Despite Series Loss, Colorado Rockies Turning the Corner

The Colorado Rockies went into San Francisco looking to win consecutive series for the first time this season. The end result was not what they were looking for, but there are signs that the Rockies are ready to turn the corner.

Sunday's 1-0 loss in 10 innings was the Rockies seventh one-run loss this season. They have yet to win a one-run affair.

That statistic alone is disheartening, but the other side of the table would suggest that a statistic like that eventually will even itself out.

It may sound a little strange to think that the Rockies could come away with a positive feeling after losing series. But one more look at the series shows they perhaps are ready to soon be hitting on all cylinders.

The starting pitching for the Rockies, specifically Ubaldo Jimenez, has been suspect to say the least. Since Jimenez baffled the Diamondbacks in his season debut, it has seemed as if the Jimenez that showed up that night must have missed the team plane in Arizona.

He was erratic on a cold day in Chicago. Then could not find the zone in Los Angeles.

Then he gave up four earned runs in the first inning against the Dodgers at Coors Field.

Friday night was a different story. Jimenez pitched his way through seven strong innings, giving up three runs while walking two and hitting a batter. And the only runs that scored were the runners put on via the walk or hit batsman.

It was not the Jimenez that Rockies fans saw in his season debut, but it was a step in the right direction.

Then came Saturday afternoon in which Jason Marquis continued to prove that he was the best offseason acquisition that the Rockies made.

He threw a compete game five hitter, giving up only one run—that run coming on a ninth-inning Pablo Sandoval RBI. It was the only bad pitch Marquis made all day. With the win, Marquis ran his record to 4-1.

After evening the series, the Rockies were anticipating the potential of a barn burning with Jason Hammel and Barry Zito going head-to-head.

The game was anything but a barn burner.

Zito pitched seven strong innings, giving up only two hits and a walk.

Hammel, acquired just before opening day from the Rays, matched Zito nearly pitch for pitch, tossing six shutout innings.

Before the game, Rockies manager Clint Hurdle mentioned that his goal for Hammel was simply to get into the fifth inning. He had to have been thrilled with the results to say the least.

Hammel gave up a hit in every inning he pitched and walked two, but got out of every jam.

The feeling on the mound Hammel was that he would figure out a way to get outs. And he did just that, keeping batters off balance with a nasty curveball and inducing 12 groundball outs.

The Rockies lost the series, but after encouraging starts by Jimenez and Aaron Cook, and the success of Jorge De La Rosa and Jason Marquis, the Rockies seem to have a very good chance of turning their early 9-14 record around.

Most teams are looking for three quality starters and two guys on the back end to hold their own against the competition. The Rockies are looking at having four quality starters, with a very capable Hammel in the fifth spot.

In addition to that, Franklin Morales is scheduled to begin throwing May 11, and could return to the Rockies in a month or so, looking to compete for a spot in that same rotation.

If the lineup can continue to find its groove, which it seems to be doing recently with Ryan Spilborghs and Todd Helton both swinging hot bats, the Colorado Rockies should find themselves in a good position to make a run.

They just need to make sure they are not too far out of the race to make it worthwhile.