It wasn't always pretty, but the Colorado Rockies completed a sweep of the lowly Houston Astros Wednesday afternoon and finished their cupcake homestand with the 7-2 record they needed to not completely fall off the map. That's all you can really ask of them at this point. Regardless of how (walk-off wild pitch), just beat the teams you're supposed to beat.
Inch towards .500.
And then pray for miracles.
Rockies 7, Astros 6 in 10 (boxscore)
Talk about a fast start. Colorado's first four batters reached and scored - capped by Troy Tulowitzki's two-run home run - putting Wandy Rodriguez (their recent waiver claim), on the ropes early. But Wandy quickly battled off those ropes, allowing only a Carlos Gonzalez two-run homer in the 4th in his next five innings.
It actually reminded me a lot of a typical Esmil Rogers start (whose spot he would have likely taken in the rotation had the deal materialized), but Rodriguez is better than that nine times out ten.
Aaron Cook was very 2010-2011 Aaron Cookish today. Slow start. Rockies come right back and give him the lead. Then he gives it right back. It is what it is with Cook. Some days it's there. Most days it isn't.
And then Jason Hammel took the hill in his first relief appearance of the season. You could hear the groans from Colorado all the way here in Illinois; but guess what, Jason Hammel worked two very good innings and kept the score even at six. I can almost guarantee you Hammel is not liking this current arrangement, but I can also definitely guarantee you he's going to handle it professionally and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it were a success.