Rockies Better Late Than Ever

It is a sobering thought, but one that is tough to dispute. The Colorado Rockies are better than the Dodgers.

Not just Sunday, when the Rockies won, 7-6, in 10 innings at Coors Field.

Not just the last three days, when the Rockies recorded their first sweep since June by outscoring the Dodgers, 29-10.

The Rockies are the better team.

Yes, the Dodgers are six games ahead of them in the National League West standings. But since June 1, Colorado has the best record of anyone in the division. They have won seven of their last nine games against the Dodgers. And their young players are performing better than the legions of Dodger youngsters.

Rookie center fielder Cory Sullivan took center stage, chasing down long drives off the bats of Jose Valentin and pinch-hitter Ricky Ledee in the eighth, one inning after Dodger second baseman Jeff Kent’s grand slam tied the score, 6-6.

Sullivan also ignited the winning rally, doubling down the right-field line for his fourth hit to lead off the 10th. Todd Helton was walked intentionally, and with one out another young talent, Brad Hawpe, drove a fastball by Duaner Sanchez into the right-center gap to score Sullivan.

“It hurts,” Kent said. “I think our guys are disappointed and a little embarrassed.”

The first six Colorado runs came on two-run, two-out hits in the third, fourth and fifth innings against starter Edwin Jackson, who battled back spasms. He was oblivious to the fact that he was one batter away from getting out of all three jams.

“It was just a coincidence, I guess,” he said. “Their big hits came because I was behind in the count.”

Manager Jim Tracy surrounded Jackson with as many veterans as possible. The only rookie in the lineup was shortstop Oscar Robles, and he’s 29. But the younger Rockies prevailed. Second-year outfielder Matt Holliday hit a two-run homer, rookie shortstop Clint Barmes had two hits and rookie Omar Quintanilla hit a two-run double.

The Dodgers aren’t about to acknowledge that they are less talented than the Rockies. But to a man, they readily admitted their opponent was formidable.

“They are an improving club, and I guarantee they are going to continue to win games and make it interesting as far as the division is concerned,” Tracy said.

Added Robles: “We were talking about how much they’ve improved. They are good hitters, and they are playing without pressure. It makes them tough to beat.”

The Dodgers (61-75) can only hope Colorado (54-81) is as tough on first-place San Diego and the two teams that are battling the Dodgers for second place, San Francisco and Arizona. More important, they need to regroup and put together a strong nine-game homestand, which begins today against the Giants.

“It’s safe to say we need to win a bunch of them,” Tracy said.

Winning streaks have been rare since their 12-2 start. With none of the several injured players ready to come off the disabled list and none of the top prospects about to be promoted, there is little reason to think a surge is on the horizon.

Kent is one of several Dodgers who steadfastly refuses to look beyond the next day’s game. He would not say the homestand is critical.

“As long as we have a chance to make the playoffs, it’s not a must-have,” he said. “You can’t make assumptions in baseball. You don’t know what’s going to happen.

“It’s unfair to the game to say this is a must-have homestand or a must-have series. The only must-have is the end of the season.”