Tulowitzki's blast leads Rockies to victory over
Mets and 8-2 start to the season.

post from Purple Row on 13 April 2011 11:01:57 PM. © Purple Row

Colorado Rockies left fielder Carlos Gonzalez dives to catch a ball hit by New York Mets' Ike Davis during the first inning of a baseball game on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, at CitiField in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Esmil Rogers pitched like a fifth starter this time. In other words, shaky through five and a two thirds innings, but just well enough to keep the Rockies in the game and give his team a chance to win, rather than the ace-like performance he put out in his prior start. Thanks in large part to a three run home run from Troy Tulowitzki, that level of performance was strong enough for Rockies to beat the Mets 5-4.

So there are a couple of ways we can take the narrative here, the first one is to coolly look at the facts and realize that winning this one was what we call, in the parlance of our times, "lucky". It was a one run win on the road, our starter couldn't find home plate even if the umpire's zone was consistent, and there were several key members of the lineup that went zero for something.

The second way to take the game narrative, however, might be a bit more meaningful for Rockies fans, as this was a team victory. When the starting pitcher flagged, the defense and bullpen were there to back him up. While large parts of the lineup struggled at first, the team leaders, Tulowitzki and Todd Helton carried the rest on their backs. The rest did what they could, though: Jonathan Herrera and Chris Iannetta battled for walks, getting on and creating scoring opportunities or just flipping the lineup respectively. Okay, so Herrera also battled for hits. And for stolen bases. His wizard skills are strong. Seth Smith, Carlos Gonzalez, Jose Lopez and Ryan Spilborghs hacked away and made (or tried to make) contact hoping to get something solid, and while there was a lot of failure in that bunch, once Spilborghs did connect, and his solo home run proved to be the difference.

Four wins in a row, all on the road... things are different in 2011. It's likely silly to think this, as it's certainly confirmation bias after an 8-2 start to the season, but it just feels like there's a better uhm... "chemistry" to the Rockies this year. Oh man, I said it. Now my baseball blogger license is going to get suspended again.

8 - 2

Games Back: 0

Streak: Won 4

Games Left: 152

via www.fangraphs.com

Roll Call: SDcat09, CentralCaliRox, EmersonCR, The Lodo Magic Man, prettyinpurple, hawperox, WalkInRight, DingerFan, Russ Oates, RhodeIslandRoxfan, I_Am_Marshall, Rox Girl, Arimaris, arpagamos, Shoemaker, Roxman4ever, Mondogarage, ddavis539, frightened inmate #2, squalene203, The Toddfather's Goatee, nodakroxfan, Muzia, Resolution, holly96, M4LCHIK, Paleface Destro, hjrrockies, Tom (RFTN), Junction Rox, nw3030, RoxFan1701, controlled_slide, Marisa Ingemi, CarRo2010, blooming rock, RockiesBrit, Andrew T. Fisher, biondino, Roxman, Rox Fever, jmpmk2, nightninja13, PetroCW, RoxnSox09, victor frankenstein, Teekalong, ZTC_87, roxintober, RdRnnr, Mr. Rockie, pacified, Roberbola, free7694, SpringStein, realmenwearpurple, glaucophane, Bloynoys, wolf213, TheFightingFarsi, Oldfoagie, HylianHero, Rox the Casbah, Cheeseandcorn, Hollidayrain, TehChamp, BittenAnkles, fantasyfencing, papality
Total Users: 69
Total Posts: 1492
Total Threads: 3

Read The Full Article:
http://www.purplerow.com/2011/4/13/2109922/tulowitzkis-blast-leads-rockies-to-vic
tory-over-mets-and-8-2-start-to

Digg this

Yankees Beat Orioles to Pull Into 1st Place

post from Bronx Baseball Daily on 13 April 2011 10:31:20 PM. © Bronx Baseball Daily

[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://bronxbaseballdaily.com/?p=14068

Digg this

Burnett moves to 8-0 in April with Yanks (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 13 April 2011 10:23:26 PM. © MLB News Blog

A.J. Burnett remained undefeated in April with the Yankees by pitching effectively into the seventh inning, Alex Rodriguez hit a three-run homer and New York beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-4 Wednesday night. Robinson Cano added a two-run double. Mark Teixeira had two hits and Jorge Posada homered as they ended slumps and helped New York [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/04/14/burnett-moves-to-8-0-in-april-with-yanks-ap
/

Digg this

Rockies franchise-best start now 8-2 (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 13 April 2011 10:21:30 PM. © MLB News Blog

Troy Tulowitzki hit a go-ahead homer through the thick fog and the Colorado Rockies, off to the best start in club history, beat the New York Mets 5-4 on Wednesday night. Ryan Spilborghs also connected and Esmil Rogers (2-0) won his second straight outing to begin the season as Colorado earned its fourth consecutive victory [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/04/14/rockies-franchise-best-start-now-8-2-ap/

Digg this

T-wenty-second T-Wol-ves Season T-Wrap-up

post from The WGOM on 13 April 2011 10:18:42 PM. © The WGOM

The season started with most of the few remaining die hard T-Wolves fans (and really, is there any other kind of T-Wolves fan at this point?) believing in what just about any other franchise would consider to be extremely modest goals. Show some improvement over last year, develop some young players, and maybe, just [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2011/04/13/t-wenty-second-t-wol-ves-season-t-wrap
-up/

Digg this

Rockies 5 Mets 4 April 13, 2011

post from The Mets Report on 13 April 2011 10:12:35 PM. © The Mets Report

The Mets lost their third straight game and their sixth of seven. It’s a really ugly start to the season losing at home like this. Jon Niese didn’t do anything to help his poor ERA tonight going 6 IP and allowing 5 runs. He was in pretty good shape until Troy Tulowitzki hit a 3-run ... Continue Reading

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MetsReport/~3/ASfXs5lY0FM/

Digg this

Dodgers Cancel Half-Price Beer Sales

post from 6-4-2 ? an Angels/Dodgers double play blog on 13 April 2011 10:04:26 PM. © 6-4-2 ? an Angels/Dodgers double play blog

I hate the blame-the-substance thinking that goes into this, but given the circumstances, it makes a certain amount of sense: the Dodgers are canceling plans to hold half-price alcohol sales at six games this year. Of course, we have no idea whether Bryan Stow's attackers were drunk at the time.

Read The Full Article:
http://6-4-2.blogspot.com/2011/04/dodgers-cancel-half-price-beer-sales.html

Digg this

Marlins Johnson loses no-hit bid in 8th (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 13 April 2011 10:03:33 PM. © MLB News Blog

Josh Johnson took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning before rookie Freddie Freeman doubled with one out, and the Florida Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 5-1 Wednesday night. Johnson (2-0), who held the New York Mets hitless for six innings on opening day, dominated the Braves for 7 1-3 innings, striking out nine and [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/04/14/marlins-johnson-loses-no-hit-bid-in-8th-ap/

Digg this

Halladay goes distance as Phils top Nats (AP)

At his dominant best until a shaky ninth inning, Roy Halladay held on to throw his first complete game of 2011, leading the Philadelphia Phillies past the Washington Nationals 3-2 Wednesday night. Through eight shutout innings, Halladay (2-0) allowed only a pair of singles by Adam LaRoche, who talked his way back into Washington’s lineup [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/04/14/halladay-goes-distance-as-phils-top-nats-ap
/

Digg this

Josh Johnson Dominates as Florida Beats Atlanta
5-1.

Josh Johnson was absolutely filthy tonight, no-hitting the Braves through 7.1 innings before giving up a double to Freddie Freeman.

On paper, Wednesday night's game was going to be a pitchers duel, with Josh Johnson going up against Tim Hudson. It turns out that while Hudson clearly didn't get the message, Johnson heard it loud and clear as the Marlins beat Atlanta 5-1.

Johnson was dominant from the start, as he carried a no hitter into the seventh inning before Freddie Freeman hit a backside double over the head of Marlins third baseman Greg Dobbs to end the no-hit bid. Up until that point, a no hitter seemed almost certain for Johnson the way he was tearing through the Atlanta lineup. Locating a fastball that was 92-95 all night wherever he wanted it along with a slider that generated plenty of swing and misses, the Braves bats were completely cooled off after their hot performance last night.

Johnson left after that single from Freeman, and walked to the dugout having given up that one hit to go along with three walks and having struck out nine Braves.

There was one bright spot for the Braves offensively, as Chipper Jones hit a ninth inning homer off Marlins reliever Randy Choate to make the final score 5-1. The homer for Chipper was his first of the season, but more importantly it was Chipper's 1,500 RBI for his career. Chipper is now the second switch hitter ever to record 2,500 hits and 1,500 RBI's along with Eddie Murray.

On the other end of the spectrum, things didn't go nearly as well for Tim Hudson. Hudson struggled with his location from the get go, and gave up a lead-off double to center field Chris Coghlan to start the game. An Omar Infante grounder moved him over to third base, and then Hanley Ramirez lined a single up the middle to score Coghlan and give Florida a 1-0 lead.

Hudson's struggles continued into the second inning, where Hudson gave up back to back singles to Gaby Sanchez and Greg Dobbs to begin the inning. A wild pitch from Hudson moved the runners to second and third. Hudson then walked John Buck to load the bases for Josh Johnson. If there was any doubt it was Johnson's night, that doubt was put to rest when he hit a single through the right side scoring Sanchez making it 2-0.

Chris Coghlan followed with a single scoring both Dobbs and Buck, giving Florida a 4-0 lead after two innings.

Logan Morrison completed the offensive performance for the Marlins in the third with a huge home run to right field off Hudson, making it 5-0.

Hudson settled down after the home run by Morrison, setting down 11 of his last 12 batters, but it was too little, too late. Cristhian Martinez and George Sherrill combined to pitch a scoreless last three innings in relief of Hudson.

Atlanta falls to 5-7 on the year, while Florida improves to 6-5. The rubber match of the series takes place tomorrow night as Ricky Nolasco takes on Brandon Beachy.

WP: Josh Johnson (2-0), 7 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 9 K.

LP: Tim Hudson (2-1), 6 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.talkingchop.com/2011/4/13/2109930/josh-johnson-dominates-as-florida-be
ats-atlanta-5-1

Digg this