Rockies Drop Second To Pads

5/11/08 San Diego- Sunday afternoon the Colorado Rockies suffered their second loss in a row at the hands of the San Diego Padres. After losing Saturday nights game 3 to 2 the Rockies looked to right ship against the very talented Chris Young. Young and the Padres had a different agenda as they defeated the Rox 6 to 1. The Padres accumulated six runs on eleven hits, while the Rox scored a lonely run on five hits. Khalil Green and Scott Hairston each went Yahtzee, Greens being a 2 run dong and Hairston's a solo shot. Tadahito Iguchi also carried his weight going 3 for 5 with 3 singles and a run scored. The Rockies offensive struggle was on center stage with only five hits (one each for Herrera, Atkins, Helton, Hawpe and Barmes). Atkins scored Colorado's only run when Chris Ianetta grounded into a double play with the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the 7th. Colorado was down 4 to 0 going into the 7th when Atkins led the inning off with a single, consequentially Young issued consecutive walks to Hawpe and Spillborghs to load the bases with no outs. Bud Black had seen enough of Young electing to go to Cla Meredith. With Ianetta at the plate the Rockies had their best scoring opportunity, trying to cut into the 4 run deficit. Three pitches into the at bat Meredith got Ianetta swinging at a low fast ball, Ianetta grounded the ball to short stop, the Padres conceded the run electing to turn the 6-4-3 double play, putting the brakes on the what could have been Rockies rally. The Padres added one in the bottom on the inning and another in the 8th to bring the final score to 6 to 1. Young got his third win of the season to improve to a mediocre 3-3.

BRIGHT SPOTS: Rookie Jonathan Herrera notched his fourth hit of the season/his career, as well as his first ML stolen base, his batting average is up to .286. The Rockies hope and need Herrera to continue his stellar play during the absence of Troy Tulowitzki (groin).
Greg Reynolds made his Major League Debut Sunday, as the Rox search for a 5th starter in that shaky rotation. Reynolds gave up 4 earned runs in 5 and 2/3 innings allowing 6 hits. Reynolds, although giving up 4, looked decent in his debut not allowing the game to get out of control after a few shake ups, if the Rockies bats could get the job done Reynolds very well could be looking at a no decision rather than his first career loss.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: Manny Corpas' struggles continued as he allowed 2 hits and an earned run in two-thirds innings.
OFFENSE! OFFENSE!! OFFENSE!!! Colorado had a very good opportunity in the 7th inning when they loaded the bases with no outs, when Ianetta grounded into a double play, bringing in one run, while deflating the rally chance. All season the Rox have seem incapable of getting the big hits in clutch situations. A double play is about the worst case scenario, and always seems to be the end result of runners in scoring position less than 2 outs this season for Colorado.

LAST THOUGHTS: Matt Holliday, who started all 162(3) games a season ago, got the day off against SD on Sunday. Ryan Spillborghs got the start in Left Field, giving the Rockies slugger some appreciated rest. With the offense in a slump it'll be be nice to see Holliday back in the Line Up on Tuesday.

WATERCOOLER: Spoke with Rockies president Keli McGregor on Saturday at graduation celebration, with little baseball talk at all, I was able to pull a thought from the Rox brass, "We are still very confident that we can still be where we want to be when (September) comes around."
Well with presidents confidence in tact, so mine remains, and with it results would be appreciated.