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Nationals' Fine Effort All for Naught in Ninth
Colorado catcher Yorvit Torrealba fields a second-inning sacrifice bunt by Nats pitcher Shawn Hill, left.
(By David Zalubowski -- Associated Press)
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Hill, watching from the dugout, figured his fourth win was secure. The bullpen has been the Nationals' strength much of the season.
"You give them a lead of four runs going into the ninth," he said, "99 percent of the time, they're going to come out no problem."
The problem, though, started on Cordero's first pitch, a fastball that tailed back over the plate to Troy Tulowitzki, who handled it for a single to center. His next pitch was a fastball to Holliday. Again, it was supposed to be outside. Again, it tailed back over the plate. The problem, Cordero said, has bothered him his past three outings. Holliday didn't miss, and his homer made it 5-3.
From there, the disaster gained momentum. Todd Helton reached on an infield single, Atkins doubled to left, and Cordero walked Brad Hawpe to load the bases. Then, a rare sight: Acta out to remove Cordero, who couldn't record an out.
On came Jon Rauch, and Yorvit Torrealba's floater to right scored two runs to tie the game. Rauch then got two outs on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout, leaving runners on second and third with two outs.
That brought up the speedy Matsui, and Rauch got him to break his bat. He dribbled the ball toward Jimenez, who got the start to give regular Felipe Lopez a rest.
"I was trying to catch the ball," Jimenez said, "and trying to get the ball quick."
In doing so, he left it on the ground. Hawpe scored. The Rockies celebrated. And Cordero was left as the lonely man in a stadium filled with thousands of people.
