Rock Solid Recap: Something about a lot of singles

One day at a time.

One base at a time.

Alright, so it's probably best to take a faster paced approach to baseball, but it is possible to single an opponent to death when you squeeze them all together. That's what the Rockies did today, collecting twelve singles out of their thirteen hits. The key being that seven of those singles came within eight batters during the 6th inning, leading to five runs.

Rockies 6, Padres 3 (boxscore)

Today's leading singler was that mon again: Charlie Blackmon.

He singled thrice. The first one coming after he spoiled three very tough two strike pitches from Mat Latos. On the 8th pitch of the at-bat, he looped one into short right field that the Padres couldn't handle. Blackmon was then forced at second on a Jose Morales fielder's choice, but his at-bat created the run. Well, his single, and then consecutive singles by Jhoulys Chacin and Carlos Gonzalez.

His second single was No. five out of the seven in the 6th. Stay with me. It drove it one. Ryan Spilborghs followed two singles later with the killer two-run hit that put the game away for Colorado.

Read more »

Lineup Card: 6-15-11 Rockies vs Padres

If you're looking for Rockies game lineups and you don't feel like searching all over Twitter or waiting for MLB.com to post them, check back to Heaven & Helton about 60-90 minutes before first pitch. They should be here waiting for you. 

Links

Yesterday's recap: Nicasio embraces run support in home victory

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (32-35)

1. CF Carlos Gonzalez
2. 2B Jonathan Herrera
3. 1B Todd Helton
4. SS Troy Tulowitzki
5. RF Seth Smith
6. 3B Ty Wigginton
7. LF Charlie Blackmon
8. C   Jose Morales
9. P    Jhoulys Chacin

Herrera in for Nelson. That's fine. He can't play every day. Same for Iannetta. 

San Diego Padres (30-39)

1. RF Chris Denorfia
2. SS Jason Bartlett
3. 3B Chase Headley
4. LF Ryan Ludwick
5. 1B Anthony Rizzo
6. CF Cameron Maybin
7. 2B Alberto Gonzalez
8. C   Rob Johnson
9. P   Mat Latos

Rock Solid Recap: Nicasio embraces run support in home victory

This something we haven't seen a lot of lately. A solid offensive performance, coupled with an outstanding pitching effort. AND the bullpen made it stand up. That's three phases of the game clicking at once. Plus they stole three more bases. I'm almost overwhelmed with positives.

Rockies 6, Padres 3 (boxscore)

Juan Nicasio: Well hot damn. Nicasio allowed a home run to the first batter of the game. Hit the second batter. Had lousy command early, which led me to believe this was going to be a short night at the office for him. Yet the kid absolutely owned this game for six innings once he got his feet under him.

Nine strikeouts. That ties a season high for Rockies starters. The breaking ball looked like a solid strikeout pitch at times. Great poise and confidence on display. This was a damn good 4th major league start for a 24-year-old.

Read more »

Lineup Card: 6-14-11 Rockies vs Padres

If you're looking for Rockies game lineups and you don't feel like searching all over Twitter or waiting for MLB.com to post them, check back to Heaven & Helton about 60-90 minutes before first pitch. They should be here waiting for you.

Links

• Yesterday's recrap: Home woes continue
• Blake Street Bulletin: Dead Weight
• Purple Row: Should Dexter Fowler give up pinch-hitting? 

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (31-35)

1. CF Carlos Gonzalez
2. 2B Chris Nelson
3. 1B Todd Helton
4. SS Troy Tulowitzki
5. 3B Ty Wigginton
6. LF Charlie Blackmon
7. RF Ryan Spilborghs
8. C   Chris Iannetta
9. P    Juan Nicasio

Unreal. Seth Smith out of the lineup... AGAIN. Our manager is a dimwit. If you want to get Spilborghs at-bats, fine, but how about give Blackmon his first day off? Benching Smith over and over again is counterproductive to everything.

Oh, and there's another team meeting going on before today's game. I think that's the fourth of the season. God this is a mess. The guy running the show is a desperate man. 

San Diego Padres (30-38)

1. RF Chris Denorfia
2. SS Jason Bartlett
3. 3B Chase Headley
4. LF Ryan Ludwick
5. 1B Anthony Rizzo
6. CF Cameron Maybin
7. C   Nick Hundley
8. 2B Alberto Gonzalez
9. P    Wade LeBlanc

Rock Solid Recrap: Home woes continue

Another day.... another disheartening loss... against a beatable opponent... with a pitcher making his big league debut... at Coors Field.

So many reasons to win. So much frustration.

Padres 3, Rockies 1 (boxscore)

This time it was the offense's turn to not hold up their end of the bargain. As I said, Anthony Bass was making his big league debut for San Diego. He could very well go on to have an amazing career, but geez, you'd think an offense with Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki and Todd Helton could give the kid a proper welcomes to the bigs. Especially at home, where baseballs were flying all weekend long.

It just didn't happen. I don't know what the answer is. They seemed to be over the hump, but they couldn't sustain any threats or come up with the big knock.

By the way, of the Rockies five total hits, two each belonged to Chris Nelson and Charlie Blackmon. So yes, I think most of us knew these guys couldn't fix the offense, but they have certainly added to it. It's just not enough when the money players have a bad day.

Aaron Cook: Slow start, allowing basehits to the first three batters of the game. He only allowed two hits after that before leaving after the long rain delay in the 6h. I can't remember how long the rain delay was, but I think it was a little over...

Ah yes. Thanks guys. (Alanna, check your watch.)

Unfortunately Cook took the loss despite only allowing two runs. Jason Hammel feels your pain.

Matt Belisle: Having another brilliant season, although much quieter than last year. Definitely the player of the game after throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Very good and very efficient.

Overall: It's getting to be put up or shut up time. This homestand has to finish strong. Having the mentality that a 10-game winning streak in August or September will make everything better is a bad way to live. No guarantee this team has a five-game winning streak in them, let alone eight, ten, eleven, whatever. The turnaround has to start now, and they have to sustain it.