Just another one of those games. Shawn Chacon pitched effectively but the Rockies' offense simply couldn't get the hit they needed off Russ Ortiz. The Rockies left 12 runners on base to the D-Backs' 4. Lance Cormier extended his unscored-upon streak to 17 innings to begin the season, aided greatly by a Royce Clayton-instigated double play. (Yeah, but our new shortstop can hit. And has better hair. Actually, no hair.)

Chacon (8 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 2 solo HR, 98 pitches) outpitched Ortiz (6 IP, 8 H, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 solo HR, 115 pitches) but was done in by run support. The Rockies certainly had ample opportunities with Barmes 2 for 5 with a double, Helton 3 for 3 with two walks, even Desi Relaford 2 for 3 with a base on balls. In the 8th, with the score still 3-2 Arizona, Cory Sullivan reached on an infield single that deflected off Cormier and stole second even with a good throw by Chris Snyder.

David Cortes, the latest bullpen lab rat, was terrible in the top of the ninth, giving up homers to Jose Cruz (his second) and pinch hitter Tony Clark to put the game out of reach, despite a mini-rally sparked by a Helton double in the bottom of the inning off Brandon Lyon.

I'm not one of those people who believes that "clutch" hitting is a skill any different from "regular" hitting. These are major league ballplayers, and you have to believe they're trying their best to get on base every time they go out there. Games like this where the team is hitting, but only with the bases empty, have to be forgotten quickly. It's just bad luck, not any sort of teamwide epidemic. Now keep saying that to yourself.