Rockies Come Back Falls Short

The Coors Field magic fell just short as the Rockies come back from seven runs down in 5th inning came up one run shy in the end, losing 7-6 to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The game got off to a rough start for Jhoulys Chacin when he gave up a home run to Dodger lead-off hitter Dee Gordon, the first of Gordon’s career. Three batters and no outs later Andre Either made the score 4-0 with a three run shot of his own. A.J. Ellis would drive in a run with a double in the third, then hit a two run home run in the fifth, the third Chacin would allow on the night. Chacin’s problems early in 2012 continued, he regularly got behind hitters, had problems with this control and was very hittable when he was in the strike zone. Chacin would exit the game with 2 outs in the fourth inning giving up a career worst 7 runs on 11 hits and 4 walks while throwing 112 pitches. Josh Roenicke did his best to save the overworked bullpen, pitching 2 1/3 innings of scoreless, one hit ball.

Ted Lilly continued his early 2012 successes, and at one point retired ten straight Rockies hitters. His only mistake came in the 6th inning giving up a home run to Carlos Gonzalez with Eric Young, Jr. on first. The Rockies comeback attempt continued in the 7th inning when Lilly was lifted for a pinch hitter, then replaced by Josh Lindblom who would allow back to back doubles by Ramon Hernandez and Chris Nelson, followed by a two run home run by pinch hitter Tyler Colvin. Left handed reliever Scott Elbert came in after a Marco Scutaro single off Lindblom, and would get Carlos Gonzalez to ground out to second to end the inning. Troy Tulowitzki got the rally going again in the eight with a lead-off triple against Kenley Jansen, Todd Helton would score Tulowitzki with a warning track sacrifice fly to the deepest part of right-centerfield. That would be it for the comeback try though, Jansen struck out pinch hitter Jason Giambi to end the 8th, and Javy Guerra got Carlos Gonzalez to strike out to end the ninth with Wilin Rosario on second base, after a single and passed ball, as the tying run.

The loss drops the Rockies record to 11-12 and leaves them 5.5 games behind the Dodgers in the National League Western Division. Lilly improves to 3-0 with the win and Jhoulys Chacin falls to 0-3 with his season ERA ballooning to 7.30. The save went to Javy Guerra and is his eighth on the season.