Kevin Kouzmanoff had three hits, drove in two runs, scored twice, and came up with a sparkling play in the field late to help the Rockies to a six to three victory over the Giants on Wednesday afternoon. Drew Pomeranz pitched five and two thirds innings, starting well, but getting into some trouble and allowing three runs in the sixth inning, and six hits overall. Pomeranz picked up the win, with a quarted of Rockies relievers closing out the game, including Rafael Betancourt finishing the 2011 season with his eighth save.

Eric Young, Dexter Fowler, Jordan Pacheco and Thomas Field all had two hit games for the Rockies, while Mark Ellis and Seth Smith each had a hit and a walk, leaving Ty Wigginton as the only Rockies starting position player to get on safely just once, with a hit by pitch and a zero for three afternoon.

The month of September became a bit of an extended version of next year's Spring Training, and the final game was no exception. The Rockies continue to make evaluations on players that could potentially serve parts for the 2012 team, with utility candidates Pacheco and Field playing the two most premium defensive positions, catcher and shortstop, while Ellis and Kouzmanoff continued to show how their defensive prowess could be valuable starting assets.

With Florida's loss and the Rockies win, Colorado moves ahead of the Marlins for a 2012 draft pick, with the Pirates (72-89) and A's (73-88) both within a half game of the Rockies pending the outcomes of their season finales tonight. 

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Alex White was making his final impression on Rockies fans in 2011, and it went a lot like his previous six shaky starts.  

In most of the battles within the game, White came up on the losing end.  In the battle to find home plate, he lost, walking two and throwing two wild pitches.  One walk, two wild pitches and a sac fly led to a run in the first.  In the battle to prevent home runs, he lost, serving up a two run shot to Brandon Belt.  In the battle to win the game, he lost, earning an L for the fourth time this season.  In the battle to find first base defensively, he lost, allowing Carlos Beltran to reach base on a single that should have been an out.  He even lost the ball on a 3-1 putout for an error.

Perhaps the most important thing White lost tonight though was his Rookie of the Year Award eligibility in 2012.  He needed 2.2 IP to reach the threshold.  White recorded four outs too many before leaving after four innings.  While White hasn't pitched like a ROY candidate, his lingering injury and youth is masking his talent.  Between the decision to bypass his eligibility and retain their full coaching staff for 2012, the Rockies are clearly stating today they will not pander to PR.

Esmil Rogers gave up an inside-the-park home run to Conor Gillaspie, his first home run.  That kind of night.  That kind of season.

The offense was MIA again for Colorado.  Kevin Kouzmanoff doubled to lead off the second, followed by a Jordan Pacheco single.  No runs scored, and the following three hitters struck out.  That was it for the offense, other than a Mark Ellis ninth inning single.

Colorado must score 12 runs tomorrow to avoid their lowest scoring team in franchise history.

The loss guarantees the Rockies their worst W/L record since 2005.  Their final chance to avoid 90 losses comes in the season's final game tomorrow.  If they fail, the 2011 squad will tie the 1999 team for the fourth worst season in franchise history, trailing only 1993, 2005 and 2004.  And now for a sentence I have never spoken or written before in my life:

The baseball season will finally, mercifully end in 24 hours and we will be in the sweet offseason with no baseball.

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Behind seven shutout innings from Ryan Vogelsong, the Giants beat the Rockies for the eighth time in the last nine games between the two NL West adversaries.

Vogelsong, who allowed just four hits and didn't walk anyone while racking up four strikeouts, contributed on offense as well as he scored on a two-run triple off the bat of the mighty Mike Fontenot. It was the only run-scoring hit against Chacin, as he went seven innings as well, but allowed eight hits and a walk along with the two runs. He struck out three.

The Rockies picked up a run against Sergio Romo in the eighth when Wilin Rosario, who led off the inning with a line single to left, scored on a base hit by Mark Ellis. That cut the lead to 2-1. With a chance to give his club the lead, Dexter Fowler struck out to end the inning. The Giants tacked on a run in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly, and kept the Rockies off the board in the ninth.

This game, while not the most Rockies-Giants game of 2011, was still pretty Rockies-Giants. In seven games at AT&T Park in 2011, the Rockies have scored a grand total of ten runs. That is one of the most 2011 stats of the season. That, and the one where, in bases-loaded situations, Ty Wigginton has produced more outs than plate appearances (not sure if that's made up or not, but I'm banking on no so h/t to everever).

The Rox need a win tomorrow or Wednesday to avoid their first 90-loss season since 2005, and only the fifth in franchise history.

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The squad from Colorado dominated the squad from Texas on both sides of the ball, with Colorado's defense only allowing a late field goal by Texas and their offense showing its versatility, scoring with long bombs and by pounding the ground...okay, so the Rockies outscored the Broncos by 5 today, and they did it in spectacular fashion.

I would go so far as to say that today's game is about as far away from tanking for a better draft position as you can get. Colorado pounded out a team record with 25 hits, only 6 of which went for extra bases. Kevin Kouzmanoff led the charge on that front, smacking two two-run homers in back-to-back innings to make a rout a laugher. Chris Iannetta hit a three-run bomb, while starting pitcher Kevin Millwood also went yard on a two-run shot, his 2nd of the season.

Millwood was also pretty darn good on the mound, as he went 7 innings and allowed only 1 unearned run on 3 hits, striking out 6 to get the win (4-3). I would say that Millwood's strong cameo for Colorado this year should at the least get him strong consideration for the rotation next year if he does remain with the Rockies organization.

But enough about pitching, let's talk more about offense. Both Iannetta (2-5) and Kouzmanoff (3-6) drove in 5 on the game, while Ty Wigginton (4-6) was a HR short of the cycle. That's not even mentioning the first 3 RBIs of Tommy Field's MLB career, as the SS went 4-5. Oh, and rookie Jordan Pacheco also had four hits, while both Seth Smith and Mark Ellis got 3 apiece. I'm sure you get the picture -- there were a lot of hits for Colorado today.

Every Rockie who came to the plate with the exception of mop-up reliever Greg Reynolds got a hit, which forced Houston's pitchers to throw 207 pitches in a 9 inning game. The Rockies scored in every inning but the first and last, as they unleashed the frustrations of a terrible 2011 on the hapless Astros.

While coming in I was hoping for a Rockies loss, it was great to see a powerful display of offense by Colorado.

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Jason Hammel pitched very well in his last start of 2011, and the Rockies offense finally overcame the Astros after 13 innings, and after losing their last nine games, in a 4-2 win on Saturday night. Hammel gave up three hits and a walk in seven innings pitched, striking out three. He allowed two runs, one in each of the first two innings, but otherwise held the Astros at bay. The Rockies bullpen added to that performance, and in all Rockies pitchers shut out Houston for eleven innings after Brett Wallace hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second. 

The Rockies scored two runs in the fourth when Jordan Pacheco doubled home Mark Ellis and Chris Nelson, and then scored two more in the thirteenth as a bases loaded Nelson walk scored Thomas Field, and a Wilin Rosario sacrifice fly scored Eric Young Jr. None of the six players that scored or drove in a run for the Rockies tonight were with the team at the beginning of the 2011 season, and all six are at least somewhat questionable as to whether they will return for the beginning of the 2012 season. 

While the Rockies seven relievers used after Hammel allowed a few baserunners (four walks and three hits in six innings pitched,) they locked down when it came to allowing runs, holding the Astros scoreless until the offense could rally in the thirteenth.  Matt Reynolds pitched the twelfth inning to pick up the win, and Rafael Betancourt closed the victory out with two strikeouts and a pop-out to center in the thirteenth for his seventh save of the season. The Rockies will try to salvage a split of the four game series by beating Houston in the final game tomorrow.

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Allow me to quote the game thread tonight:

This is going to be an exciting game for one reason and one reason alone: Drew Pomeranz is pitching. Pomeranz has been one of the only bright spots of this abysmal September race to the bottom. One of the few signs of hope. One of the youngest, scaredest looking pitchfaces around.

THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO ENJOY ABOUT THE 2011 SEASON. EVERY GAME BRINGS A NEW LAYER OF MISERY

THE 2011 SEASON DESIRES NOTHING BUT TO TORMENT THE DEVOTED AND LOYAL, TO DRIVE THE GOOD AMONG US AWAY FROM OUR ROCKIES FANDOM

EARLY LEADS MEAN NOTHING TO THIS SEASON

EVERY SHRED OF GOODNESS WILL BE CONSUMED

THE SEASON HAS TAKEN EVERYTHING FROM US, AND NOW IT HAS TURNED TO OUR YOUNG

WE MUST SACRIFICE TO THE VOLCANO TO APPEASE THE SEASON

HAVE MERCY, VOLCANO

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Two pitchers entered MLB rookies, only one left. Astros starter Henry Sosa was pulled after recording one out in the seventh inning, leaving him with exactly 50 innings pitched. On the other hand, despite controlling the long ball, Alex White, struggled yet again, leaving after pitching four and two thirds and allowing five earned runs.

Why does any of this really matter? I'll leave that to you.

The Rockies took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Troy Tulowitzki scored on a Kevin Kouzmanoff groundout after current Purple Row punching bag Ty Wigginton struck out. The Astros would tie the game in the bottom of the inning when former Purple Row punching bag Clint Barmes doubled in Brian Bogusevic. The alternating pattern continued with Eric Young Jr. scoring on a wild pitch from Sosa, but the Astros would break it open in the bottom of the third.

After allowing Sosa's first career hit, a double that saw the pitcher miss first base on the way, White hit Jose Altuve and J.D. Martinez back to back, loading the bases for Carlos Lee. Lee doubled and cleared the bases. Though he would retire the next five hitters, including striking out the side in the fourth inning, White would again find himself in trouble in the fifth. He allowed two singles to begin the inning, with a wild pitch advancing the two runners to second and third. Lee hit a sacrifice fly to add another run to Houston's lead, and White's day was done. J.C. Romero entered the game and struck out Bogusevic to end the inning.

After Kouzmanoff hit his first home run in a Rockies uniform and allowing a double to Wilin Rosario, Sosa was replaced by Chris Johnson. The Rockies threatened, but Rosario was thrown at at home and Tulowitzki was unable to hit in a run. Houston threatened to increase their lead further in the seventh off of Josh Roenicke, who loaded the bases, capped off with an intentional walk to Lee so Matt Reynolds could face Bogusevic. Houston countered with Matt Downs, and Reynolds allowed the second bases clearing double of the game to increase Houston's lead to five and nail the Rockies into their coffin.

The Rockies weren't done. Just as everyone turned off the game to watch Netflix movies, Astros reliever Fernando Rodriguez walked Seth Smith. Kouzmanoff singled, and both would be brought around on Rosario's third MLB home run. Dexter Fowler almost tied the game with a long fly ball to right that was just a couple yards short of being a 2 run home run, caught by right fielder J. B. Shuck.

The game that would just never end continued with Jim Miller walking two Astros and allowing a single to load the bases in the bottom of the eighth. One run would score on a Jordan Schafer sacrifice fly, but despite an error from Fowler that allowed the runners to advance, that would be the extent of the damage.

Houston closer and Colorado native Mark Melancon easily set down the Rockies in the 9th. Way to look bad against the team that just clinched the worst 2011 record, Rockies.

If you feel like submitting yourself to more 2011 pain, tune in tomorrow at 6:00 Mountain to see Drew Pomeranz take on Brett Myers.

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It all moved kind of fast. 5 innings, 78 pitches, and it was over. No fanfare, no ovation, nothing. One minute he was there, the next, a lefty was throwing.

Aaron Cook was confusing, to say the least, in what might likely be his final appearance in a Colorado Rockies uniform. His first inning looked like more of what we've seen from Cook this season than any other. The Padres batted around in the 1st on 4 hits, 2 walks, and 2 sacrifice flies. The inning ended with pitcher Anthony Bass striking out swinging.

After that, Cook turned on the angry. 

The next 4 innings, Cook struck out 7 batters, walked none, and allowed only 2 more hits. He looked to be making up for time lost, what with the strikeouts and all.

Then he was pulled.

I'm absolutely baffled as to WHY Tracy decided to pull Cook when he did. He was replaced after 78 pitches in between innings for lefty Matt Reynolds. Cook threw 8 pitches in the 5th, getting 2 groundouts and a swinging strikeout of Chase Headley. He looked to be poised to finish the 6th, maybe even run through the 7th; it would've been a fine way to make up for that nasty 1st inning.

Instead, he was pulled between innings with no notice and seemingly no reason. I don't meant to bring torches and pitchforks to manager Jim Tracy's office over this issue, but even if Cook is sucking out loud this season, he's been with the club for 10 seasons. Put him back out for the 6th, have Reynolds ready, and if Cook gets into trouble, you go get him. In doing this, you give Cook a chance to reclaim his miserable 1st inning, and if he can't, you give the fanbase a chance to say goodbye. You give him a chance to climb the dugout stairs, tip his cap to the fans that have watched Cook his entire career, from his major league debut in relief of Shawn Chacon and Mark Corey, to his horrifying collapse on the mound in 2004 (ultimately caused by pulmonary embolisms in his lungs), to his World Series start in 2007, to today, when he got hit in the butt by a Luis Martinez ground ball. Give fans a moment to show a 10-year veteran some love and respect. His 2011 may not have earned it, but his career certainly has.

What's the worst thing that could happen, the Rockies lose?

Final 4-0.

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