Running Thoughts: Jimenez vs. Garland

Preview

Seems we had some bad information earlier.  Todd Helton will not start today.  It will be Jason Giambi and his lifetime 2-for-20 against Jon Garland.  Not that I care about those numbers at all.  Ian Stewart and Carlos Gonzalez start once again.  They're turning into workhorses.  Melvin Mora starts for Barmes and hits 8th.  Olivo in for Iannetta.  Seth Smith in for Dexter Fowler and hitting second.

Away we go.

1st Inning

• Cabrera starts the game with an impressive 10 pitch AB.  Jimenez ultimately wins the battle with a strikeout and then handles Jerry Hairston and Adrian Goznalez for a relatively easy first.  
• The Show projected three walks for Seth Smith.  He got one out of the way in the first.  Rockies fail to cash that in and we have a scoreless first in Denver.
  
  
  

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Looking Ahead: Game 6 (Jimenez vs. Garland)

Meet The "B" Team

It's always a safe bet that you'll see the "B" lineups trotted out there on a Sunday afternoon. That becomes even more likely when teams engage in a 14-inning marathon the night before.

Jim Tracy has already confirmed that Todd Helton will start at first, so no Jason Giambi. That's a little surprising, but I reckon it has a lot to do with Giambi's 2-for-20 lifetime against Jon Garland.

I fully expect to see Olivo at catcher, Spilborghs in center, Smith in left, and Mora at third. Ian Stewart, while hot, hasn't had a day off yet. Barmes sat the final few innings last night. Hawpe had his day off in Milwaukee. And Tulo never really needs one.

Unfortunately, Adrian Gonzalez is the Padres' workhorse, so don't expect him to sit. Yorvit Torrealba should play his first game against his former teammates. I'll also predict we'll see at least once Hairston.

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Rock Solid Recap: That Guy Beat Us

Padres 5, Rockies 4 (14)

You know, the guy you can't let beat you?

He beat us.

The Rockies spent 13 innings dodging stray bullets from lesser Padres on Saturday night. They just couldn't dodge the one fired by San Diego's best only sharpshooter.

It proved to be fatal.

Adrian Gonzalez hooked a double past Brad Hawpe, plating David Eckstein, and giving San Diego a 5-4 victory.

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Running Thoughts: Hammel vs. Latos

Preview

The "A" lineup returns.  Iannetta is back in for Olivo.

1st Inning

• San Diego already utilizing their third different lead-off man.  That says a lot.  
• Jason Hammel channels Greg Smith by nibbling around Tony Gwynn Jr.  Please attack him... it's not the old man.  
• That sneaky Tulowitzki gets in behind Gwynn and the Rockies execute a perfect pickoff.  Gwynn hated the call.  No one cared.  
• What a play by Chase Headley to throw out Fowler after he lined one off Latos' backside.  Looked like a sure hit.
  

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Looking Ahead: Game 5 (vs San Diego)

Jason Hammel vs. Mat Latos

In four starts against San Diego last season, Jason Hammel averaged under five innings per, with an ugly 5.79 ERA.

Of course there's always a little caveat to these numbers, and in Hammel's case it's that his first two starts, which lasted a total of 6 1/3 innings, both came shortly after his move to the rotation, and also while the Rockies collectively sucked. So we'll just throw those two starts out.

That leaves him with a 6 inning average and a 2.25 ERA. Mhm... that's much better.

Hammel's gameplan tonight should be a rather simple one: Don't let anyone other than Adrian Gonzalez on base.  That way, when Gonzalez hits his inevitable home run, it won't kill you.

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