Rockies Battle Through Adversity, Beat Diamondbacks

Riding a four-game losing streak (and having dropped six out of their last seven), the Rockies were in need of a big game last night.

They were depending on Franklin Morales, who was added back into the starting rotation after being sent down to continue getting regular work. Considering the other pitchers' recent struggles, Morales would have impressed by just keeping the Rockies in the game for at least six innings.

After pitching two innings and delivering himself with an RBI single in the top of the third, Morales came out to warm up in the bottom half of the inning. He threw one warmup pitch to Yorvit Torrealba, and the catcher immediately recognized that there was a problem. He called trainer Keith Dugger to the mound, and Morales' night was done.

Glendon Rusch came in and promptly gave up two runs in the third inning. Overall, he allowed four earned runs in two-and-a-third innings.

But even more disappointment came in the fifth for the Rockies. With no one out and runners on second and third base, it almost seemed as if Colorado knew what was going to happen: Brad Hawpe, Ian Stewart, and Clint Barmes all failed to score even a single run.

The bottom half of the inning arrived, and the Diamondbacks promptly put up two more on the board.

It was at this moment, however, where the club may have turned the corner. In previous days, Colorado would roll over and go through the motions for the remainder of the contest, letting the opposing squad pile on more runs and just hoping the game ends soon enough to start looking for tomorrow.

But not tonight.

The Rockies bounced back in the sixth. Once again, they had runners on second and third with no one out.

Instead of swinging at every pitch and trying to force some runs across the plate, rookie Dexter Fowler worked a five-pitch walk to load the bases. Ryan Spilborghs, battling through a season-long slump, hit into a double play but plated a run. Then Todd Helton bounced a ball through the left side to score two more.

The Rockies ended up getting four runs in the inning and a lead that they would not relinquish.

Todd Helton later launched his first home run of the season deep into the right field seats off D-Backs reliever Jon Rauch. Helton had three hits on the evening, and over the past two contests has continued to look more and more comfortable at the plate.

It was the first time this season that Colorado found a way to grind through adversity. All of Spring Training, the emphasis was on moving runners over and not trying to do "too much," yet that was exactly what was not happening through the first 12 games of the season.

But this game, it seemed as if the Colorado offense finally relaxed, found a way to simply get good at-bats, and hit good pitches.

Still, consider the fact that Chris Young, the Diamondbacks center fielder, was credited with 11 putouts, and that none of the balls that were hit to Young were soft balls. In fact, several of them were hit all the way to the warning track.

When this offense settles down and does not worry about how they are going to force a base hit or try and put a ball into the seats, success will become contagious, and the hits will keep rolling.

The Rockies' bullpen was a huge plus on the night. Matt Belisle, who had been struggling, worked one-and-two-thirds scoreless innings and earned the win. Alan Embree, Huston Street, and Manny Corpas were all lights-out and seemed to come out of the 'pen sure of themselves.

If this Rockies team can continue to play with confidence and find their stride right now, they should be right in the mix of things in the National League West.