Colorado Rockies win second straight due to rookie Josh Rutledge

Josh Rutledge continues his torrid pace

Los Angeles, CA. The Colorado Rockies have won two straight thanks to rookie Josh Rutledge’s continued success at the plate. The Rockies look to sweep the series tonight and look to win three in a row for the first time since the end of May. The series win is the first series win for the Rockies in L.A. since September 2010. Jeff Francis will look to improve on his pitch placement as he faces 7-9 Chad Billingsly who has won 3 games in a row.

Alex White was only able to go 4 innings on Tuesday but was effective allowing only 1 hit but walked 5. Josh Roenicke took over in the fifth and threw 3 scoreless innings securing the win for the Rockies. Josh Rutledge plated all 3 of the Rockies runs with a career high 4 hits in the victory.
Josh Rutledge is showing his call up from AAA was the right decision. Since his debut Rutledge is hitting a torrid .356 with 6 home runs and 18 RBI. All three runs were scored on doubles by Rutledge, the first in the fifth inning plating Eric Young JR. and the other two in the seventh. Rutledge hit a double in the first inning and hit a single in the ninth to give him his career high 4 hits against the Dodgers.

With the struggling pitching staff the Rockies were an unlikely team to almost throw out 2 shutouts against the Dodgers. Before the series started the Dodgers were in a tie for first in the NL West but now sit 1 ½ games behind the division leading San Francisco Giants. Matt Kemp is a surprising 4-25 at the plate vs. the Rockies this year.

Eric Young Jr. sparked the Rockies offense from the leadoff spot and made a start in right field and was on base for all of Rutledge’s RBI. Young was on base four times with three singles and a walk. Young has embraced his utility role with the team and just wants to contribute in any way he can.

The Colorado Rockies may be out of the playoff race but can play the spoiler role moving forward in the season with two more series against both the L.A. Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants.

Denver Sports Chat – Kris Loco