Sunday, April 29, 2012

Rock Solid Recrap: Rockies Still Can't Hit Santana, Drop Series Despite Late Heroics (Manning Face Included)

Mets 6, Rockies 5 in 11 (boxscore)

What Went Wrong: First and foremost, the Rockies can't figure out Johan Santana.

How bad has it been?

Well, in 22 career innings against them — spanning three starts — his ERA remains a perfect 0.00 (with no unearned runs scored either). And I have to be honest, I don't know that they've had more than five or six runners reach second base in those outings. He simply overwhelms and overpowers them, and the only saving grace today was that Terry Collins pulled him after six to help ease his workload. Otherwise, you'd probably be tacking another inning or two on that total.

Also bad? How about 1-for-11 with RISP (mostly late). That one of course being Todd Helton's pinch-hit grand slam in the eighth inning. That, and the first four hitters in New York's lineup killed them again (10-for-21, 3 RBI, 4 Runs, 3 walks). They simply could not find an answer for any of those guys all weekend.

Turning Point: The Rockies had come off the deck to tie the game twice when Michael Cuddyer and Ramon Hernandez stepped up with a chance to put New York away in the tenth (winning run was on second). Unfortunately, neither could deliver Troy Tulowitzki home — Cuddyer struck out, Hernandez popped out — and the game continued on. The Mets would then scratch another run across against Matt Belisle in eleventh and the Rockies would go down 1-2-3 to end it.

Lineup Card: Rockies vs Mets 4-29-12

Saturday Night's Recrap: Elusive Third Outs Haunt Rockies In Loss

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (10-10)

  1. Marco Scutaro (2B)
  2. Dexter Fowler (CF)
  3. Carlos Gonzalez (LF)
  4. Troy Tulowitzki (SS)
  5. Michael Cuddyer (RF)
  6. Jason Giambi (1B)
  7. Ramon Hernandez (C)
  8. Chris Nelson (3B)
  9. Jamie Moyer (P)
One week after feebly explaining his Sunday lineups, it appears Jim Tracy may have learned more from the fans than we learned from him. And I don't think anyone will appreciate that more than Jamie Moyer.

New York Mets (12-9)
  1. Kirk Nieuwenhuis (CF)
  2. Ruben Tejada (SS)
  3. Daniel Murphy (2B)
  4. David Wright (3B)
  5. Lucas Duda (1B)
  6. Scott Hairston (LF)
  7. Ike Davis (1B)
  8. Josh Thole (C)
  9. Johan Santana (P)
That's the same lineup that drove Guillermo Moscoso crazy last night. Here's hoping Moyer has an easier time finishing them off.

More Rockies thoughts await you if you follow me on Twitter: @Townie813 & @HeavenHelton