All three home safely, thanks to Wiggy. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Greg’s efforts last night earned him some respect from his peers. Even if he struggled early, Jim Tracy was going to stick with Reynolds. He had no choice. Anything less than five innings would have been a disastrous result for the club. Reynolds answered the call. He went six and put the Rox in position to win. He battled out of several jams by throwing strikes and pounding his sinker. Reynolds probably won’t start many games this year, but, if he is needed, his manager and teammates know that he’ll go out there and battle. What more can you ask of your seventh starter?

On Friday, the Rockies approach at the plate was awful, but last night it was much better. They were more patient and had a few opportune hits. Seth Smith’s sixth-inning solo blast jump started the offense, but it was Ty Wigginton’s eighth-inning three-run double that decided the affair. Wiggy turned on a first pitch, 94 MPH inside fastball, driving it past a diving Pedro Alvarez at third. The double was Wiggy’s only hit of the night, but it couldn’t have been more timely, breaking open a tie game and giving the Rockies the lead for good.

Today, the Rox go for the series win with Jhoulys Chacin on the mound. Last time out, Chacin threw seven shut-out innings against the Dodgers. He doesn’t have to repeat that performance, but something close would be nice.
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Speaking of the top of the rotation, the team is being extra cautious with Ubaldo’s cut cuticle. He may miss Friday’s start against the Pirates.

Once again, the Rockies played an outstanding defensive game. There were the typical ho-hum web gems by Tulo and CarGo, but the guy that impressed me most was Ty Wigginton. When the Rockies signed Wigginton, I thought they were sacrificing defense for offense. Fans that have watched him play over the years told us as much. However, he was a vacuum cleaner at third last night. He showed range that none of us knew he had. Early in the game he saved Chacin’s butt twice.

It makes me wonder if defense is contagious. Wiggy is playing next to the best defensive shortstop in baseball and right behind him is the best defensive left fielder in baseball. Perhaps he doesn’t want to be embarrassed. Either way, the left side of the Rockies defense was outrageous last night. Right now the Rox have three guys that can play plus defense at the hot corner. That is a manager’s dream.
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