CARDS’ BIG FIRST INNING SINKS ROCKIES
The Rockies’ 12-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday afternoon could simply be tossed away as “just one of those days” in a marathon 162-game season.
Except that there was more to this ugly defeat.
Starter Tyler Anderson is struggling, mightily, as the final month of the season looms. The left-hander lasted just twothirds of an inning Sunday, the Cardinals battering him for six runs on seven hits, including a two-run home run by Tyler O’Neill and two doubles in the inning by MVP candidate Matt Carpenter. It was the shortest start of Anderson’s career.
“We talk about the importance of starting pitching,” manager Bud Black said. “Starting pitching sets the tone. His responsibility is so great, each and every night. And today, for Tyler, it didn’t happen.”
Anderson is 6-7 with a 4.79 overall ERA, but after a terrific July, he’s had a horrible August.
This month, he’s 0-4 with an 11.39 ERA and has given up 10 home runs. His 27 home runs allowed this season are second-most in the National League behind Milwaukee’s Chase Anderson, who’s served up 28.
Anderson said he’s not fatigued or hurt.
“The frustrating thing is that I feel better than I ever have,” he said.
So what’s gone wrong? What’s the difference between Anderson this month as opposed to last month when he posted a 2.16 ERA over five starts?
“I would say it’s 100 percent command,” he said. “I have probably thrown more balls over the middle of the plate over the last few starts than I have the entire rest of the year.”
Anderson admitted he was frustrated, but also offered this: “Winston Churchill said it. ‘If you are going through hell, keep going.’ ”
Sunday’s loss was costly for the Rockies’ big picture as well. With Arizona beating Seattle 5-2 on Sunday, the Rockies fell out of first place in the National League West. The surging Cardinals (7358), who won their ninth consecutive series, now lead the Rockies (71-59) by 1 K games in the race for the National League’s top wildcard spot. The Redbirds took two of three games at Coors Field to win the series.
Carpenter proved again why he’s so important to the St. Louis offense. He finished the game with a career-best four doubles, tying a franchise record set by Joe “Ducky” Medwick on Aug. 4, 1937, against the Boston Bees.
The game was essentially over by the top of the first inning and Black said it hinged on one missed pitched by Anderson that resulted in O’Neill’s home run.
“(Anderson) had O’Neill 1-2 and couldn’t finish him,” Black said. “He threw a change in the middle of the plate. And really, if he got O’Neill, who knows what happens from there?”
Reliever Chad Bettis, the former starter, came on for Anderson and pitched 3 L innings. But Bettis also got knocked around, giving up four unearned runs on four hits, including a run-scoring double to Carpenter in the third.
Gomber, given a huge lead before stepping on the mound, had little problem silencing the Rockies’ bats. The left-hander was charged with two runs (one earned) on five hits over six innings. He struck out six and walked only one as he improved to 4-0 and lowered his ERA to 2.79.
Colorado begins a six-game, seven-day road trip at Anaheim against the Angels on Monday.