Jeff Francis has made his long-awaited return to the Major Leagues! It was his first start since September 12, 2008. In 2008, Francis underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder. The surgery was a serious one, which few return from. However, during the day game at Coors Field, Francis pitched seven nearly flawless innings, giving up a first inning run, but striking out six. Rockies Manager, Jim Tracy, planned to keep Francis on a strict pitch count of 100 pitches, which Francis surpassed as he worked himself out of a two-on, no-out seventh inning, in which he struck out Scott Olsen and Nyjer Morgan and then got Ian Desmond to pop out. The game was indeed a pitching duel, as Francis faced off against Scott Olsen, who surrendered only a run also. The Rockies came through when Seth Smith drew a pinch-hit walk, and Carlos Gonzalez followed with a single. A sacrifice bunt by Dexter Fowler moved the runners into scoring position, and then Brad Hawpe, hit one deep to score a tagging Smith via the sacrifice fly. What a day of baseball! It's good to have you back, Francis!
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=300516127
Monday, May 17, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
May 10, 2010 - Rockies vs Phillies
Last night, May 10, 2010, I went to the game versus the Philadelphia Phillies.. My wife and I sat above the fountains in center field in Section 201. Pitching for us was Greg Smith and for the Phillies was Kyle Kendrick. We were a few minutes late and missed Shane Victorino's lead-off triple, and then Placido Polanco's sacrifice fly to right field to score Victorino. By the time we were in our seats the Rockies were batting. Immediately, in the first inning, Seth Smith singled to start off the Rockies. Speedy Dexter Fowler sacrifice bunted Smith to second, and then a struggling Jason Giambi broke out of his early season slump with a single to right field scoring Smith. A couple innings later it seemed like déjà vu with Seth Smith (after doubling, and advancing on a ground out) on third, and Giambi up, as he whacked one to center field scoring Smith and the Rockies took their first lead, 2-1.
The game went back and forth in the 5th inning on some keys hits and unfortunate sloppy play. With one out in the 5th, with Victorino on third base and Polanco on first base, the Rockies had a perfect double play ball to shortstop Clint Barmes, which was fed to Melvin Mora at second, but was lost in the exchange. Mora held on long enough to make the out at second, but Polanco disrupted the play enough for Victorino to score and for the inning to continue. Which, the inning did continue on a double by Jayson Werth to left field, which scored Howard from first when Seth Smith badly misjudged the ball off the left field wall, putting the Phillies up 3-2.
Upset by his error earlier in the inning, Seth Smith roped a ball down the right field line, raced around the bases and stood up with a Triple. Fowler walked, and then picther Kendrick balked in Smith, and advanced Fowler to second base. Brad Hawpe singled to center, scoring Fowler, and giving the Rockies the lead 4-3.
In the 6th inning, Carlos Ruiz homered to left field (414 feet), and then a triple by Victorino and a Matt Daley wild pitch relinquished the lead back to the Phillies, 5-4. The Rockies tied it up an inning later when Giambi singled to center field with Fowler on second base and Hawpe on first, 5-5.
The night finally unraveled for the Rockies in the 9th inning with Manny Corpas pitching. Wild pitching led Corpas to plunk Ryan Howard, and a wild pitch advanced him to second base. With first base open, the Rockies walked Raul Ibanez. Ruiz singled in Howard to center field, and the nail in the coffin was a pinch hit home run by Ross Gload to right field (391 feet). Former Rockies reliever, Jose Contreras came in for the 9th inning, and after two straight ground outs, Giambi doubled to deep left center field. But Mora couldn't follow up Giambi's deep double and flied out to right field ending the game.
The night's box score presented by ESPN.com is available here:
http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=300510127
The game went back and forth in the 5th inning on some keys hits and unfortunate sloppy play. With one out in the 5th, with Victorino on third base and Polanco on first base, the Rockies had a perfect double play ball to shortstop Clint Barmes, which was fed to Melvin Mora at second, but was lost in the exchange. Mora held on long enough to make the out at second, but Polanco disrupted the play enough for Victorino to score and for the inning to continue. Which, the inning did continue on a double by Jayson Werth to left field, which scored Howard from first when Seth Smith badly misjudged the ball off the left field wall, putting the Phillies up 3-2.
Upset by his error earlier in the inning, Seth Smith roped a ball down the right field line, raced around the bases and stood up with a Triple. Fowler walked, and then picther Kendrick balked in Smith, and advanced Fowler to second base. Brad Hawpe singled to center, scoring Fowler, and giving the Rockies the lead 4-3.
In the 6th inning, Carlos Ruiz homered to left field (414 feet), and then a triple by Victorino and a Matt Daley wild pitch relinquished the lead back to the Phillies, 5-4. The Rockies tied it up an inning later when Giambi singled to center field with Fowler on second base and Hawpe on first, 5-5.
The night finally unraveled for the Rockies in the 9th inning with Manny Corpas pitching. Wild pitching led Corpas to plunk Ryan Howard, and a wild pitch advanced him to second base. With first base open, the Rockies walked Raul Ibanez. Ruiz singled in Howard to center field, and the nail in the coffin was a pinch hit home run by Ross Gload to right field (391 feet). Former Rockies reliever, Jose Contreras came in for the 9th inning, and after two straight ground outs, Giambi doubled to deep left center field. But Mora couldn't follow up Giambi's deep double and flied out to right field ending the game.
The night's box score presented by ESPN.com is available here:
http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=300510127
Monday, May 10, 2010
WUNDERGROUND - Weather Tracker for Rockies Games!
Check this embedded weather tracker, set up for Rockies games, check it out before the game tonight to know how to prepare!
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