Here are the five things you need to know about tonight's game.
1. Sloppy
The Rockies defense once again opened doors for the opposing offense. Doors that, at least early in the game, the Marlins offense couldn't have opened themselves against Jimenez. He had things going very well.
By the way, those errors include one by Jimenez, and another by Herrera which was pretty ugly on a sure DP ball.
The errors don't include a Hanley Ramirez RBI bunt single that I thought Jimenez should have handled cleanly. So it kinda boils down to...
2. Ubaldo Falters
He couldn't pitch around the 3rd inning miscues once they started piling up. The extra pitches needed to get through that inning then caught up to him in the 6th.
A knock, a walk. Next thing you know Mike Stanton (who had Ubaldo's number all night and looks like a keeper in their OF) launches an offspeed delivery into the second deck for three runs.
A lot of that goes on Ubaldo for not battling through traffic (It'll all show up on his ERA), but it kinda leads in to the my next point as well.
3. Where's Miguel Olivo?
Ick. Aside from the HR in Cincy, he looks completely lost in the box. Seriously. I don't know why a pitcher would throw a fastball at this point. Nothing but ugly offerings on offspeed crap.
Also, the pitch selection a couple times allowed Ubaldo to get beat with his secondary pitches. Not really sure what the thought process was behind those, but yeah, not good.
It should also be noted he's had a couple passed balls and his throws haven't been on the mark much either. Could the career long platoon/backup catcher's extensive playing time be catching up to him? Just reality of who he is in the long run? Simple slump after inactivity for 4 days?
Time will tell.
4. Johnny Herrera hits his first career HR.
It's only fitting that Herrera would hit his first HR at a moment like that. The kid is clutch and the kid is pretty special when it comes to finding a way (small or large) to win or get in position to win a game.
Granted, his error in the third basically gave away two runs. That was a big part of the problem there. But in yesterday's 1-0 game win, he saved at least one run with a diving play up the middle. A suicide squeeze or whatever you need, Johnny gets it done.
His impact on this team is nothing but positive in every fashion.
5. Donnie Murphy hits a walk-off HR.
I don't know who the hell Donnie Murphy is.
Check that.
I didn't know who he was. Now I'll never forget him.
That's a little disrepectful to say about a guy who's achieved even one degree of success at the ML level, but for crying out loud, he just walked off on Huston Street! That doesn't compute with me.
In fact, I think I need to go back and make sure that really happened. While I do that, here's tomorrow's starting pitching matchup.
Jeff Francis vs. Nate Robertson
We've seen Aaron Cook step up at a time the Rockies desperately needed him to. Can Francis follow suit?
I must admit I'm not optimisitc based on his recent showings, in addition to a Marlins lineup that is strictly right-handed power. If they can get a few of Jeff's soft fastballs away up in the RF jet stream, look out.
And yes, I rewatched it
And yes, it still sucks.