Rockies split doubleheader with Mets
July 31, 2009
NEW YORK (AP)—For Johan Santana(notes), it was just another outstanding July. ToJorge De La Rosa(notes), it was a second straight month to remember.
De La Rosa set a franchise record by winning his seventh consecutive startand the Colorado Rockies beat New York 4-2 on Thursday night, earning a split inthe day-night doubleheader and snapping the Mets’ five-game winning streak.
“I feel great. I feel more relaxed right now,” De La Rosa said. “I thinkI’m pitching very good so I just have to be focused every game I go out andpitch.”
The Mets won the opener 7-0 behind Santana, who struck out eight in sevensharp innings. Angel Berroa(notes) had a two-run double in New York’s five-run secondand David Wright(notes) also drove in two runs.
“A well-located fastball makes the whole difference, and that’s what I wasdoing today,” Santana said. “I was able to command my fastball better thanbefore and then that opens up the strike zone.”
Series at a Glance Colorado 3 NY Mets 7 Mon, Jul 27 – Final Colorado 0 NY Mets 4 Tue, Jul 28 – Final Colorado 0 NY Mets 0 Wed, Jul 29 – Ppd. Colorado 0 NY Mets 7 Thu, Jul 30 – Final Colorado 4 NY Mets 2 Thu, Jul 30 – Final
Clint Barmes(notes) hit a tiebreaking two-run homer and De La Rosa pitched 6 1-3solid innings in the second game for the Rockies, who avoided a four-game seriessweep with the victory in the makeup of Wednesday night’s rainout. TroyTulowitzki(notes) had a nice all-around nightcap, robbing Luis Castillo(notes) of a hit with agreat play at shortstop and contributing a couple of key at-bats.
“It was a big win, one of our bigger ones,” Tulowitzki said.
Fernando Tatis(notes) had an outstanding diving catch in left and a solo homer forthe Mets, who finished with just six hits.
Jeff Francoeur’s(notes) fourth-inning sacrifice fly gave New York the lead in thesecond game but Ryan Spilborghs(notes) singled in Tulowitzki in the sixth, tying it at1 and ending Colorado’s scoreless streak at 27 innings. It was the Mets’ longestshutout streak since a 28-inning stretch from May 22-26, 2004.
The Rockies went ahead for good in the seventh. De La Rosa hit a leadoffdouble off Jonathon Niese(notes) (1-1). After Tatis robbed Seth Smith(notes) of his third hit,Barmes belted a drive to left for his 14th homer.
Niese departed after Todd Helton(notes) singled and Tulowitzki hit Brian Stokes’(notes)first pitch off the wall in left for a run-scoring triple, increasing Colorado’slead to 4-1.
“I made a few mistakes and they made me pay for them,” Niese said.
De La Rosa (9-7) surrendered Tatis’ sixth homer in the bottom half and leftafter Daniel Murphy(notes) flied out. The left-hander allowed three hits to improve to9-1 in his last 10 starts, the only loss coming on June 16 against Tampa Bay. Heis 5-0 with a 2.50 ERA in six games this month, including his only reliefappearance of the year on July 12 against Atlanta.
Colorado Rockies' Troy Tul… AP – Jul 30, 10:52 pm EDT
“Jorge De La Rosa was terrific,” manager Jim Tracy said. “He kept us inthe game.”
Four relievers combined to finish, with Huston Street(notes) working the ninth forhis 26th save.
Santana (12-8) allowed four hits and walked one in his first career outingagainst Colorado, closing out the month with a 3-2 record and a sparkling 1.82ERA in five starts. He also improved to 20-11 with a 3.34 ERA in 53 career gamesin July.
“Obviously, our ace did his job today,” said Alex Cora(notes), who had two of theMets’ 11 hits in the opener.
Bobby Parnell(notes) and Tim Redding(notes) each pitched an inning to finish thefour-hitter.
New York’s five-run second was its biggest inning since it scored five inthe first at Washington on June 7. The Mets have scored five or more runs injust six of Santana’s 21 starts this season.
“When you’re dealing with a starter of Johan Santana’s stature you can’tafford to have an inning like we had in the second inning,” Tracy said. “Youspot him a five-run lead and the hole is close to being impossible to climb outof.”
Colorado Rockies' Jorge De… AP – Jul 30, 10:19 pm EDT
Jason Hammel(notes) (5-6) lasted just 1 1-3 innings for the Rockies, allowing fiveruns and seven hits in his shortest outing of the season. The right-hander was4-2 with a 2.08 ERA in eight road starts before the loss.
“You take three out of four from a very good ballclub, that should give youa lot of confidence going forward,” Wright said.
NOTES: Mets general manager Omar Minaya has apologized to a beat reporterfor questioning his motives and credibility during a bizarre news conferenceMonday. The writer accepted the apology, saying the GM’s “remorse was sincere”when they met Wednesday. … Mets C Brian Schneider(notes) got a cortisone shot for hisbalky left knee on Wednesday and is expected to play Friday night againstArizona. … The Mets designated RHP Elmer Dessens(notes) for assignment and recalled CRobinson Cancel(notes) from Triple-A Buffalo for some insurance behind the plate. …Tulowitzki is batting .588 (10 for 17) over his last six games.
