:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/31297035/483295233.0.jpg)
Jordan Lyles may be the Rockies 7th starter, pressed into duty after injuries to Tyler Chatwood and Jhoulys Chacin, but he sure didn't pitch like it tonight. Lyles pitched 6 2/3 innings of one run ball behind a steady diet of sinkers and sliders. The White Sox (admittedly one of the weakest lineups in the game) couldn't get anything going, held to five hits and two walks, all of which were spread out harmlessly.
The Rockies offense displayed great depth as every starter but famed slugger Charlie Blackmon recorded a base hit. Both Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki homered (Cargo's on a laser shot that only got about 30 feet above the ground, Tulo to the opposite field) as part of multi-hit days. But the long ball only accounted for two runs; the other six came from bunched doubles, singles, and walks. White Sox starter Felipe Paulino wasn't fooling anybody.
Jordan Lyles certainly counts as anybody. He went 3 for 3 against White Sox pitching, with a double and two RBIs. All three base hits were barreled line drives. Tyler Chatwood may be the Rockies' most noted pitcher-hitter, but Lyles is challenging for the crown apparently. He also started a nifty 1-6-3 double play on a Paulino bunt in the third inning. Lyles can do everything!
The only moment when things got a little dicey was the 7th inning, when the Sox scored their lone run off Lyles with an Alexei Ramirez double. The Rockies were still enjoying a 7 to 1 lead, but with two men on, we were one swing away from things getting interesting. There was no need to fear, though, as Adam Ottovino swaggered in for the last out and promptly dispatched Dayan Viciedo with his wipe-out slider.
Tulowitzki went 3 for 3 with a double, homer, single, and a walk. In the space of about five minutes he made one of his patented miracle plays from deep in the hole at short stop and crushed a home run to right. These are the things that MVPs do. He might have to fight off Cargo though.
Ottavino, Chad Bettis, and Matt Belisle were perfect in recording seven outs. Good job guys.
Tonight was a complete effort game, with every member of the team making positive contributions. The Rockies climb back to .500 on the season at 4 and 4. With the rest of the NL West idle tonight, they moved up half a game on everybody, and sit a game and a half behind the San Francisco Giants.
<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2014-04-07&team=Rockies&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width = "450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2014-04-07&team=Rockies&dh=0&season=2014">FanGraphs</a></span>
<table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=1>
<thead>
<tr>
<th colspan=2>Roll Call Info</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr><td width=150>Total comments</td><td>884</tr>
<tr class="alt"><td>Total commenters</td><td>32</tr>
<tr><td>Commenter list</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/BubbaFan">BubbaFan</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Chacinisthefuture">Chacinisthefuture</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Chrysicat">Chrysicat</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Drew%20Creasman">Drew Creasman</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/ES46NE10">ES46NE10</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/GmoRocks">GmoRocks</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Greg%20Stanwood">Greg Stanwood</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Junction%20Rox">Junction Rox</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/MCDallas">MCDallas</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Muzia">Muzia</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Nephelimdream">Nephelimdream</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Paleface%20Destro">Paleface Destro</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/PurpleToPurple">PurpleToPurple</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/RockedUp">RockedUp</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Rockies7935">Rockies7935</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/RockyMountainWay91">RockyMountainWay91</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Roxfan24">Roxfan24</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/SDcat09">SDcat09</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Sjamb">Sjamb</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/The%20Ghost%20of%20Marv%20Throneberry">The Ghost of Marv Throneberry</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/The%20Lodo%20Magic%20Man">The Lodo Magic Man</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/TheTulowitzkiGeneration">TheTulowitzkiGeneration</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/bearpigman">bearpigman</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/butterfly2">butterfly2</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/colonel%20tigh">colonel tigh</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/dyzz">dyzz</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/evers44">evers44</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/goldenInGolden">goldenInGolden</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/holly96">holly96</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/papality">papality</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/rockiesfan4ever">rockiesfan4ever</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/vtmn_D">vtmn_D</a></tr>
<tr class="alt"><td>Story URLs</td><td><div><a href="http://www.purplerow.com/2014/4/7/5591962/rockies-game-8-open-thread">http://www.purplerow.com/2014/4/7/5591962/rockies-game-8-open-thread</a></div>
</tbody>
</table>