Late-innings remain big mess for Rockies
Corpas likely to lose role as closer after blowing another save
A change appears imminent in the back end of the Rockies bullpen.
Manager Clint Hurdle typically doesn't announce a decision without first speaking with the player or players involved.
But after Manuel Corpas blew another save Wednesday, his fourth of the season and third in four outings, in the Rockies' 7-6 loss in 10 innings to the Chicago Cubs, it will come as no surprise if the right-hander is moved out of the closer's role and allowed to regroup in a less stressful role in the bullpen.
Corpas gave up a two-run homer to Aramis Ramirez in the ninth inning on a 1-2 slider. Through clubhouse attendant Joe Diaz, Corpas said he was "trying to throw it for a ball and hung it in the middle of the plate."
After Troy Tulowitzki hit his first home run of the season, a three-run shot that keyed a five-run sixth and ended his homerless drought at 82 at-bats this season and 94 dating to Sept. 29, the Rockies rallied for a run in the bottom of the ninth against Cubs closer Kerry Wood.
But the Cubs won their sixth straight game when Ryan Theriot punched an opposite-field single to right off Kip Wells to score pinch-runner Mike Fontenot with two out in the 10th.
The loss was the fourth in a row for the Rockies and their first by one run after five such victories this season. It was also the first time a team has lost four straight games in the eighth inning or later since the San Francisco Giants suffered that fate June 5-9, 1978.
Corpas, who has a 7.50 ERA and has allowed 19 baserunners in 12 innings, blew a save Tuesday against Philadelphia in the ninth when he allowed three hits in the ninth, including Pat Burrell's three-run double.
Corpas blew only two saves last season after taking over the closer's role in early July after Brian Fuentes faltered. Now it would appear Fuentes will ease back into the ninth inning, so Corpas, 25, can pitch in less stressful situations, restore his confidence and his here-it-is-hit-it-if-you-can attitude on the mound.
"I would think there always comes a point in time when you're not getting the results you want and trying to figure out why, you might have a look that's less than piercing," Hurdle said.
Corpas said he was "just going through a bad spot right now" and knows he can be the closer before adding, "that's the manager's decision."
Asked if would be surprised to learn he wasn't closing, Corpas again said that was the manager's decision and he would try to his best in whatever role he is given.
The victory was the 10,000th in franchise history for the Cubs. They improved to 15-6, starting the season with that high-flying record for just the fourth time - the others times were 1932, 1969 and 1975 - in the past 100 years.
The Cubs scored two runs off starter Franklin Morales in the second as he went to 2-0 on the first five batters he faced that inning and allowed a triple to Kosuke Fukudome, a Mark DeRosa sacrifice fly and a homer to Geovany Soto, who went 4-for-5 and singled to open the 10th off Wells.
The Rockies had tied the game in the ninth on pinch-hitter Scott Podsednik's two-out single and Ryan Spilborghs' triple.
Tulowitzki's homer came on a 1-1 slider from Jon Lieber, who was brought in to face him with one out in the sixth. He had lined to shortstop in his previous at-bat before lofting Lieber's slider into the left-field stands.
"I definitely took some better swings (Wednesday)," said Tulowitzki, who returned to the lineup after a one-day absence and batted seventh for the first time this season.
Tulowitzki's homer put the Rockies ahead 5-3, a margin that became one run when the Cubs scored in the eighth before dissolving into yet another disheartening defeat.
"It's obviously tough, but I remember we went through a stretch like this last year," said Tulowitzki, recalling a 1-9 trip in late June that saw Fuentes stumble and lose his closer's role to Corpas.
"We did the same kind of thing and ended up alright. So at least we know we can still be OK.
"Playing in the NL West is definitely going to make it tough (because of Arizona's start). These are games we need to be winning. We make it hard on ourselves; we know that. We're out there playing hard. It's just the way things are going right now."
Three keys
Three keys to the Rockies' 7-6, 10-inning loss against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night at Coors Field:
1 Ryan Theriot's two-out opposite-field single in the 10th inning against Kip Wells scored pinch runner Mike Fontenot. Fontenot ran for Geovany Soto, who started the inning with a single. Ronny Cedeno moved Fontenot to second with a sacrifice and Theriot singled after an intentional walk to pinch hitter Daryle Ward.
2 Manny Corpas, who blew his fourth save of the season and third in his past four outings, came on to protect a one- run lead in the ninth but gave up a one-out single to Derrek Lee followed by Aramis Ramirez's two-run home run.
3 Franklin Morales went to 2-0 on the first five batters he faced in the second and gave up two runs. Kosuke Fukudome tripled with one out and scored on Mark De Rosa's sacrifice fly. Soto followed with a home run.
Etc.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the four consecutive games the Rockies have lost after squandering a lead in the seventh inning or later is the second such streak of at least three games the team has suffered in franchise history. The Rockies previously blew three straight seventh-inning-or-later leads on April 4-7, 1994, at Mile High Stadium. . . . Starting pitcher Franklin Morales had his 13-inning scoreless streak at Coors Field snapped when the Cubs scored two runs in the second inning. . . . Todd Helton extended his hitting streak to six games. . . . Garrett Atkins extended his hitting streak to eight games, but he did not hit a home run, ending his homer streak at three games. . . . Brad Hawpe has reached base on a hit or walk in 18 consecutive games. Hawpe needs to extend his streak one more game to match his career best. . . . Scott Podsednik has reached base in seven of 15 plate appearances as a pinch hitter. . . . The Rockies bullpen has allowed 16 runs in the past four games, spanning 121/3 innings. . . . Jayson Nix struck out as a pinch hitter and is hitless in his past 13 at-bats.
