth and hit a soft comeback to Schwinden on the mound. A routine play hasn’t been introduced to EYj’s speed. Schwinden had all the time in the world to throw to first, that is if anyone other than the fastest man on the planet weren’t blazing his way to the bag. The throw was high, Lutz had to jump, and by the time he came down to tag EYj, EYj wasn’t to be had. The slide under the glove was close, close enough to bring Mets Manager Terry Collins out of the dugout to argue, for his first time of the night, but the safe call held.
So what happens when Eric Young Jr. gets on first? All together now: “he steals second”. And that is just what he tried to do, but the Mets weren’t satisfied in just giving him second as they committed the first of four errors in the inning. EYj advanced to third on the errant throw (see image above) and electricity was in the air.
Scutaro, who seemed to have already used up his hits for the night after getting his triple in the bottom of the first, was content with a walk.
Johnny Sparkplug then came up and laced a single to right, bringing home EYj and sending Scutaro to 2nd.
CarGo HR - Photo by Rox Addict
And then it was CarGo time.
On a 3-2 pitch CarGo took a 85 mph cutter to deep center and brought everyone to their feet. The three run shot was the fourth run of the fifth so far, and almost 1/2 of his RBI total for the inning when all was said and done.
After CarGo’s home run, and a pitching change, Tulo singled, Helton singled, Cuddyer walked and Ramon Hernandez brought Tulo home on a force out at third. This was only the first out of the inning and already five had crossed home plate.
With Cuddy on second, and Hernandez on first, Dex stepped up to the plate. Dex imitated CarGo like attitude, crushing a slider to right and then flipping his bat, before rounding the bases. His frustrations of the day, and possibly the whole season so far, erased as he was greeted at home.
Then, the man who started it all, EYj came up for his second at bat. He worked a walk to take first. Scutaro came up and singled to center. Herrera was hit by a pitch and Terry Collins came out for the second time in the inning to argue the call.
After Collins returned to the dugout empty handed, it was, once again, CarGo time. With the bases juiced CarGo laced the first pitch he saw to right field, bringing everyone home with nothing but a single. He reached second on a throwing error.
The inning came to an end with Tulo flying out and Helton grounding out and once the dust settled the fifth inning highlights were staggering:
- CarGo set a franchise record with 5 RBI’s
- 11 runs scored (2nd most runs every in franchise history)
- 2 three-run home runs
- Scutaro, Herrera and EYj all scored twice
- The Mets committed four errors, tying their franchise record for most errors in a single inning (they had six errors total for the night)
You’d think that was enough excitement for one game, and that a 13-6 lead was safe, but then Josh Roenicke came into the game and proceeded to give back three in 2/3′s of an inning. Now the Mets were just a grand slam away from tying it up.
Speaking of grand slams…
The seventh inning saw the Rockies really stick the dagger in as Scutaro singled, Herrera reached on an interference call, Helton singled to bring home Scutaro and Cuddyer walked to load the bases. With the ducks on the pond Ramon Hernandez picked the perfect time to hit his fourth home run of the year, a grand slam shot over the right field scoreboard, and just like that the Rockies have 19. 19 runs from 19 hits.
Wow…
Other Notes:
- Scott Hairston hitting for the cycle wasn’t the only rare situation he was involved in. During the second inning he was hit by a batted-ball while running to second. He was called out for interference on the play, ending the inning.
- Jonathan Herrera was involved in several odd situations, including making it home from first on a bases loaded single which included a throwing error, getting hit in the leg on a disputed bunt and, strangest of all, swinging at a pitch-out and being awarded first on a catcher’s interference call as he hit Thole’s glove.
- Tulo hit a home run in the first, his third.
- Scutaro had four hits and extended his hitting streak to six games, which happens to be the longest of any Rockie this season.
- Guthrie injured his shoulder in a bicycle accident, prompting the team to put him on the DL. Moscoso will take his place in the starting rotation.
I’d like to thank Rox Addict for the images used above in this article. I found him through Marc Stout and he has been very cool about allowing me to use shots of games he is at. I know you will agree – his timing on these pictures is amazing! You should really check out his site for more incredible shots and write-ups from games and give him props. It is always great to meet other Rockies fans.
Don’t know if you can tell, but I really enjoyed the game tonight. I spend a chunk of time typing up the post-game, reliving it through prose. Don’t get too spoiled. I really only go all “Steven King” in word count on special occasions and tonight certainly fit that bill.
I’d also like to thank again (incase you didn’t read all of the way through to the bottom) Rox Addict for his amazing pictures. Go to his blog (link above) and check out his stuff…he is excellent at capturing just the right moment in time during the games.
Really good write-up Jared.
This makes me want to go watch Sports Center. What do they do with a game like this? Normally they bury the Rockies, but against a NY team? They will probably show the cycle and forget to mention the 11 run inning.
I was wondering how many times in MLB history that a player has hit for the cycle in a loss. Does anyone know?
Don’t know the answer but I saw it happen here in 1996, when John Mabry of the Cardinals did it…and in perfect order, too: single, double, triple, homer. But Rockies won, 9-8, with John Vander Wal hitting a walkoff, 3-run pinch homer off Dennis Eckersley. Needless to say, that was quite a game.
On a more sour note, Guthrie has been placed on the 15 day DL after a bicycle accident. This is really weird because just the other day I told my wife he’d probably get hurt riding his bike everywhere. I hate when my feelings are right.
Jaredean, I imagine Pomeranz thought he could work out the tightness thing, but it only got worse as the game went on. Plus I’m sure he was aware of what we were seeing — fastball velocity in his last inning was only 86-87. That’s what worries me, plus his little dugout pre-exist chat with Moyer, who just came off Tommy John surgery …
I understand working through tightness, that isn’t the issue. What really gets me angry is that he felt it during warm-ups AND DIDN’T TELL KEITH DUGGER!
Don’t you think maybe the guy on the staff being paid to tell you if it is ok to pitch or not should make the decision if it is ok to pitch or not???
I thought he meant he felt it in warmups during the 4th inning not during pregame warm ups. dunno
Yeah, not sure which it was. When they came out of break it seemed like Rogers was just warming up.
Anyone at the game That can confirm? Did Pomeranz come in and throw a few in the top of the fifth and then leave?
Hi everyone!!!
First, let me tell you. I love how you write this postgames articles. Especially this one!!!
I couldn’t watch last night’s game. Went to dinner with some friends, but, Oh boy!, I was aware of every action of the game through Twitter. And my friends (they are not so much into baseball) told me to chill out as I was very excited about the Homeruns, the comeback, everything…
When i got home, Sportscenter (LatinAmerica) was making recap of MLB games. And although Rockies won, and all the rare plays that happened during the game, they only mentioned Hairston cycle… At the end they, “Oh, but the Rockies won”, they didn’t care for Hernandez Grand Slam, or Rockies scoring 11 runs in a single inning, or Cargo’s 5 RBI in the same inning.
Well, anyway, sorry about the last paragraph, I’m very happy for last night’s win…
GO ROCKIES!!!
Cesar, read my post above. That is so typical for SC.
I saw the US version of SC this morning, and they actually had full coverage of the game, although I expected exactly as you described. Of course after that they went on and on and on about the NFL draft.
Oh boy. Moscoso has been a tire fire in the minors! The rocks better score 18! How about that eyj! He is playing well right now
To me, one of the best surprises last night: Scutaro’s bat. He sure did find his stroke! Let’s just hope he doesn’t lose it!
That game proves the saying, “success breeds success”. I’ve always believed that hitting was contagious and last night was the perfect example. Unfortunately, tonight’s game, if it follows history, will be filled with nothing but strikeouts, pop-up’s and grounders.
Great game, but just awful news on the starting pitching front. I saw that Tyler Chatwood was taken out of the Sky Sox game last night after just 4 innings, so I assume that was precautionary and that he’d take Pomeranz’s spot if necessary. I’m not sure that Moscoso is the next guy on the depth chart performance wise so far, but it may be that when he last pitched matches up with when Guthrie last pitched.
Can anyone explain what was with that run the Mets plated in the first inning?
Pomeranz had the runner on 1B picked off, but the Rockies seemed content to let the runner on 3B score while they completed the rundown and got the sure out. Why not throw home when the runner broke from 3B?
I saw in on TV at a restaurant with the sound off so I missed any explanation for the weird play.
I was cooking on my grill at the time of the botched play in the first inning. I can see the TV from the grill through the window but couldn’t hear it. And I never really got an explanation. But to me it looked like the runner at 3rd (I think the kid from Denver Christian) just surprised Tulo (or was that Scutoro).
I heard the Pomeranz interview and I’m pretty sure that he said he was warming up for the 4th inning, not for the game. He thought he might have hurt it (and I’m not even sure he used the word hurt) when he was hitting. I know we as fans think that as soon as he feels (or any player especially a pitcher) a twinge they should talk to a trainer. I’m 67 and I might not remember everything I did in my early 20′s (thank goodness!) but when I was that age I felt invincible and I figured I could get through what ever it was. And most of the time it probably works. Except that’s the most valuable arm in the system. And he pitched well. A tainted run in the first and a bad pitch to a guy having a career night. And he made some of the Mets look really bad on strike outs.
Of course I got to admit I’ve never heard of half of their team and when they made those 4 errors in the 5th, they looked like the 62 Mets! Casey Stengel was turning over in his grave.
Bill…As a fellow oldtimer, I actually went to several Mets games in 1962. And I had the same feeling last night as you—that this game was very similar to what the ’62 team did on a somewhat regular basis.
On the first-inning play, however, I think it was Helton who made the wrong throw.
Appeared to me that he’s the one who should have thrown home. Fotunately, though, that play was just a footnote on a wild night.
Alex. You might be right. As I said I was only half watching it and maybe by the time Tulo got the ball the runner was already too far down the road.
I was a Yankee fan (now my 2nd favorite team) so I went to Yankee Stadium much more often than Shea. Although now that I think of it, didn’t they play in the Polo Grounds for a year or two? Never was a Shea fan and what I remember about the Polo Grounds was that it was ready to be torn down well before they actually tore it down.