Given the comparative ease of scoring at altitude, I would guess that a team playing half of its games at Coors Field would have more rallies from behind than teams that play elsewhere. I would also guess that the pitching for said team would give up more rallies from behind than teams that play elsewhere. So far in 2012, the latter point is true, the Rockies when entering an inning with a lead, have given up 23 rallies to opponents allowing them to tie or go ahead, the most in the division. Unfortunately, the first point has not proven the case, despite the team having a decent offense this season, the Rockies have only 14 game tying or pull ahead rallies, which puts them in the middle of the NL West pack for right now.
I bring this up because today's 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers was a pretty potent reminder of a Rockies team that just seems to miss getting the important hit when it's needed. This game always seemed just out of reach, but perhaps it didn't have to be. The Dodgers are actually the worst team in the division when it comes to playing from behind, partly because it happens so rarely this season, but they really are also pretty bad at catching up, with just 10 rallies all season, their 2-14 record in games they trail entering the sixth inning is easily the worst among NL playoff contenders right now. For tomorrow's game and the rest of the season getting an early lead on this team should be seen as a priority for the Rockies.
That early lead didn't come this afternoon thanks to a rough start by Juan Nicasio, which was made rougher when the right hander strained his left knee and was pulled from the game in the second inning. Nicasio allowed three runs on four hits and a walk in his short time. It was enough for the Dodgers as the anemic Rockies offense managed just six hits against Los Angeles pitching all afternoon. DJ LeMahieu had the most hits for Colorado with two, Wilin Rosario and Michael Cuddyer had the two run producing hits with one apiece.
The Rockies five game winning streak was snapped, the team will try to start a new streak in tomorrow's rubber match. No word yet on whether Nicasio will miss his next start, but with an already depleted rotation that's seen another setback with Jorge De La Rosa's recovery, there aren't a lot of alternatives available right now.