Rockies 3, A's 1: Rockies Sweep A's, Win 20th out of 23

by Jeff Aberle on Jun 28, 2009 5:54 PM MDT in Game Wrap Comment 20 comments

Aaron Cook was dealing today as the Rockies swept the A's.

For the second time in as many days, the Rockies made it interesting in the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics--and for the third time in three games they pulled out a two-run victory.

This was the fifth sweep by the Rockies during their 20 out of 23 hot streak--with three of those coming on the road.

Aaron Cook (8-3, 3.77 ERA) went eight-plus innings, giving up only one run and striking out four and contributing .415 WPA to get the win--his fifth straight. Huston Street picked up the save (his 19th) for the third straight game against his former team.

Vin Mazzaro (2-3, 2.95) was confounded by the Rockies' patience at the plate all day, leaving after just 5 IP with 109 pitches, giving up three runs and taking the loss.

At the plate, it was a mixed bag for the Rockies. Colorado had two players earn the Golden Sombrero with four strikeout days--Brad Hawpe and Dexter Fowler--and ended up with 13 for the game. In all, the Rockies' top four hitters went 3-19 with 10 strikeouts.

However, the bottom half of the lineup picked up their teammates, with Troy Tulowitzki, Ian Stewart, Carlos Gonzalez, and Seth Smith having nice games offensively.

Box Score

With the win and losses by St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Los Angeles, the Rockies (40-35) climbed to a mere half game back in the wild card standings (behind the Giants) and 7.5 games back of the Dodgers as Colorado prepares for a three game set in Chavez Ravine starting tomorrow to close out what has been a remarkable month of June for the club (20-6 so far).

The LA series looms very large for the Rockies, who will try to make up some serious ground on the Dodgers as they try to continue their hot streak into the All-Star Break.

40 - 35

Games Back: 7.5

Streak: Won 3

Games Left: 87

As has been the case quite often during the streak, the Rockies had this game well in hand for most of the game, with only a ninth-inning hiccup causing Rockies fans concern.

via www.fangraphs.com

Rowbot Roll Call: Thanks to The Lodo Magic Man, Poseidon's Fist, WolfMarauder, pedalpusher, djmbluemoon, Charlie77, Rox Girl, Since1993, fantasyfencing, FooMan, NYCskibum, TuLoRocks2008 (most prolific), rockiesfan4ever, TulsaDriller, oo_nrb, wolf213, MohrPlease, RoxFan17, EricMedic, Maris6161, ch3cooh1, AtkinsandTulofan, Roxfan24, nodakroxfan, theshiva, fatheadX, DeepPurple, and SpringStein for joining me for this game thread.

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While i want to win the seriesfrom LA

One win gets us a winning road trip. There offense seems to be sputtering right now

by Roxfan24 on Jun 28, 2009 6:03 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

That's kind of what I'm thinking...

Of course I’d love for the Rockies to take 2 of 3 or even sweep the Dodgers, but even if we only get one, we still come back to Denver four games above .500 with a juicy 10-game homestand on the plate.

by DeepPurple on Jun 28, 2009 6:39 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Go team!

The Rockies need some oldschool purple/white striped high socks. The team’s problem is it’s lack of swagger. I feel strongly that these socks will provide the swagger necessary to tap the potential that are the Rockies.

by Resolution on Jun 28, 2009 6:09 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

joining me for this game thread

Joining who? You? Where were you?! ;-p

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 28, 2009 6:12 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I had two comments!

I swear, I was present…though a faulty internet connection led to a lack of much participation on my part.

Eschew Obfuscation!

by Jeff Aberle on Jun 28, 2009 6:36 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

We are enjoying winning so much, now we're just having fun and manipulating HOW we win

Three straight games won by 2. Eight of the last 14 have been by 2.

Way to win the close ones

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 28, 2009 6:14 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd like a few more blowouts added to that mix of wins.

Winning by two’s nice and everything, but there’s something to be said for putting a good 10-2 beatdown on another team. Three like this against the Dodgers would be especially good.

by Rox Girl on Jun 28, 2009 6:47 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

For many reasons

I’d like to see Street get some rest, and a CG by Uball and/or a blowout or two would be a nice way for him to get it.

Listen, this signature line is a big part of who I am.

by frightenedinmate#2 on Jun 28, 2009 7:12 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

OR........... and here's a crazy off the wall thought

Some of our other bull pen guys actually pitch some solid innings of relief themselves. You know….do their jobs.

At this pace Street will make like 100 appearances in the season. (ok, that’s an exaggeration, but not by much). And we talk about Torre blowing out a pen.

by Redhawk on Jun 28, 2009 7:28 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's on pace for 78

A solid half of the games. That’s just a linear projection from his usage thus far, which is skewed upwards by this ridiculous unnsustainable June but also skewed downward by his April, when he wasn’t exactly the closer.

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 28, 2009 9:45 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh I definitely would too

The line between 20-3 and 15-8 is finer than we’d think. I have no nails after the last two games.

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 28, 2009 9:47 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

it's not quite 20 out of 21 but it's close.

The three games series in LA is huge. I hate to look to far ahead but we can really be in a nice place with at least a series win over the Dodgers. Then we get to come home. We could be looking really good by the ASB.

"I've had pretty good success with Stan Musial by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine

by pedalpusher on Jun 28, 2009 6:17 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Exactly what I was thinking

The series in LA is, in my mind, the biggest of the season thus far. If we can win that one, and play as well at home as we did earlier this month, I’m thinkin’ we should be the leader in the WC race come the break. I realize that’s a lot to ask for, but I’m not sure it’s too big of a stretch given the way this team is playing right now.

Given the home-friendly schedule after June, and if DOD can scare up some bullpen help from somewhere, I’m really starting to like our chances this year. Never thought I’d be saying that back in May. Go Rox!

And how far back are we now?

by rockhead on Jun 28, 2009 7:09 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

BUT

this series isn’t a MUST win. Sure it’s hard to have a must win series in the first of July, but not too long ago, this road trip was looking like the season for the Rockies. Now, even if they just go 1-2 against the Dodgers the Rox would have gone 5-4 on this trip. And I’d have taken that before the week started.

A sweep would be magical though.

by Redhawk on Jun 28, 2009 7:29 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

This isn’t a MUST win series. You are spot on in that regard. I would just clarify that when I said “biggest of the season thus far”, I was thinking of how much good it would do this team mentally to win a series against the division leaders.

I should really start previewing my posts better.

And how far back are we now?

by rockhead on Jun 28, 2009 9:26 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not a MUST win, but it is a MUST NOT GET SWEPT

As far as the team’s NL West hopes go.

by Rox Girl on Jun 29, 2009 5:57 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also of note:

The teams combined to go 3-24 with RISP (Rockies 2-13)…that’s how you score 4 runs on 20 hits.

Eschew Obfuscation!

by Jeff Aberle on Jun 28, 2009 7:29 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

also another note in this series

Innings 1-6

Rockies 18 A’s 2

Innings 7-9

Rockies 0 A’s 10

stop it guys…lol

we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE

by TuLoRocks2008 on Jun 28, 2009 7:38 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

and oh yeahh sweet

most prolific! and i got into the thread 200 comments in.

we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE

by TuLoRocks2008 on Jun 28, 2009 7:45 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Funny how things have worked out lately.

A month ago we were screaming for Hurdle’s head. Now we’re talking wild card and being 7 1/2 behind the Dodgers and how we need bullpen arms to make a serious run.

Ain’t baseball great!!!!

"I've had pretty good success with Stan Musial by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine

by pedalpusher on Jun 28, 2009 8:26 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs