Streakers

Thursday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers was just what the doctor ordered.  The first back-to-back, two-game winning streak for the Rockies in over three weeks.  The most gratifying aspect of this victory was that Colorado battled back from two different 4-run deficits to beat the Bums.

Colorado rookie pitcher, Juan Nicasio, in only his third career start in the bigs, lasted only 5 innings.  Dodger CF Matt Kemp continued his torrid hitting by pounding a leadoff homer in the top of the 4th, his National League-leading 18th round-tripper.  Only Milwaukee's Prince Fielder has driven in more runs than Kemp's 53 RBIs in the NL.  The Dodgers began to pull away in the 5th.  LHP Clayton Kershaw started the rally with a single up the middle with one out. After a single from RF Andre Ethier and a triple by the hot Kemp, the Dodgers had their first 4-run advantage.  That was the end of Nicasio's night.

The Rockies got three runs back in the 6th, highlighted by SS Troy Tulowitzki's bases-loaded double (2 RBIs), and an RBI ground out from 3B Ty Wigginton.  The Rockies were within a run of the Dodgers, but LHP Matt Reynolds had a regrettable appearance in the 7th, surrendering 3 runs on 4 hits, a walk, a wild pitch and a throwing error by battery mate C Jose Morales.  The top of the 7th finally ended with the Dodgers crafting their second 4-run lead, 7-3.

The Rockies' half of the 7th seemed to last forever.  Dodger manager Don Mattingly made three pitching changes as the Rockies sent 11 men to the plate in the decisive 5-run inning.  Colorado scratched out 4 singles (rookie LF Charlie Blackmon, Morales, CF Carlos Gonzalez and Tulowitzki), a hit batsman (Wigginton) and three walks, two of which came with the bases loaded.  The 5 runs gave the Rockies the lead, 8-7, as the crowd of 26,066 was treated to an offensive display that hasn't been seen for quite awhile. 

The Rockies added an insurance run in the 8th, as 2B Chris Nelson drove home RF Seth Smith with a sacrifice fly to deep right-centerfield.  Rafael Betancourt (2-0) was awarded the official scorer's win after he pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning.  Huston Street got his 18th save by allowing a lone double to Andre Ethier before striking out Matt Kemp and inducing pinch hitter Rod Barajas to fly out to Seth Smith to end the thrilling (for Rockies fans) contest, 3-1/2 hours after it began.  Let's hope that the Rockies can maintain the energy and effectiveness over the next game, and the next.  Three out of four from the Dodgers is what is needed.  San Francisco lost Thursday night, shut out at home 3-0 by the Cincinnati Reds.  The Rox pulled to within 4-1/2 games of the division-leading Giants, and remained 3-1/2 back of the surprising Arizona Diamondbacks, who shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0, on the road.

The Rockies now have exactly 100 games left in the regular season.  They must finish this home stand with at least five wins out of the seven to keep pace in the West.

Last night offered up a taste of what can be possible when Rockies hitters string together productive at-bats with runners on base.  After all, you can't have a winning streak until you at least win two in a row.