Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Colorado Rockies‘ Juan Nicasio took a perfect game in to the sixth inning versus the San Diego Padres with a four-run lead, and it wasn’t accidental, as Nicasio looked about as sharp as he has all season long, demonstrating great command and striking out seven Padre batters.
For 5.1 innings, Nicasio was perfect. At 5.2 innings, the wheels began to disassemble.
The Padres scored seven runs between the sixth and eighth innings. Nicasio gave up two, Edgmer Escalona (who left the game with triceps soreness) gave up three and Matt Beslise surrendered two in an uncharacteristic rough outing by the Rockies bullpen. The game eerily resembled game two of the series in which the Rockies led by five runs only to have San Diego later tie the game.
In 20 years of Rockies baseball, there are a few things you can count on every game. For instance, Dinger the mascot will show his enormous head behind the catcher as opposing pitchers try to close out games late, the ball does travel further in the Colorado night skies and there isn’t such a thing as a safe lead at Coors Field.
On Sunday, like clockwork, all three factors were on display.
In the ninth inning, the Rockies bats woke up from their five-inning slumber. Tyler Colvin, who was brought back to the big club Saturday, had his second RBI in as many games, and Carlos Gonzalez scored two on a double to right field to send the game to extra innings. Dexter Fowler came through in the tenth with a walk-off single to center field, scoring D.J. LeMahieu.
In a nutshell, or at the very least in two innings of baseball, the entire Rockies season was summarized. If it’s supposed to happen or the odds are favorable, one can expect the unexpected. But if the Rockies have their backs against the wall, you’re going to get a fight cause they come out swinging.
Nothing comes easy for the hard luck Blake Street gang, but the All-Star break isn’t far away and the Rockies are still in this thing. It certainly isn’t always pretty and there are more frustrations than not, but this is a scrappy team and they are most certainly entertaining to watch.
Jim Heath is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_heath, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
