Rockies finish 3-game sweep of Nationals
July 8, 2009
DENVER (AP)—Waiting out Jorge De La Rosa’s(notes) early season struggles has allowedthe young Rockies left-hander to play a central role in Colorado’s mid-seasonsurge.
De La Rosa pitched effectively into the seventh inning to earn hiscareer-best fourth straight win, Ryan Spilborghs(notes) hit a bases-loaded triple tokey a four-run fifth and the Rockies beat the Washington Nationals 10-4Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.
Troy Tulowitzki(notes) hit a two-run homer among his three hits and Carlos Gonzalez(notes)added three more hits for the Rockies, who have beaten the Nationals sixstraight times since August.
Colorado’s third sweep in its last five home series put the Rockies sixgames over .500 for the first time this season. They have gone 30-15 (.666)since May 21, the best winning percentage in the majors.
De La Rosa (6-7) has been a key part of the Rockies’ resurgent play, winningsix of his last seven starts after going 0-6 with four no decisions in his first10. Manager Jim Tracy said the Rockies’ determination to keep him in therotation could prove to be one of the season’s pivotal decisions.
Series at a Glance Washington 0 Colorado 1 Mon, Jul 6 – Final Washington 4 Colorado 5 Tue, Jul 7 – Final Washington 4 Colorado 10 Wed, Jul 8 – Final
“When you’re trying to develop, patience is a key word,” Tracy said. “Youtalk about Jorge or another young guy like Carlos Gonzalez, if they’re going toget it, the only way they’re going to get it, is to go out there and do it. Whenyou get to the point where you can no longer do that any more, then it becomestime to make another decision, but we had not reached that point and Jorgeturned the corner. It could end up over the course of the second half of theseason being a very profitable decision.”
De La Rosa credited improvements in his two-seam fastball and control, alongwith an unwavering belief in himself, for the turnaround.
“I never lost my confidence,” he said. “I always believed in myself. I’mthrowing better. I’m throwing more first pitch strikes. I have much bettercommand.”
Washington manager Manny Acta said De La Rosa made it tough on Nationalshitters.
“He has quite an arsenal of pitches and can be tough when he’s throwingstrikes,” Acta said. “Today he was throwing strikes.”
De La Rosa shut down the Nationals until tiring in the seventh inning. Hestruck out Ryan Zimmerman(notes) to start the inning but then walked Adam Dunn(notes) andAustin Kearns(notes) around Josh Willingham’s(notes) single to load the bases and was liftedafter 6 1-3 innings.
Washington Nationals second ba… AP – Jul 8, 7:23 pm EDT
Josh Fogg(notes) relieved and Anderson Hernandez(notes) greeted him with a two-run single.Will Nieves followed with a sacrifice fly as the Nationals avoided being shutout for the second time in the series.
De La Rosa gave up three runs and five hits with five strikeouts and threewalks.
“Any time his walks are down, he ends up pitching a good game,” addedTulowitzki. “He has some of the best stuff I’ve seen from a lefty. Any time youpitch 94, 95 mph with a good changeup, you’re going to be tough to hit. So aslong as he challenges the strike zone, he gives us a chance to win.”
The Rockies built a 2-0 lead on run-scoring doubles by Todd Helton(notes) andDexter Fowler(notes) before taking control with a four-run fifth inning.
Rookie Ross Detwiler(notes) (0-5), who allowed six runs on eight hits in fourinnings, gave up successive singles to Helton and Garrett Atkins(notes) and walkedTulowitzki to load the bases. Spilborghs followed with a triple to left field,clearing the bases and chasing Detwiler, the Nationals’ top selection in theJune 2007 draft who is still seeking his first big league win.
“I was getting ahead of some people and didn’t finish them off. I left somepitches up and they got hit,” Detwiler said.
NOTES: Zimmerman was credited with an additional base hit in Tuesday night’s5-4 loss to Colorado after the official scorer reversed his decision chargingTulowitzki with an error on a seventh-inning play … LHP Matt Chico(notes), in themidst of a comeback from Tommy John surgery, was reinstated from the disabledlist by the Nationals and then optioned to Double-A Harrisburg. … Helton isfive doubles shy of becoming the 49th player with 500. … RF Spilborghsregistered his team-high sixth outfield assist when he threw out Nyjer Morgan(notes) atthird base as the Nationals’ leadoff man tried to advance on Alberto Gonzalez’s(notes)first-inning single. … The Rockies have six series sweeps overall this season.
