Bats lead to sixth series win in last seven
The story coming in seemed to be whether good Jorge or bad Jorge would show up. On a hot and muggy night, the Rockies' offense decided to make sure it really didn't matter whether bad Jorge, good Jorge or Tim Harikkala was starting.
Colorado emphatically ended Trevor Cahill's (5-6, 4.23) streak of seven straight quality starts by chasing him in the fourth inning. Cahill allowed seven runs on eight hits, but more importantly a career high four home runs - by Brad Hawpe (12), Clint Barmes (9), Ian Stewart (14) and Seth Smith (6). Hawpe's HR was his 100th in his career. All nine starters recorded a hit. Seth Smith, Clint Barmes and Todd Helton - the first three in the order - combined for six hits, six runs, four RBI and two walks. Carlos Gonzalez got his first triple in a Rockies uniform. Garrett Atkins had a multiple hit night for the third straight night. Too bad we only have the DH one more game (that's the only time I've ever said that).
Yeah so that's a pretty solid offensive showing in Oakland. They needed almost all of it.
Jorge de la Rosa (4-7, 5.64) was solid in allowing two runs in six innings and five strikouts. He left with the Rockies leading 11-2. The the bullpen melted down.
Matt Daley, Alan Embree and Juan Rincon allowed seven runs runs on nine hits in just two innings against the Athletics' defensive replacements. The blowout suddenly became a close game, and Jim Tracy had to turn to Huston Street to stop the bleeding. He walked one and allowed an inherited runner to score on a sac fly but otherwise slammed the door on his former team for the second straight night and his 18th save. I haven't seen a bullpen tank to lead to a save situation that much since I used to do it as a kid to get my stud closer saves in my video games. Box Score
So the bullpen is a mess, but hey...we won the game and the series. And with the Giants losing, we have moved to within one game of the wild card lead
WPA Heroes:
Brad Hawpe (.187) - 2-for-3, HR, BB, 2 RBI, K
Ian Stewart (.104) - 1-for-4, HR
Huston Street (.107) - 1.0 IP, K, BB, 1 inherited runner score, save
WPA Zeroes:
Juan Rincon (-.086) - 0.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 0 K
Troy Tulowitzki (-.020) - 2-for-5, RBI, K
Rowbot Roll Call
Chrysicat, The Lodo Magic Man, befizzle, Russ, wolf213, AtkinsandTulofan, TulsaDriller, Roxfan24, Charlie77, Maris6161, WolfMarauder, Poseidon's Fist, TuLoRocks2008, Behrens, MohrPlease, Yokel, OrangeTorpedo, FooMan, snakecharmer, fantasyfencing, pedalpusher, holly96, EricMedic, Rox Girl, RdRnnr, rdf8585, JBauer6430, walkoff59 made up the 28 Rowbots and 898 comments.
Comment of the night:
Pitchers park my arse.