Rock Solid ReCAP: 15 Runs. A win. Woah!

Rockies 15, Cardinals 4 (boxscore)

Well I didn't see that coming. Jaime Garcia entered play today with a 1.93 ERA and he exited in the fourth inning with a 3.28 ERA. Yes, the Rockies plated 12 runs (11 earned) on this season's version of Ubaldo Jimenez while in the midst of maybe the most extensive and infuriating offensive slump we've seen them have in 18+ years.

And they did it in support of Juan Nicasio -- a kid with an electronic fastball, solid changeup and developing breaking stuff -- making his major league debut against the hottest offense in the National League. He didn't need that much support. He was brilliant, allowing one run (unearned) over seven innings, and actually made a lot more quality pitches than I expected him to.

It was a lot of fun to watch. Hopefully we only saw a small sample of what this kid will offer as he continues developing some of those secondary pitches. Very impressive debut.

Now back to the offense.

First of all, Eric Young leads off the game with a single and STEALS A BASE. I almost stopped watching right there so I could leave with a positive visual. But it only got better as Dexter Fowler followed with a 10-pitch walk after being behind in the count 0-2.

Those two plate appearances are textbook for table setters. Patience, contact, speed. It provided the middle of the order a solid foundation to build from against an all-star pitcher. And then Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki and Todd Helton each followed with singles to plate those two runs and load the bases. Great start.

Ty Wigginton then struck out. Ho hum.

But that set up maybe the most important at-bat of the game. Ryan Spiborghs didn't allow the offensive momentum to fizzle out. Instead he worked a 7-pitch walk for an easy RBI and to keep the line moving. The Rockies would tack on three more thanks to a Chris Iannetta two-run single and an Eric Young RBI single.

6-0.

Spilborghs had another outstanding at-bat in 2nd, singling home one with two outs. He then tripled home two in the 4th. Chris Iannetta cleaned up again with a two-run homer right after.

12-0

Iannetta would hit another two-run homer in the 8th, giving him a career high two home runs, four hits and six RBI. That's definitely worthy of player of the game, yet I think we need to cut that into thirds because Spilborghs and Nicasio deserve a piece of the pie as well.

Any way you slice it, it was a much needed performance for several players and the team as whole. Maybe THIS will be the start of something good. Maybe all the frustration has come to a head and burst.

Maybe not. We've seen the Rockies breakout before, only to follow up with more of the same. Guess we just have to tune in again tomorrow to see where we go from here.

Lineup Card: 5-28-11 Rockies vs Cardinals

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

• Last night's Recrap: That's not going to work
• Denver Post: "You can't go to your locker and cry."
• Rockies Woman: Rockies = Slump killers

Lineup

Colorado Rockies (24-26)

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

In: Dexter Fowler back in center, hitting second. 

Out: Jonathan Herrera. Ugh

St. Louis Cardinals (31-21)

1. SS Ryan Theriot
2. LF Jon Jay
3. 1B Albert Pujols
4. RF Lance Berkman
5. CF Colby Rasmus
6. 2B Skip Schumaker
7. C   Yadier Molina
8. 3B Daniel Descalso
9. P   Jaime Garcia

Rock Solid Recrap: That's not going to work

Cardinals 10, Rockies 3 (boxscore)

-- Ubaldo Jimenez was bad again. He had one good inning in the 4th or 5th that gave me reason for some hope, but it fell apart again quickly after. It's not good, folks. It's not good at all. It's not going to work.

-- The Rockies had five hits and three runs through three innings. None of either in the final six. Yeah, that's not going to work.

-- I will be curious to see who's in center field tomorrow. If it's Eric Young again it will be obvious Dexter Fowler is the Rockie currently out of favor with Jim Tracy. Maybe it already is obvious. If that's the case. If that's where the Rockies were looking to upgrade, why not bring in Charlie Blackmon? Move Gonzalez to center. Let Blackmon play a corner. That COULD work, actually.

Maybe there's a clause in Gonzalez's new contract that says the Rockies owe him eleventy billion dollars if he plays one inning in center. I'm only kidding. I think.

Anyway, I know you want EY's speed in the lineup and he's a legit lead-off guy, but the problem is you're sticking an infielder in center field at Coors Field. That's not going to work. We saw why on this play right here. (Watch)

Ty Wigginton's lousy tag attempt won't work either.

-- Hat tip to Bruce Billings for his making his major league debut. He allowed five hits and one run over his two innings. Nothing special you'd say, but he did induce two double play balls, including one from Albert Pujols. So that's pretty cool.

-- Felipe Paulino's line tonight in his Kansas City debut (against Texas): 4 1/3, 1 H, 3 K. Yeah, **** you.

Wherever Jose Lopez ends up, he'll hit three home runs in his first game there. No question about it.

-- Juan Nicasio makes his major league debut on Saturday evening. I'm definitely interested to see what the kid has, but I'm honestly concerned for his baseball life. The Cardinals are on fire offensively. It just doesn't add up to a positive result on paper. Hopefully it adds up better on the field.

Lineup Card: 5-27-11 Rockies vs Cardinals

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

Last night's Recrap: The slide continues

Lineup

Colorado Rockies (24-25)

1. CF Eric Young 
2. 2B Jonathan Herrera
3. LF Carlos Gonzalez
4. SS Troy Tulowitzki
5. 1B Todd Helton
6. 3B Ty Wigginton
7. RF Ryan Spilborghs
8. C   Chris Iannetta
9. P   Ubaldo Jimenez

In: Eric Young takes over in CF tonight. Welcome back to the bigs young EY. Ryan Spilborghs gets the start in right.

Out: Dexter dropped to 8th yesterday and now drops completely out of the lineup. Seth Smith sits with a leg injury sustained last night chasing a flyball. Day-to-day as far as I know but I've been out of the loop all afternoon.

Gone for good: Jose Lopez. YAY.

St. Louis Cardinals (30-21)

1. SS Ryan Theriot
2. RF Jon Jay
3. 1B Albert Pujols
4. LF Lance Berkman
5. 2B Allen Craig
6. CF Colby Rasmus
7. C   Yadier Molina
8. 3B Daniel Descalso
9. P   Jake Westbrook

Rockies catch a break with no Matt Holliday tonight. He's dealing with a quad issue and there's no official word what his status is. He hasn't played since Sunday. 

Rock Solid Recrap: The slide continues

Diamondbacks 6, Rockies 3 (boxscore)

Here's what we had tonight.

-- 2nd inning: Chris Young on second with one out. Miguel Montero bounces back to Clayton Mortensen. Mortensen catches Young off second base. Rundown. Couple throws. Ty Wigginton's throw hits Young in the hand and everyone is safe.

These guys are fighting themselves so much that they can't even execute simple rundowns.

-- Clayton Mortensen ran into that issue that continues to cost Ubaldo Jimenez. He walked Stephen Drew and Young to start the 4th. Boom. Miguel Montero three-run homer. Just that fast. You lose for it three batters, you're down 3-0. Mortensen seems to be a guy with good control, but it just shows how costly those walks can be, even when they're few and far between.

He allowed one more run the 6th aided by Chris Iannetta's first throwing error of the season. Indeed every little mistake the Rockies make is crippling.

-- As for Mortensen, I like him. Why I like him so much I don't know. I guess because he's usually throwing strikes and hitting spots. He makes a lot of big pitches with his back against the wall. He's far from special -- mind you, but he seems to find a way to keep the offense within striking distance. As a #5 starter you'll definitely take that. This offense just isn't capable of striking right now.

-- Troy Tulowitzki bunting for a hit down three with two outs in the 6th. Took a great play by Montero (he was awesome tonight) to get Tulo, but seriously, why?

-- I defend Huston Street. I defend Huston Street. I defend Huston Street some more. With each defense, the next home run he allows goes about ten feet farther. You're on your own now, Huston. In fact, all Rockies are on their own now. I'll praise you when warranted, but I'm not going to bat for anyone.

Save Todd Helton. But I should never have to go to bat for Helton.

-- After the game the Rockies designated Jose Lopez for assignment and recalled Eric Young Jr. It's the right move to make. Lopez has done nothing to justify sticking around, despite being given ample opportunity to beat out Jonathan Herrera at second and play third base in wake of Ian Stewart's struggles. I may have DFAed Alfredo Amezaga first, just because his ceiling isn't as high as Lopez's, but either/or are expendable.

Young coming up gives Jim Tracy something he's desperately searching for right now -- a lead-off hitter than can put pressure on the defense. Whether or not he can consistently get on base at the ML level is the question with EY. I'm not counting on or asking for anything spectacular here, just a spark, or a pulse, or some form of consistency.

Where he plays in the field will be another interesting question. I could see him flipping back and forth between 2B and CF. Flip Herrera to third when he's at second. Give Fowler days off in CF. Ultimately I think this spells less playing for Ty Wigginton and Jason Giambi in the field.

-- Weekend series with the Cardinals. Difficult to envision this ending well right now. Someone surprise me.