Rusin-turner battle hypes rivalry
Officially, Chris LOS
Rusin is the Rockies’ fifth-string first baseman. He fielded groundballs at the corner before Saturday’s game at Dodger Stadium.
“Look at that first baseman,” Colorado manager Bud Black said, pointing to the oddity of his left-handed pitcher scooping throws in the dirt. “No. 52, Chris Rusin, our first baseman. He’s our fifth-stringer on the depth chart.”
His versatility has served Rusin well this season, but from the mound. And after he shut down the Dodgers over two crucial innings Friday in the Rockies’ 5-4 come-from-behind victory, Rusin now typifies an amplifying rivalry between the National League West rivals.
Over three seasons, Rusin and Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner have exchanged jabs in a one-on-one matchup that once nearly cleared the benches. Rusin on Friday quick-pitched Turner to strike him out looking and end the sixth inning, stranding a runner at second base in a one-run game. Rusin allowed just one hit in two innings.
Nearly three years ago, Rusin used his tricky abbreviated windup to Turner into a strikeout. Turner likes to time a legkick in his swing, and Rusin’s quick-pitch upsets Turner’s timing. It is not illegal. But in a June game, Turner complained to an umpire and Rusin was forced to alter his delivery.
“It’s a fun battle. It’s a game we’re playing with each other,” Rusin said. “I don’t want him to be comfortable against me, licking his chops. So I try to get him out of his comfort zone.”
Rusin, 30, has been by some measures the Rockies’ best pitcher this season. His 1.073 WHIP (walks and hits per inning) and 215 Era-plus (a parkadjusted ERA, according to Baseball Reference, where 100 is average) are both the best marks on the team. And his 77L innings thrown through Friday are the most in the majors among relievers.
Black has settled into using Rusin in high-leverage situations, whatever that might mean that game. On Friday, it meant facing the meat of the Dodgers’ lineup over two innings. At other points, it’s a singular left-on-left matchup. He is the Rockies’ version of Cleveland’s Andrew Miller, albeit without all the strikeouts.
“My goal coming into the game is to get quick outs,” Rusin said.
Turner spoke to the homeplate ump again Friday while Colorado catcher Jonathan Lucroy confabbed with Rusin at the mound. After he struck out to end the inning, Turner appeared displeased.
“They have an understanding. It’s combative. That’s a nice pitcher-hitter battle,” Black said. “It’s part of what makes this series, and future series, good. These little things that happen that start at some point, can amplify things as time goes on.”