Another Rock Solid Recap? Two in a row?

Rockies 6, Reds 3 (boxscore)

The Rockies streak of impressive play improved to 15 innings on Friday night. Their streak of not being outscored by the opponent now sits at two games. That means we get to pick a winning player!

Winning Player: Todd Helton! 

This is what Todd Helton does once or twice a month. He reminds us that an elite baseball player remains somewhere underneath his beaten up body, and when he's feeling good, he can win you a baseball game at any time all by himself.

Granted, he had help on Friday from Troy Tulowitzki, Christian Friedrich and a damn solid bullpen, but it was Helton's two-run homer that set the tone, and his RBI single that provided the insurance.

This one belongs to The Toddfather.

Turning Point: The Rockies jumped up 3-0 early, then Cincinnati tied it at 3 in the 4th. It's at times like this that the Rockies have lost their focus this season. The quality of at-bats tend to decrease significantly. But that wasn't the case this time around. Rather, the Rockies continued pressuring Reds ace Johnny Cueto (who admittedly wasn't on his game), and quickly regained control of the game.

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Lineup Card: Rockies @ Reds 5-25-12

Wednesday's RECAP: That Almost Looked Easy

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (16-27)

1. Eric Young Jr. (CF)
2. Marco Scutaro (2B)
3. Carlos Gonzalez (LF)
4. Troy Tulowitzki (SS)
5. Todd Helton (1B)
6. Tyler Colvin (RF)
7. Jordan Pacheco (3B)
8. Wilin Rosario (C)
9. Christian Friedrich (P)

Update: Michael Cuddyer was scratched from tonight's lineup with a stiff neck. He'll join Dexter Fowler on the bench (minor ankle thing).

Annnnnd in case you missed it earlier in the week, Jonathan Herrera was placed on the DL with a hamstring issue. Infielder D.J. Lemahieu took his place. Troy Renck is also reporting that catcher Wil Nieves is in Cincinnati and listed on Jim Tracy's lineup card, meaning Ramon Hernandez will hit the DL with his hand injury. 

And the door revolves. 

Cincinnati Reds (25-19)

1. Zack Cozart (SS)
2. Drew Stubbs (CF)
3. Joey Votto (1B)
4. Brandon Phillips (2B)
5. Chris Heisey (RF)
6. Ryan Ludwick (LF)
7. Todd Frazier (3B)
8. Ryan Hanigan (C)
9. Johnny Cueto (P)

The Reds enter tonight's game with a six-game winning streak.

*Gulp*

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

Rock Solid Recap: That Almost Looked Easy

Rockies 8, Marlins 4 (boxscore)

Well, at least after the uninspired first three innings that left them trailing 3-0.

4th inning on, beautiful baseball.

Winning Players: Marco Scutaro, Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki - (Combined 6-for-12, HR, triple, double, 6 RBI, 7 runs and 2 walks)

This was how Dan O'Dowd drew it up at 2-3-4 during the offseason. Then, before he knew it, his plans were changed when Jim Tracy moved Scutaro to the leadoff spot. Scutaro never got comfortable in that spot... or so it seemed, but appears to be settling back into the second spot nicely. Which of course means he'll be leading off all weekend in Cincinnati.

Oops. Sorry. I'm trying to be positive tonight. No more cheap shots until Friday at the earliest.

In addition to Scutaro's productive (3 runs) night, CarGo and Tulo were the offensive forces they're paid to be, each delivering the type of at-bats needed to be productive in the situation presented to them.

For CarGo, that included setting the table (along with Scutaro) by drawing a walk ahead of Tulowitzki's RBI double in the 4th. Jason Giambi and Michael Cuddyer followed with equally productive sacrifice flies.

In the 5th, Gonzalez singled home the tying with two outs. Troy Tulowitzki followed that by taking TWO pitches, working himself into a favorable 2-0 count, and then he connected on the game-deciding three-run home to deep left center.

Highlight of the Night: Watch Troy Tulowitzki's big home run

And then again in the 7th, Gonzalez hit an absolute missile off the center field wall for a two-out, RBI triple.

I don't know what got into either guy tonight, but it was nice to see both reel themselves in a bit, slow the game down, and not allow the moment to overwhelm them as it has at many critical times this season. It's a positive step for both of them, and it's greatly appreciated by me.

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Lineup Card: Rockies @ Marlins 5-23-12

Tuesday's Recrap: Monfort Speaks, Rockies Lose. Again.

Lineups 

Colorado Rockies (15-27)

1. Eric Young Jr. (CF)
2. Marco Scutaro (2B)
3. Carlos Gonzalez (LF)
4. Troy Tulowitzki (SS)
5. Jason Giambi (1B)
6. Michael Cuddyer (RF)
7. Jordan Pacheco (3B)
8. Ramon Hernandez (C)
9. Alex White (P)

Well, hey, at least Dexter Fowler isn't hitting eighth tonight!

That's all I really have to offer today. I'm uninspired and have yard work to do before the 90 degree weather sets in over the weekend. 

Miami Marlins (24-19)

1. Jose Reyes (SS)
2. Omar Infante (2B)
3. Hanley Ramirez (3B)
4. Greg Dobbs (1B)
5. Giancarlo Stanton (RF)
6. Chris Coghlan (LF)
7. Brett Hayes (C)
8. Bryan Petersen (CF)
9. Carlos Zambrano (P)

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

Rock Solid Recrap: Monfort Speaks, Rockies Lose. Again.

Marlins 7, Rockies 6 (boxscore)

What Went Wrong: The offense produced enough to win tonight. There's no question about that. But they still had several of those moments where you just shake your head at the opportunities they waste because they can't be bothered to change their approach in situational plate appearances.

There are no better examples of this possible than the three — yes, THREE — leadoff doubles they wasted tonight.

In the 4th and 6th innings respectively, it was Michael Cuddyer who doubled. He never moved either time. Wilin Rosario would strikeout swinging the first time and then groundout to second. Dexter Fowler popped to third and struck out in his two chances. The innings ended with Juan Nicasio and pinch-hitter Tyler Colvin striking out.

Then in the 9th, Jordan Pacheco doubled off Heath Bell with the Rockies trailing by the single run. Credit to Carlos Gonzalez, he moved Pacheco over with a grounder to second. That put Troy Tulowitzki in a spot where he could drive the tying run home several different ways, but as we've seen far too often from Tulo, he put forth a lousy at-bat at the worst possible time, ultimately popping up to short.

That put the pressure on a scuffling Todd Helton, who battled Bell as he has so many times in the past, but watched strike three sail by to end it.

The approaches have to improve and the importance of productive outs needs to be better understood by this ballclub. But that's something we've been saying as far back as 2010. Nothing new. It doesn't seem to matter who passes through, that message continues falling on deaf ears.

Turning Point: Simple. With the game tied at three in the 3rd inning, Marlins pitcher Ricky Nolasco laced a two-out, two-run double to the gap in left center. That's a turning point and a dagger.

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