Rock Solid Recap: Good Things Happen When Bat Meets Baseball

Rockies 10, Padres 8

Here's an inning-by-inning breakdown of the Rockies offense on balls in play.

• 1st: 2-for-4 -- 2 singles 
• 2nd: 0-for-1 
• 3rd: 5-for-5 -- 2 HR, 2 2B, 1B, 5 Runs 
• 4th: 0-for-1 
• 5th: 0-for-3 
• 6th: 0-for-1 
• 7th: 4-for-5 -- 3 soft singles and a Grand Slam, 5 Runs 
• 8th: 0-for-1
• 9th: No Need

You'll notice that it's extremely difficult to mount any offense in innings where one or less baseball is put in play.  On the flip side, when you're putting the ball in play at least three times an inning, you're likely to run into some good luck and/or hit some balls hard and create a situation.  

I could probably end the recap there and have already said enough.  Then again, I haven't told you anything you didn't already know.

Ian Stewart

Had himself a fine evening at the plate.

Only thing better than hitting a go-ahead HR in a game is coming back a few innings later and htting a go-ahead Grand Slam to the opposite field. Ian also drew a walk in his lone matchup against lefty special Joe Thatcher.

Ian's getting more locked in with each passing day.  

Highlights: 2-Run Blast, Grand Slam

Miguel Olivo & Carlos Gonzalez

This whole all-star snub thing may just work out after all. Both men will get four days of much needed rest, and it seems each will be very motivated to prove they belonged there. Determined superstars are good guys to have in the clubhouse and in the lineup.

Highlight: CarGo HR, Olivo's RBI Double

Dexter Fowler & Brad Hawpe

Four strikeouts apiece. Ouch.

I hope the HR the other night isn't in Dexter's head too much. The swing was kinda uppercutty with two strikes a couple times, which makes me nervous. He could just need a day off, too. He's being run out there every day since his recall.

Jonathan Herrera

Two more hits.  Two more runs scored.  Web Gem.

Jorge De La Rosa

Shaky return. His issue tonight was the inability to put hitters away with runners on base. He was ahead of just about every hitter, he just couldn't put enough of them away. That's typically a strength for Jorge, it will be again once he's comfortable, it just wasn't there for him tonight.

Realizing this, I have no idea why Tracy stuck with him so long. Or maybe Tracy just didn't realize it.

Manny Corpas

Made nothing but good pitches in the 5th inning, yet a number of Rockies fans on Twitter acted as if he allowed 7 runs. He didn't. Sixth inning was a little rougher with the double and the walk. That time Randy Flores cleaned it up and the Rockies stayed comfortably in the baseball game.

Back End

Matt Belisle, Joe Beimel, Rafael Betancourt and Huston Street. Fantastic work by each.

Tomorrow

Jason Hammel vs Wade LeBlanc

The Rockies have made full turn through the rotation undefeated. Time for Jason Hammel to start another.