It took Drew Pomeranz seven pitches to get Adam Eaton to ground out to short. It took him seven to get Aaron Hill to fly out to center. With 2-out, Pomeranz thought to himself, “what a great time to walk somebody!” Justin Upton reached on five pitches, then Paul Goldschmidt doubled him home to score the 1st of 15 Arizona Diamondback runs as they drubbed the Colorado Rockies 15-5 Friday night at Coors Field. Pomeranz used 26 pitches in the 1st.
The Rockies came back with 2 in the bottom to take the lead. Dexter Fowler singled leading-off. Josh Rutledge doubled him-in and moved to 3rd on a ground-out by Jordan Pacheco. Wilin Rosario, who threw two pick-off attempts into the outfield and allowed two pitches through to the screen, lined a single to left to score Rutledge.
Pomeranz threw 30 pitches in the 2nd, but escaped unscathed with the lead. Not so much in the 3rd. He threw 29. He walked Upton again, leading-off, using 6. Then he walked Goldschmidt. That took 8. Miguel Montero doubled the runners in and advanced to 3rd on a Chris Johnson fly ball. Gerardo Parra consumed 5 pitches on his way to a sacrifice fly, plating Montero. Arizona led 4-2. Pomeranz was done: 3 innings, 85 pitches (50 strikes), 4 hits, 5 walks.
Colorado, still conscious, tied it in the bottom. Pacheco singled and Rosario doubled. A Chris Nelson grounder scored Pacheco, Rosario, who was 3 for 5, to 3rd. Andrew Brown lifted a sacrifice fly to left, Rosario making it 4-4 on a poor throw from Parra.
Alex White came on for the Rockies and had two outs after only 4 pitches before Upton singled to left, then stole 2nd-base. White walked Goldschmidt, then surrendered a single to Montero that scored Upton, and a double to Johnson that scored Goldschmidt. After Parra was walked (intentionally) John McDonald got his ups against White, grounding a single to left that brought Montero and Johnson around. 8-4 Arizona. 22 pitches. Colorado was comfortably numb.
15 pitches and another run into the 5th and White was finished. 1 1/3, 5 runs, 5 hits, 3 walks. On came Josh Outman and 11 tosses later the Rockies were at bat, but not for long, retired 1-2-3. Back for more, Outman gave-up singles to Parra and McDonald. Parra, who had stolen 2nd, was nailed at the plate attempting to score on McDonald’s single by a fine throw from Brown in left-field. Outman got winning pitcher Wade Miley (16-10) to ground-out, but Eaton hammered an 82 mph slider into the right-field seats to make it 11-4. Outman went 1 2/3, 23 pitches, 2 runs, 4 hits.
Josh Roenicke was next. Montero singled with one out and Johnson drove him home with a homer to left. 18 pitches, 2 runs, 2 hits. 13-5. On to Matt Belisle, and a single by Eaton and double from Hill made it 14-5. Fearless Will Harris came on for the 9th and former Rockie Wil Nieves greeted him with a ground single through shortstop. Johnson, 3 for 6 with 3 RBI, singled him to 2nd and Nieves came around on ground-outs by Parra and pinch-hitter Jack Elmore. 15-5.
Miley went 6-full and allowed all 5 Colorado runs on 10 hits with 4 strike-outs. Mean-spirited, he walked none. The Diamondbacks evened their record at 75-75 for 2012 with 12 to go. They have a remote outside chance at a wild-card berth. The Rockies meanwhile are 8 losses from 100, also with 12 remaining.
Another energetic tussle is expected between the rivals tomorrow. Right-hander Jhoulys Chacin will try to halt Colorado’s 7-game losing streak against Arizona’s Patrick Corbin. Game time is once again 6:10 at Coors Field.
Can anyone verify if this note has been passed around the Rockies’ locker room? I’m thinking Pomerantz and White are taking it to heart.
“Looking how to escape the zoo run by the BIB GM DOD and the MFL JT? Easy, you quit. Not completely, just enough so that another team will take a chance on you. You get your Get Out of Jail Free card, the other team gets a nice upgrade, and the Rox get a bag of balls.
Cheers, M. Scuatro.
The game last night epitomized for me the difference between Rockies fans and most fans east of the Mississippi. A fact I will just have to accept. A fact that some on here will have to accept. There is NO REASON for the Monfort’s to do anything drastic. Nothing.
It is beyond clear that Rockies fans are a more relaxed easy going group. They are there for the fun. For the ambiance of Coors (which I believe might be the best in baseball). Do they want the Rockies to win? I’m sure they do but, strictly my opinion, they seem to have an “oh well, it’s only a game” attitude. They seemingly are ready to accept the “there is always next year” by the time June rolls around.
Much like Dodger fans, the main group rolled in last night around the 2nd inning. Ok, no big deal. It’s their money. What pushed me over the top was the 8th inning. It was deafening. I had a deja vu moment back to my college days. The wave was in full motion. I’m sure the crowd could be heard on the 16th st. mall. I was bewildered. Did anyone notice the scoreboard or was this a prelude to the fireworks?
The game was sad. The season has been sad. In spite of this, the majority of Rockies fans seem to enjoy the Rockies regardless.
For us on this site and those on a few other sites, we are a minority. Period.
I’ve always believed my attitude to be old school high school and college days that never go away. Alas, maybe my attitude is more east coast than I want to admit.
Really strong post, Mike. Sums-up the reality of the circumstances exactly. There’s nothing to be gained by anguishing over a social reality that, for good reasons, is not going to change. Going to a ball game, win or lose, for 90, maybe 95 percent of Rockies’ fans is a good time, regardless.
The fact is most people are NOT baseball fans. They would NEVER watch a game at home on TV: it’s “bor-ing.” It lacks the “action” and violence that energizes the masses. It’s a complex, exquisite game that requires patience, knowledge, and understanding to appreciate. Not qualities common in the populace of 2012.
But going to a game at Coors Field is simply a pleasant, entertaining experience. The baseball is secondary to the venue and atmosphere. It’s expensive, strip-club prices without the tipping, but apparently a large number of Americans are doing well enough that dropping $3-4-500 to take the fam out to a game is no worry.
I was thinking about this when the Rockies were in Atlanta and only 10-12,000 people were showing up to Turner Field. I was like “what is the problem?” But it occurred to me: air conditioning! It’s unpleasant to be outside in late August in Georgia. Not that they have all this other enthralling stuff to do, they just don’t want to be out in the heat and humidity. On top of that, Turner Field doesn’t have a partner like LoDo to enhance the experience. In Denver, however, it may be a 105 scorcher at 1:30 pm, but then the clouds roll in, and by nightfall it’s down to tolerable heat in dry air. Let’s head down to LoDo for a ball game and some fun.
I won’t comment on the Monforts’ commitment to winning, but the upside of having a robust if casual fan-base is they’re certainly financially capable of competing. Hampton/Neagle knocked them hard in the head and it took 10 years to recover but there’s no reason today to be timid. Time to take some risks and contend.
I used to laugh at how sad it was that the Padres could be 10 games up at the end of season for the division and their stadium was only a quarter full. I would hate to be a Padres fan or Rays fan or Marlins fan and look around when we’re leading the division or even in the playoffs and see a ton of empty seats. That’s ridiculous. Then again, seeing Coors packed when we are very last with no hope halfway through the season and knowing that that money is going towards a team that is mediocre, is possibly worse.
Can’t believe I’m going tonite. I hate myself for it, but the purple Kool Aid made me do it. I wish someone would organize a symbolic protest of some sort. Like everyone leaving top of the 9th, or wearing black on purple Mondays.
Pomeranz and White stink.
Go and enjoy yourself. I truely believe in my heart that Pomeranz and White do not stink. Do I think Pomeranz will win a game in Coors this season. Nope.
I have no clue what the answer is.
Thanks Mike. I’ll get there early and spend an hour or so on the roof at The Sports Column. But, it’s very hard for me to enjoy a game at Coors when the Rockies lose. They are 1 and 8 this year in games I have attended. The lone win was against Houston(that doesn’t count). I just wish JT and DOD would leave town and never return. And while I’m dreaming, maybe Dick and Chuck sell the team to someone who cares.
Year of the Fan my ass.
Let’s take up a collection and all of us buy the team. We make EdTheUmp manager and the rest of us pitching coaches.
1 and 9, I’m done.
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