Rockies Shut Out By Skaggs, Diamondbacks

As teammates bickered at one another about errors made in the field and walks issued by the pitchers, their high school baseball coach told them the following in a moment of wisdom:

You can’t win with zero anyway.

The DBacks won Friday night. Image: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

On paper last night appeared to be the match-up that most favored the Colorado Rockies in a key NL West series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Jorge De La Rosa started for the Rockies while Tyler Skaggs, a prospect of note but one who has not broken through on the Major League level yet, went for the Diamondbacks. In a tough weekend in which the Rockies cannot come away empty-handed, they presumably really wanted to win with De La Rosa on the mound. Instead they suffered a tough 5-0 loss Friday night.

As such things tightened up around the Rockies in a hurry as things came unraveled. Corey Dickerson and Tyler Colvin each had some issues in the outfield, with Colvin’s mistake costing the Rockies dearly. De La Rosa chucked a costly wild pitch as the Wilin Rosario of old seemed to appear for a moment, struggling to block a ball in the dirt.

Those kinds of mistakes stink no matter what. Problem is, this Rockies team was supposed to have the kind of offense to be able to mask deficiencies on the mound or on the field. Skaggs made sure that didn’t happen, dominating the Rockies’ injury-depleted lineup for eight shutout innings. So yes, the sloppy play was tough to stomach, but the Rockies weren’t going to win with zero runs anyway.

Sweeps have a huge impact when teams play within the division. It was noteworthy that the Rockies, 2.5 games back of first place entering the series, could conceivably leave Arizona in sole possession of first place. But you know what else?

They could leave Arizona 5.5 games back and in last place in the crowded division. The biggest uncertainties in the rotation, Drew Pomeranz and Roy Oswalt, are the projected starters and the team continues to be without Troy Tulowitzki and Dexter Fowler.

Let’s just say that things might get dicey this weekend.

It is important to conclude by noting the most important story line of the night, which was the tribute to the 19 fallen firefighters from the Yarnell Hill fire. The Diamondbacks players wore 19 patches on their home in their honor as they took the field Friday night.