Running Thoughts: Chacin vs. Knuckler

Preview

Lineup Card

1st Inning

• Dexter Fowler, as many switch-hitters do against a right-handed knuckleballer, will hit from the left side.
• Rockies are making Haeger prove he can throw a knuckleball for a strike.  He can't.  Can't throw a fastball for a strike either.  Three walks in a row.  
• CarGo clears the bases!  Sweet piece of hitting.  
• Charlie Haeger out after five batters.  Damn!  Ramon Ortiz in.  
• Ian Stewart:  Two-run bomb to dead central.  
• #8 hitter Paul Phillips is the first out recorded.  
• Rockies 6, Dodgers 0  
• Good start for Jhoulys Chacin.  Only needed 13-14 pitches.  

2nd Inning

• Have a day, Ian Stewart!  Adds an RBI single to his total.  3 RBI in two ABs.  
• Rockies 7, Dodgers 0 
• Chacin with a leadoff walk to Loney.  Really can't have that up by 7.  Strikes.  
• Wow... Chacin collects himself to strikeout Blake, Blake D, and Jamey Carroll.  He has a changeup and slider working for him.  

3rd Inning

• Jamey Carroll playing a little more like Jamey Carroll tonight.  Commits an error.  
• I think the Rockies just got ripped on another call at first.  Fowler looked safe, although he took he a rather silly route to first base.  Just run THROUGH the bag next time.  Cost the Rox a run.  
• Chacin deals with a couple soft hits in the inning.  Retires Manny to get out of it with a 0.  

4th Inning

• Chacin with a solid 1-2-3 inning.  Racking up the scoreless frames.  

5th Inning

• Ramon Ortiz has settled the game down for LA.  Though it's not unusual for the Rockies offense to disappear for innings at a time.  
• Another inning of off balance Dodger hitters.  Chacin in command.  

6th Inning

• Ian Stewart collects his third hit of the game.  An opposite field single.  Good signs from him tonight.  
• Barmes slaps an RBI single to right.  Keep adding gents.  
• Rockies 8, Dodgers 0
• Andre Ethier also has three hits.  He remains quite studly.  
• Chacin safely through the 6th at around 91 pitches.  Will he get another inning?  Typically that would be a no-brainer.  But given the score and his age, I'm not so sure.  

7th Inning

• Chacin hitting for himself.  That settles that.  
• And Chacin throws another 1-2-3 inning.  Holy crap is this kid dealing.  

8th Inning

• Helton's swing looks shockingly ugly.  Four strikeouts the the last two games.  That lack of a HR seems to be in his mind.  
• Chacin still in.  Kemp starts the 8th with the weakest of his weak hits in the series.  
• Strikes out AJ Ellis on three pitches.  The last two were untouchable sliders.  
• Manny bloops another weak ass single to center.  Not a single ball hit hard on Chacin all night.  
• He'll leave now for Randy Flores.  
• Flores gets the 1-6-3.  Significant because it keeps Chacin's 15 1/3 scoreless streak intact!  

9th Inning

• Rockies 0-for-9 from the 7th inning on.  Thankfully there was enough offense early.  
• Joe Beimel preserves the shutout.  This one couldn't have been scripted much better.  Great performance.  
• Final: Rockies 8, Dodgers 0