Rockies 9, Mariners 2; Hammel sharp as Rockies win

We're getting to the point of Spring where while everything's still meaningless (in Spring, we all become nihilists, or at least should if we wish to keep our sanity) having your starting pitchers throw strikes, and quality strikes at that, is a little more gratifying, having your starting pitchers not throw strikes a little more nerve-racking. Luckily today the Rockies were on the gratifying side of that ledger with Jason Hammel, while our opponents are probably wondering a little about Ryan Rowland-Smith.

Hammel lasted five innings, giving up just one run on four hits with zero walks and six strikeouts, utilizing a top grade curveball and his fastball to great effect. Hammel and Jorge De La Rosa are certainly two very bright spots for the Rockies this Spring, and thus far give every indication that 2010's rotation could be as good or better than 2009's. Matt Daley added a scoreless inning of relief, and likely AAA bound pitchers Esmil Rogers and Juan Rincon gave up a combined one run in the final three frames.

Meanwhile, Mariners starter Ryan Rowland-Smith didn't fare so well against a patient Rockies lineup. The Rockies collected just one walk of Rowland-Smith to go along with five hits and three runs, but ran up his pitch count fast and chased him with two outs in the top of the third. Eric Young Jr, Ryan Spilborghs, Jonathan Herrera, Mike Paulk and Carlos Gonzalez each had two hits for the Rockies. Cole Garner added a two run triple in the ninth to cap the scoring. Seth Smith had a rough day at the plate (0 for 4, maybe Rowland-Smith remembered last year's final ST game) and in the outfield (along with Spilly, a triple to Mike Sweeney? Really?) but that might be because SDCat and I don't believe in unicorns and our lack of faith disturbed his awesomeness.

Rowbot Roll Call: controlled_slide, Rox Girl, WolfMarauder, phishbate, jrockies, BringItHome, Maris6161, Charlie77, ShadowPenguin, RoxnSox09, Andrew Martin, frightenedinmate#2, SDcat09, Shoemaker, WalkInRight, OutHereInPA, avsfan4ever33, moomacher, Andrew T. Fisher, FairOrFowler24, MikeMez, jcn7vc, arpagamos, The Lodo Magic Man, Hollidayrain, prettyinpurple, RhodeIslandRoxfan, Kittiesroxursox, biondino, Maria M (and of course, chinzhin, who unfortunately got banned for giving an improper address to the Purple Row Cares shop). 
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