Running Thoughts: Smith vs Wolf

What can I say, I'm excited to Greg Smith get the ball tonight. He should be doing so with far less pressure than had the Rockies lost their opener. 0-2 isn't the end of the world ever of course, but no one wants it.

He'll see a right-handed dominant order from the Crew tonight. I'll be focusing mostly on how he approaches and handles the top of the Brewers order -- Rickie Weeks, Carlos Gomez and Ryan Braun. Keeping them in check will go a long ways towards keeping his team in the game. I'm hoping for six innings and two runs.

Pre-game notes

• Dexter Fowler is the only change in the lineup tonight.  

1st Inning

• You could boil an egg on Carlos Gonzalez right now.  5-for-6 to open the season.  He ends up coming around on a Todd Helton single to give the Rockies a 1-0 lead.  
• Brad Hawpe is overmatched by Randy Wolf on three pitches.  Sure hope we see more of Spilborghs against lefties.  Tomorrow would be a good time to start that trend.    
• Smith jumped out 0-2 on Rickie Weeks and then start nibbling away.  Ends up walking him and wasting four bullets.  Have to be more aggressive than that.  
• More aggressive he was with Braun, impressively striking him out with the runner at third.  
• Smith then turns around and walks Fielder, a guy he should attack, and serves up a 3-run homer to Casey McGehee.  
• 34 pitch first inning for Smith.  That about says it all.  
• 3-1 Brewers.
  
  

2nd Inning

• Ian Stewart launches one off a lefty.  He wants to make sure Melvin Mora stays comfortable on that bench.  
• Smith rallies for a 1-2-3 second inning. Back to the top of that killer order in the third.  
• 3-2 Brewers.

3rd Inning

• Scoreless third inning as both pitchers look to be settling in.  Smith has now retired seven in a row.  

4th Inning

• Hawpe still has no chance whatsoever to make contract on Wolf.  Six pitches, two strikeouts.  
• More nibbling from Smith allows Fielder to battle back from an 0-2 count to double.  McGehee has his number with another hit.  Trouble brewing here.  
• Smith limits the damage with a DP ball.  His start has been a mixed bag through 4 innings.  
• 4-2 Brewers.  

5th Inning

• I love the little things.  After a Barmes lead-off double, Smith executes a perfect sac bunt.  Leads to an RBI groundout for CarGo and the Rockies get the run right back.  
• Annnnd Smith gives in right back.  Rickie Weeks takes him deep to rightcenter.  
• 5-3 Brewers.

6th Inning

• Well, Brad Hawpe didn't strikeout this time.  
• Wolf pretty much breezes through another inning.  Seven strikeouts on the evening.  
• Smith's night is over.  Corpas is in but the first two runners reach.  Game in danger of being busted wide open.  
• Harmless flyout and a 4-6-3 gets Corpas through the inning.  Well done.  

7th Inning

• Spilborghs strikes out with runners at the corners.  Not making the case I was hoping for against a lefty.  
• Rockies get one on a groundout from CarGo, but Helton pops out to end the threat.  Finally into the Brewers bullpen at least.  
• The beard lives another day.  Matt Daley with a scoreless 7th inning.  
• 5-4 Brewers.  Rockies just hanging around.

8th Inning

• Latroy Hawkins sets the 4-5-6 down 1-2-3.  Rockies will have to get it done against Trevor Hoffman.    
• Matt Belisle was great in Arizona this spring.  Too bad he didn't stay there.  Two huge insurance runs for the Brewers there as the Rockies have been known to have success with Hoffman. 
• 7-4 Brewers.

9th Inning

• Ian Stewart with a big night tonight: double, triple and home run.  He didn't get a whole lot of help though.  Brewers take this one 7-5.  

More on this one shortly.