The Dodgers own the Rockies. Plain and simple. There is no other way around it.
On Sunday, the Rockies had a chance to win a three-game series against the Dodgers for the first time since late September 2007, when the Rockies swept Los Angeles in Chavez Ravine en route to the World Series.
Since then, however, the Dodgers have simply pummeled the boys in purple. Sunday was no different as the Dodgers won a hard-fought game 4-3 at a sunny Coors Field.
Rockies rookie starter Jhoulys Chacin did a formidable job in keeping the Rockies in the game. He went 5 1/3 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits.
The wheels fell off for the 22-year-old in the sixth inning. He gave up three hits and two runs and recorded just one out before getting the hook.
The Rockies battled throughout the game. In the fifth inning, catching castoff Chris Iannetta had a chance to prove he belongs at the big league level. With two outs and the bases loaded, Iannetta smoked a pitch that looked like it would score at least two runs.
Instead, Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp made an incredible diving catch to end the inning. That play was the turning point in the game.
The Rockies dropped another series to the Dodgers, but walked out of a six-game home stand with a 4-2 record. It shows why it is so important to beat bad teams.
If the Rockies had been content with their series victory over the Diamondbacks and given in to Dan Haren on Thursday, the team would have flown to San Francisco with a .500 home stand, something that will not get them to the playoffs.
Despite the series loss to Los Angeles, it is becoming clear that the Rockies are figuring it out. They started out slowly, but the fact of the matter is, 2010 has been the club’s best start in four years.
Even though they sit just two games above .500, they are in a far better position than they were in either 2007 or 2009, when they found themselves in the playoffs.
If the team can continue to gel and find ways to stay in ballgames, they will find themselves climbing in the standings.
It could be scary to see what the Rockies can do if they get on a roll and find all of their cylinders firing at the same time consistently.
Monday’s Memorial Day game might be memorable for one reason in particular. Ubaldo Jimenez is taking the mound against Giants ace and two-time defending Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum.
Jimenez enters the game at 9-1 with a 0.88 ERA. He has a statement to make after Roy Halladay stole some of his thunder on Saturday night by throwing a perfect game.
Lincecum has struggled in his last two starts, but that should not be a good sign for the Rockies. It is hard to find a stretch of three straight games in Lincecum’s young career in which he has struggled.
Both the Giants and Rockies will be wearing white hats with red bills and stars in the middle of their logo on Monday in honor of Memorial Day.
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