Rock Solid Recap: Eight Run 10th Was A Thing Of Beauty

Rockies 12, Tigers 4 (boxscore)

I'm admittedly running out of gas after writing six posts for Big League Stew in a little over 24 hours, but how could I not muster up the energy to write about the Rockies snapping their eight-game losing streak overall, and their nine-game losing streak in interleague play.

Winning Player: Chris Nelson

Nelson was the pacesetter for the offense with his RBI triple in the 3rd and his two-run homer in the 4th. Both hits gave the Rockies a lead, the second of which came right after the Tigers had scored three in the 3rd to take the lead themselves. Those are big time contributions from a guy I've honestly been ready to give up on for a while now, and may not even be here this weekend had Troy Tulowitzki returned as scheduled.

Good for you, Nelly. Hope you stay hot and keep earning your spot.

Turning Point: The entire 10th inning was gorgeous. Every damn person in the lineup did something to contribute, including laying down good bunts, drawing walks, productive outs, and then it was all capped by the back-to-back home runs from Carlos Gonzalez and Michael Cuddyer.

I'm telling you, when this offense clicks, it's a fun thing to experience.

When this offense clicks and the pitching doesn't embarrass themselves, it's even more fun.

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Lineup Card: Rockies @ Tigers 6-15-12

Thursday's Recrap: Crappyball

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (24-38)

1. Dexter Fowler (CF)
2. Marco Scutaro (SS)
3. Carlos Gonzalez (LF)
4. Michael Cuddyer (2B)
5. Jason Giambi (DH)
6. Todd Helton (1B)
7. Jordan Pacheco (3B)
8. Wilin Rosario (C)
9. Chris Nelson (2B)

SP - Jeff Francis (0-1, 21.60)

Detroit Tigers (30-33)

1. Austin Jackson (CF)
2. Brennan Boesch (RF)
3. Miguel Cabrera (3B)
4. Prince Fielder (1B)
5. Delmon Young (DH)
6. Jhonny Peralta (SS)
7. Ryan Raburn (LF)
8. Danny Worth (2B)
9. Bryan Holaday (C)

SP - Casey Crosby (1-1, 9.35)

If you had told me three months ago the Rockies would only be 5 1/2 games worse than the Tigers at this point, I would have been doing cartwheels for the first time in 15 years.

Funny game, isn't it?

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

Rock Solid Recrap: Crappyball

Athletics 8, Rockies 2 (boxscore)

What Went Wrong: We caught a little glimpse of what our present and future would have looked like had Arizona held on to Jarrod Parker. He was absolutely phenomenal today (7 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 6 K) against an offense that was starting to string together some big games, and stands a strong chance to be phenomenal for a long, long time. Thankfully that will now happen in the American League West.

Turning Point: Scoreless game in the 2nd. Oakland had runners at the corners with one out when Adam Rosales chopped one to Jordan Pacheco at third. Pacheco had to charge and move towards to the line to field the ball, and then unloaded an off balance throw to first that skipped past Tyler Colvin, allowing both runners to score on the play.

It was exactly as it sounds: a mess. But I firmly believe Pacheco made the right call not throwing home because Brandon Moss was 75 feet down the line and he didn't have a clear shot. As for the other side, the throw wasn't good, but that's a ball Todd Helton picks 99 times out of 100.

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Lineup Card: Rockies vs A's 6-14-12

Wednesday's Recrap: Here's Your Free 90 Feet, Mr. Crisp 

Lineups

Colorado Rockies (24-37)

1. Dexter Fowler (CF)
2. Marco Scutaro (SS)
3. Carlos Gonzalez (LF)
4. Michael Cuddyer (RF)
5. Tyler Colvin (1B)
6. Jordan Pacheco (3B)
7. Wilin Rosario (C)
8. Chris Nelson (2B)
9. Alex White (P)

Oakland Athletics (30-35)

1. Coco Crisp (CF)
2. Cliff Pennington (SS)
3. Josh Reddick (RF)
4. Seth Smith (LF)
5. Brandon Inge (3B)
6. Brandon Moss (1B)
7. Kurt Suzuki (C)
8. Adam Rosales (2B)
9. Jarrod Parker (P)

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

Rock Solid Recrap: Here's Your Free 90 Feet, Mr. Crisp

Athletics 10, Rockies 8 (boxscore)

What Went Wrong: The Rockies hit extremely well. Got a starting effort from Josh Outman that sadly probably qualifies as a best case scenario. The bridge relievers (Adam Ottavino, Rex Brothers and Matt Belisle) weren't exactly sharp, but managed to get the ball to Rafael Betancourt with an 8-7 lead.

And then it happened. The 9th inning.

Turning Point: Coco Crisp led off that 9th inning with the most Coors Field bloop single possible (a popfly that dropped between LeMahieu, Cuddyer and Fowler), and then advanced to second on Jemile Weeks' bunt. I guess it was a sacrifice(?) but it took a great play from Betancourt and Helton to get that out.

That brings us to our big turning point here.

Crisp is an aggressive base stealer. He grabbed 49 bags last season. Had a respectable eight this year despite a DL stint. So naturally Betancourt pays him no attention and Crisp takes the 90 feet without so much as an acknowledge from Rosario, because he was already high-fiving Mike Gallego when the pitch was received.

A handful of pitches later, Crisp scored the tying run on a shallow flyball to right field. Michael Cuddyer made the play close at the plate, but Crisp expertly slid around the tag. So we had some bad luck involved here that put Crisp on base in the first place. That is what it is, and who knows how the Weeks at-bat plays out in a different scenario. But that lack of attention to detail with Crisp at second is what's mind-boggling and maddening.

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