Rock Solid Recrap: Ugh

This is why I cringe anytime I read a comment saying this series or that series is a cakewalk. There are no cakewalks in baseball. There are series that appear more winnable than others, but there are no cakewalks.

Jim Tracy assured us before Friday's game that he wouldn't allow his team to overlook Arizona. I'm not saying they have, but they're damn sure learning the lesson of why you can't fail to respect every team in MLB.

Now the D-Backs head in to Sunday looking to sweep the Rockies.

Those who are thinking that's not possible with Ubaldo Jimenez pitching should reread the first two paragraphs again several times.

D-Backs 4, Rockies 3

Losing Player: Aaron Cook

But you're saying Aaron Cook didn't pitch tonight. That's correct.

He also didn't pitch well enough or long enough last night. His early exit led to Jim Tracy wearing out his bullpen, which led to Jim Tracy sticking with Jhoulys Chacin about 30 pitches too long tonight.

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Lineup Card: Rockies vs. D-Backs

Rockies Lineup (28-26)

• CF Gonzalez
• LF Spilborghs
• 1B Giambi
• SS Tulowitzki
• RF Hawpe 
• 3B Mora
• C  Iannetta
• 2B Barmes 
• P   Chacin

Diamondbacks Lineup (21-34)

• 2B Johnson
• RF Upton
• SS Drew
• 1B LaRoche 
• 3B Reynolds
• CF Young
• LF Jackson
• C  Snyder
• P  Willis
  

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Rock Solid Recrap: Role Reversal

Wasn't the Arizona bullpen supposed to be the implosion waiting to happen?

Wasn't the Colorado bullpen supposed to come right in and lock things down for Aaron Cook when he exited with a three run lead?

That's not how things played out tonight, and for second time this season, Arizona steals a win from the Rockies they had no business stealing.

Diamondbacks 7, Rockies 6

Arizona Bullpen -- 3 IP, 1 BB, 6 K

Colorado Bullpen -- 3 1/3 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

That's a hideous breakdown if you're a Rockies supporter.. or their pitching coach.

The only guy who came in and did his job was Rafael Betancourt. Daley, Beimel, Belisle, Flores,and Corpas all struggled to varying degrees, with Corpas ultimately blowing the save and taking the loss.

Not. Pretty.

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Lineup Card: Rockies vs D-Backs

The Diamondbacks return home after an 0-9 road trip through Colorado, San Francisco and Los Angeles.  They have not scored a single run since the second inning of their game in LA on Monday.  That's a streak of 31 innings after losing consecutive 1-0 decision in 10 and 14 innings respectively.

Needless to say, they are struggling.

It's also needless to say they won't go the rest of the season without scoring a run or winning a game. Before this stretch, Arizona had the highest scoring offense in the NL.  Once they get the bats going again, those runs will pour in again.  And strangely, their pitching hasn't been a problem the last week.

What I'm saying is they could get hot quickly.

The Rockies just have to be careful they don't get caught sleepwalking through a winnable series like we saw in Chicago and Houston.  Take care of business.  Let the next team be the one Arizona gets well against.

Rockies Lineup (28-25)

• CF Gonzalez
• LF Smith
• 1B Helton
• SS Tulowitzki
• RF Hawpe
• C   Olivo
• 3B Stewart
• 2B Barmes
• P   Cook

Diamondbacks Lineup (20-34)

• 2B Johnson
• RF Upton
• SS Drew
• 1B LaRoche
• 3B Reynolds
• CF Young
• LF Parra
• C   Snyder
• P   Kennedy

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Rock Solid Recrap: Cained Again

Giants 4, Rockies 1

So the Rockies didn't get the sweep they sought in San Francisco tonight.   There's one pretty good reason for that.

Matt Cain.

Cain, who may soon challenge Tim Lincecum for the "Giant Ace" title, was simply outstanding tonight. The Rockies could not sustain any type of offensive threat against him.  The only mistake he made was crushed by Troy Tulowitzki, but beyond that every pitch he made had a purpose and hit its spot.

When that happens, you just tip your cap and then hope your starter is Ubaldo Jimenez, or is channeling Ubaldo Jimenez.

Jeff Francis was neither.

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