The Colorado Rockies are poised to sweep the Detroit Tigers on Father's Day thanks to their fourth consecutive victory Saturday night at Coors Field. The four game winning streak has accomplished a couple of noteworthy deeds. One, they reached the .500 mark for the first time since May 25th. Two, they knocked the Tigers out of first place in the AL Central Division. The sweep will be difficult, as they face one of the very best hurlers in the big leagues, Justin Fucking Verlander. The righty is 8-3, 2.66 ERA, 3 complete games (two shutouts), American League strikeout leader (105) and possessor of a no-hitter already this year (May 7 vs the Toronto Blue Jays) and a near-no-no last Tuesday against the Cleveland Indians. He finished his most recent gem with a two-hit shoutout of the Indians that propelled the Tigers into temporary possession of first place, until today. I hold very low hope that the Rockies will beat Justin Fucking Verlander, but the way the Rockies are playing, it could happen.
One big key for a Colorado win, and the series sweep, will be if Rockie starter Aaron Cook can keep the Tiger batting order in check, because it's unlikely that there will be many runs scored against Verlander. He is 3-1 this year on the road with an ERA of 2.80 and rival batters have hit a measly .179 against this premier pitcher, who can dial up the heat to 100+ mph and bend you over with mind-boggling breaking stuff. He's a threat to toss a no-no every time he takes the mound. Jason Giambi is the only current Rockie who owns a home run vs J.F.Verlander, he has two, and a .308 average (4 for 13, 6 Ks) in his career against the Detroit fireballer. I'm guessing that Giambi will be in the lineup Sunday, as Todd Helton (0 for 2 vs JFV, 1 walk) will probably be resting his bones and body. Chris Iannetta (1 for 2, 1 K), Ryan Spilborghs (0 for 2, 1 BB), Troy Tulowitzki (1 for 2, double) and Ty Wigginton (2 for 9, double, 3 Ks) are the only current Rockies to have faced J.F. Verlander. Too bad Jose Morales broke his thumb, he's 4 for 8 in his career against the Tiger righty during his time in the American League with Minnesota.
The Rockies pounded the Tigers on Friday night, 13-6, when they shelled Detroit starter Rick Porcello (6-5) and reliever Adam Wilk for 14 hits and 13 runs in seven innings. Local Highlands Ranch High School graduate, Daniel Schlereth, son of former Denver Bronco and current ESPN sports personality, Mark Schlereth, mopped up the bottom of the eighth for the Tigers by striking out Helton, retiring Tulo and striking out Seth Smith. The Rockies hit parade included 2B Chris Nelson's first Major League home run, a three-run shot that capped off the Rockies' 6-run second inning. The Rockies only left 4 runners on base, their most efficient game of the season, by far.
Carlos Gonzalez also blasted his 10th homer, part of a 4-RBI night for the Rockies' new and thriving leadoff hitter and centerfielder. Since being inserted into the leadoff spot in the order on June 7th against the Padres, the Rockies are 7-4 and CarGo has batted .417 (20 for 48), with 2 HRs, 6 doubles, 9 RBIs, 8 runs scored. He has an 11-game hitting streak and has raised his batting average for the season to .280 from .250. At the same time, Troy Tulowitzki has been heating up, so it is no small wonder that the Colorado Rockies have had some success in the last 12 days. By putting Gonzalez in the leadoff spot, he has become more disciplined at the plate, swinging at strikes and controlling the strike zone like the 2010 National League batting champion. It is also readily apparent that Chris Nelson has clicked efficiently both at 2nd base and in the two-hole of the Rockies batting order. (I take back what I said about he being a lesser option to Jonathan Herrera). Helton is Helton and the only surprising thing about the future Hall of Famer, is that he attempted a stolen base tonight, unsuccessfully, but still very inspiring. The other major spark has been supplied by rookie LF Charlie Blackmon, who entered tonight's game with a .410 batting average after his first eleven games in the Major Leagues that began on, June 7th. He has shown rare poise, both in the batter's box and in the outfield, along with 5 stolen bases in 5 attempts. Ty Wigginton has provided a productive bat as the regular third baseman, since June 7th.
Hmmmm, perhaps we need to mark June 7, 2011 as the day the Colorado Rockies began their march to the National League West Division title on their way to the National League pennant en route to their first World Series title in franchise history. Okay, I'm getting a little ahead of myself, maybe, but let's take what we have right now: all the signs point to the Rockies going on a sustained victory run. A productive lineup with good-to-great pitching, a manager who has resisted tinkering with a winning combination, Coors Field crowds of over 41,000 and only 3-1/2 games behind the first place San Francisco Giants. The Rockies were very efficient tonight, as Ubaldo Jimenez earned his second win of the season (first at Coors Field) and the Rox beat Detroit 5-4. Good (enough) pitching, timely hitting (Ubaldo's first hit since last September came with the bases loaded), great defense (two more Tiger runners cut down at home plate) and an enthusiastic crowd of 48,555 have the Rockies on a roll.
Now, if we could just get over that fucking Verlander hurdle tomorrow. Then, on to Cleveland, to return the favor to the Tigers by knocking the Indians out of first place, and then, Yankee Stadium to, well, let's just see how the next few days go.
Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there. My Dad never really followed, or liked sports that much, but he taught us kids alot of life lessons through fishing and the outdoors. His chapel was the Rocky Mountains and his campus was alongside a meandering North Platte, or Yampa, or Tarryall River. He was a humble yet proud man, wise and principled, and I miss him dearly, gone now 18 years. His birthday will be on Tuesday, it's always near or on Father's Day, and I shall go visit the cemetery, light some incense and play "Danny Boy" for him one more time as I tell him how his grandkids and great-grandsons are doing, how proud he'd be of them, how much they'd love to go fishing with him. Cheers.
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