Dodgers Take Air Out of Rockies

Since the Colorado Rockies began treating baseballs like fine cigars, games at Coors Field are taking on subtle qualities appreciated by connoisseurs of the national pastime.

The balls sit in a humidor for months before being used, keeping them from shrinking and drying out in the 5,300-foot elevation. The result has been fewer slugfests and more strategic battles like the Dodgers’ absorbing 3-2 victory Wednesday.

The key hits were ground balls through the 5.5 hole rather than 550-foot blasts. Balls, like cigars, can be smoked. But those not quite struck squarely died on the warning track rather than reaching the stands.

Pitchers were rewarded for hitting their spots and changing speeds the way Brad Penny, Jonathan Broxton and -- most notably -- Danys Baez did for the short-handed Dodgers (21-20), who were without reliever Takashi Saito, center fielder Kenny Lofton and second baseman Jeff Kent.

Penny fought through lower-back soreness, giving up one run in six innings and getting the victory when the Dodgers scored three in the seventh on singles by pinch-hitter Olmedo Saenz and first baseman Nomar Garciaparra that trickled between the shortstop and third baseman -- the 5.5 hole, as Tony Gwynn called it.

Broxton, a rookie reliever who hadn’t pitched in a week, retired the side in order in the seventh. Left-hander Joe Beimel ran into trouble in the eighth, and after a run scored and an error by substitute third baseman Oscar Robles put runners on first and second with one out, Manager Grady Little summoned the star-crossed Baez.

Five of his last six outings had been disasters, yet Baez induced Miguel Ojeda to bounce into a double play. The ninth was another tightrope act. After getting two quick outs, Baez gave up a single to Cory Sullivan, then grazed Garrett Atkins’ helmet with an errant slider.

Up came Todd Helton, who has the highest career batting average (.336) among active players. Baez remembered facing him once in Tampa Bay, and Helton hitting a home run.

“That’s exactly who we want up in that situation,” Rockies Manager Clint Hurdle said.

Little went to the mound to counsel Baez. Saito, who notched his first save Monday, wasn’t an option because he became ill earlier in the day and was sitting in the clubhouse.

“Just believe in yourself and throw a quality pitch,” Little told Baez. “Don’t try to do too much.”

The count went to 2-and-2 and Helton lifted a routine fly to right field for an out. Baez pumped his fist, hugged rookie catcher Russell Martin and walked off with his ninth save. The double play in the eighth made all the difference.

“That play gave me a lot of confidence,” Baez said. “It was like I was back in charge.”

The victory gave the Dodgers a 4-2 record on the two-city trip. They are 6-10 in one-run games, but have won four of their last six decided by one and have won nine of their last 12 overall.

“I’m so pleased with this victory because everyone played a part,” said Garciaparra, whose single scored Martin and Saenz with the Dodgers’ second and third runs. “From our starting pitching to our bullpen to the offense scoring runs, it was an all-around great game.”

The Dodgers received a quality start for the 11th time in 14 games. Penny (4-1), who had struck out only eight in 23 1/3 innings of his last four starts, struck out seven and walked none.

The best swing against him was by Brad Hawpe in the fourth, a 410-foot drive to center that appeared as if it would become a Coors Field special and carry over the fence. However, it landed in the glove of Jose Cruz Jr. on the warning track.

The humidor, which is kept at 70 degrees and 50% humidity, has been used since 2002, but has had an especially dramatic impact since last season when the team lengthened the time the balls are stored, adopting a first box in, last box out rotation system.

There has been an average of 8.85 runs and 1.65 home runs in the 20 Rockies home games, a far cry from the 13.3 runs and 3.20 home runs compiled from 1995 to 2001. The Rockies led the National League in batting average every year from 1994 to 2002, yet haven’t led since. Last year they were fifth at .267, the lowest average in team history.

Helton has joked that he should wear goggles to the plate so moisture from the balls doesn’t splash into his eyes when he makes contact. Against Baez, however, he didn’t hit it hard enough to cause more than a drop.