Rockies behind 8-ball, but they’re still off to record-setting start

SAN FRANCISCO» The Rockies are halfway through their 162-game marathon, and there are multiple reasons to be encouraged as they open the second half Friday night in Phoenix against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Rockies are 47-34, the best record after 81 games in franchise history. What’s more, although they have fallen off the pace in the National League West, they are firmly entrenched as the NL’s second wild-card playoff team.

In third baseman Nolan Arenado, center fielder Charlie Blackmon and closer Greg Holland, the Rockies have three likely all-stars. And a good case could be made

that first baseman Mark Reynolds also deserves a trip to the Midsummer Classic on July 11 in Miami.

Plus, opening-day starter Jon Gray, out since April 13 because of a stress fracture in his left foot, will start Friday against the Diamondbacks.

The right-hander wants to be the staff ace, and he is embracing the challenge.

“That’s my whole objective. That’s what I work for every day — to be an ace, ” Gray said. “I know the stuff is there, and I know that if I put my stuff together on the field, that’s going to allow me to be that guy.”

That’s all well and good, but there are plenty of reasons for consternation.

The Rockies limped into the desert carrying the weight of an eight-game losing streak, and their young rotation is wobbling. Colorado’s starters, so good early in the season, have regressed, posting a 10.22 ERA during the losing streak.

Colorado’s offense, which figured to be a dynamic force, has not met expectations, at least not lately.

During the eight-game skid, Colorado has hit only .206 — and batted just .229 with runners in scoring position.

Perhaps the Rockies hit their Heartbreak Hill and are primed for a second-half surge. That’s what left fielder and first baseman Ian Desmond believes.

“We just have to keep playing the game, we’ll break out of this,” Desmond said Wednesday after the Rockies lost 5-3 to the San Francisco Giants. “I look around this clubhouse and I see one of the best collections of players on any team I have played on in my career. Every position has a special player. That’s pretty good.”

Desmond’s opinion can be debated, but what’s not in question is the Rockies have to pitch better. They have had only one quality start during their losing streak, and short outings have taxed a bullpen that has posted a 5.97 ERA during the slide, giving up eight runs once, seven runs once and holding the opposition scoreless only one time.

“We can talk about a lot of things,” manager Bud Black said. “But I have looked back at those games again, and we just didn’t pitch very well.”

Black did say that his three healthy rookie starters — left-hander Kyle Freeland and right-handers German Marquez and Jeff Hoffman — must make adjustments as hitters develop a book on them.

“The pitcher always has the advantage on a first-time look, but that’s starting to decrease a little bit with our guys,” Black said. “So they’re not going to get by on the unknown or on hitters having to react to something they haven’t seen before. They have to truly make pitches. That will be the great test for them.”