Colorado Rockies: Crawl, Walk…..Forget To Run?

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday afternoon the Colorado Rockies played the rubber match of a three game series against the Miami Marlins. Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa (13-6) would be charged with leading the Rockies to their first series win on the road since before the All-Star break. Opposite De La Rosa would be 22-year-old Jacob Turner (3-4).

The story of the game had to be the nine walks issued by Rockies pitching and the Marlins inability to capitalize. Only in the first inning did Miami fail to put a runner on base, and further compounding the unpredictability of baseball is the fact the Rockies pitchers only induced one double play ball. They did combine to strike out nine and held Miami to only 2-13 with runners in scoring position.

Combine is an understatement. De La Rosa only pitched five innings in which he gave up all three runs, and still found a way run up his pitch count to 83. Five pitchers from the Colorado bullpen made an appearance, and all five held the 4-3 lead they inherited from De La Rosa. That included Rex Brothers, who recorded his 13th save of the year despite only throwing 15-29 pitches for strikes.

The Rockies offense, once again, had Michael Cuddyer to thank as he scored twice after a hit and a walk. If it is not a Rockies All-Star like Cuddy, then it seems to be a member of the Rockies youth movement who is providing the offense. Both Nolan Arenado and Ryan Wheeler drove in a run; Arenado’s RBI came with two outs as the 22-year-old continues to show poise beyond his experience.

After a road series win prior to a nine game home stand that begins Monday, and one in which Rockies fan will see Todd Helton‘s 2,500th career hit, I am asking if this is going to be the start of something that just might resemble the end of the 2007 season. More Rockies fans than me have to be having the recurring dream where Yasiel Puig gets thrown out by 30 feet to seal a Rockies victory in game 163 of this year.