Rock Solid Recap: Sluggish Series Victory

Rockies 4, Padres 2

Was it pretty?

Not at all.

Should we care it was ugly?

A little, but not too much.

Will we take it?

No question.

A week ago I would have said 4-2 would be a super way to start season. However, after seeing the action play out before me, I think we should be thrilled the Rockies are 3-3.

True a couple hits here or there could have put the Rockies at 4-2 or even 5-1, but without the solid pitching from Ubaldo Jimenez, it could have just as easily been 1-5.

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Running Thoughts: Jimenez vs. Garland

Preview

Seems we had some bad information earlier.  Todd Helton will not start today.  It will be Jason Giambi and his lifetime 2-for-20 against Jon Garland.  Not that I care about those numbers at all.  Ian Stewart and Carlos Gonzalez start once again.  They're turning into workhorses.  Melvin Mora starts for Barmes and hits 8th.  Olivo in for Iannetta.  Seth Smith in for Dexter Fowler and hitting second.

Away we go.

1st Inning

• Cabrera starts the game with an impressive 10 pitch AB.  Jimenez ultimately wins the battle with a strikeout and then handles Jerry Hairston and Adrian Goznalez for a relatively easy first.  
• The Show projected three walks for Seth Smith.  He got one out of the way in the first.  Rockies fail to cash that in and we have a scoreless first in Denver.
  
  
  

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Looking Ahead: Game 6 (Jimenez vs. Garland)

Meet The "B" Team

It's always a safe bet that you'll see the "B" lineups trotted out there on a Sunday afternoon. That becomes even more likely when teams engage in a 14-inning marathon the night before.

Jim Tracy has already confirmed that Todd Helton will start at first, so no Jason Giambi. That's a little surprising, but I reckon it has a lot to do with Giambi's 2-for-20 lifetime against Jon Garland.

I fully expect to see Olivo at catcher, Spilborghs in center, Smith in left, and Mora at third. Ian Stewart, while hot, hasn't had a day off yet. Barmes sat the final few innings last night. Hawpe had his day off in Milwaukee. And Tulo never really needs one.

Unfortunately, Adrian Gonzalez is the Padres' workhorse, so don't expect him to sit. Yorvit Torrealba should play his first game against his former teammates. I'll also predict we'll see at least once Hairston.

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Rock Solid Recap: That Guy Beat Us

Padres 5, Rockies 4 (14)

You know, the guy you can't let beat you?

He beat us.

The Rockies spent 13 innings dodging stray bullets from lesser Padres on Saturday night. They just couldn't dodge the one fired by San Diego's best only sharpshooter.

It proved to be fatal.

Adrian Gonzalez hooked a double past Brad Hawpe, plating David Eckstein, and giving San Diego a 5-4 victory.

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