SAN DIEGO — Long before Friday’s first pitch, manager Jim Tracy began discussing the unspeakable tragedy at the Aurora movie theater and his voice cracked. The Rockies, who postponed a home game April 20, 1999, after the shootings at Columbine High School, were shaken by the tragedy in Aurora along with the state they call home.
Before the national anthem, the Rockies emerged from their dugout in unison, wearing purple uniforms and black wristbands to honor the victims. A black jersey hung in the dugout reading “We Remember 7-20.” Several position players, including Marco Scutaro and Carlos Gonzalez, wrote 7-20 in silver on their eye strips.
“This puts everything in perspective,” Jason Giambi said. “It’s just hard to believe.”
The game became secondary, the Rockies losing 9-5 at Petco Park despite a grand slam from Gonzalez.
Turning point. The Rockies held a one-run advantage after the second grand slam of Gonzalez’s career and his second home run in as many games following a 94-at-bat drought. But rookie pitcher Drew Pomeranz wasn’t sharp, wandering back into trouble in the bottom of the third inning. He gave back the four runs on outfielder Chris Denorfia’s triple and catcher Yasmani Grandal’s homer, his third against the Rockies this season. Down 7-4, the Rockies never regained the lead.
Pomeranz, tagged for a season-high seven runs, lacked his cut fastball to right-handers, falling back into an old trap of dropping his arm slot. That all but eliminated the vintage late movement he has featured in his previous three starts.
“I couldn’t get loose. The ball didn’t have carry. I was hitting 93 (mph) in my last start and I don’t’ think I hit that once tonight,” Pomeranz said. “I made mistakes at 88 mph. If that ball is 95 like it was before, I don’t think they hit it.”
While trying to stop a wild pitch from Pomeranz in the second inning, rookie catcher Wilin Rosario turned his left ankle and foot, and was replaced by veteran Ramon Hernandez.
“It hurt when I tried to (squat). I don’t think I will be able catch (Saturday), but I want to be able to pinch-hit and help out,” Rosario said.
On the mound. Josh Roenicke is a fifth starter camouflaged as a reliever. He has pitched more innings than members of the Rockies’ rotation, and his success has been wide ranging. The right-hander, who was once a member of UCLA’s football team, has succeeded in leverage, long and mopup roles. He worked a season-high 3 ⅓ innings, allowing no runs and striking out five.
At the plate. Rookie Josh Rutledge doubled, tripled and stole a base, continuing his successful run since being called up from Double-A Tulsa. But there was some ill will between the Rockies, who were on the wrong end of at least three controversial calls on the bases, and the Padres. Scutaro didn’t appreciate right fielder Denorfia trying to throw him out at first base, raising his arms in his direction. And Hernandez threw his bat in disgust and appeared to say something to the Padres’ dugout after taking a fastball in the ribs in the sixth inning.
What it means. That baseball is just a game, this night a three-hour diversion from the sad reality facing many people back in Colorado.
