Kennedy wrecks Rockies and Prospects' Spotlight

Josh Rutledge still impressing with his bat

It's rarely a positive result when the opposing pitcher drives in three runs in a game. When he also shuts a team down, as Ian Kennedy did to the Rockies, it's going to be another loss.

Kennedy tripled home three runs and held the Rockies to two runs in eight innings, striking out seven and refusing to walk a batter.

He simply commanded the game and then punched the Rockies in the stomach offensively.

Newcomer Jonathan Sanchez, in his Rockies' debut, pitched as expected - poorly - six hits, four walks and five runs in four innings. That's a mess of a line. There will be more of that the rest of the season based on Sanchez's earlier body of work for Kansas City and his down 2011.

Rookie shortstop Josh Rutledge doubled, homered (the first of his career) and drove in two runs, upping his batting average to .368 over his first 10 games in the majors. Considering how hot fans got for Charlie Blackmon in 2011 and Jordan Pacheco in 2012, both seriously lacking in power, imagine how they feel for Rutledge, who has seven extra-base hits already.

Rutledge won't always hit .368, of course, but his bat is no fluke. He is starter quality, long term and will produce with his bat (and glove). Teaming with Troy Tulowitzki one day, that duo will be on the imaginary all-gamer list. They are competitive, driven hombres

Carlos Gonzalez also homered for the Rockies.

Rockies' Prospects Spotlight

Triple-A pitcher Alex White threw seven shutout innings, allowing only four hits. It was his best start of the season. He struck out only two but dominated. Can he duplicate those skills next time out? The Rockies need his best.

Outfielder David Dahl continues to tear up rookie-league pitching playing for Grand Junction. Three more hits on Monday and Dahl is now hitting .353 on the season. 

Dahl's teammate and fellow 2012 draftee (#46), Eddie Butler was outstanding, throwing 6 2/3 shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out seven.

His ERA is now 2.42. He has a 22/2 strikeouts-to-walks ratio in 26 innings pitched. 

Dan Houston allowed but one run over 6 1/3 innings at Double-A Tulsa. A seventh-round pick in 2008, Houston is repeating a league (Texas) for the second time (once repeated California League). That's usually considered a negative for prospects, lowering their value but Houston significantly improves when he re-takes tests.

When he pitched a second season at Modesto at High-A, he cut his ERA from 5.92 to 2.53. Last season at Tulsa, his ERA was 4.27. This season it's 3.40.

He has been competitive but has allowed 126 hits in 124 1/3 innings and isn't one to get many strikeouts. He has to pitch fine to just survive. He does though.