'Vintage Jorge' passes Cook in record book
MIAMI -- Rockies manager Walt Weiss acknowledged that Jorge De La Rosa's strong performance in Sunday's 4-1 win at Marlins Park couldn't have come at a better time, considering it snapped a four-game slide.
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But on top of that, by going seven innings and allowing just one run on four hits, De La Rosa (4-2, 4.91 ERA) earned the victory to become Colorado's franchise leader in wins with 73.
"It was a great outing and just what we needed," Weiss said. "He's throwing the ball really well. He's on a good run right now. We've seen Jorge, when he's right, he gets on a roll. This is how he throws. It looked like vintage Jorge today."
De La Rosa joined the Rockies in 2008 and won 16 games in '09 and '13. His franchise-record 73 wins passed Aaron Cook.
"I'm really glad to win all those games for this team, and I hope we can win more," De La Rosa said.
De La Rosa cruised through the first six innings on Sunday before finding trouble in the seventh. Ichiro Suzuki notched a two-out RBI single and -- after Dee Gordon singled -- stole third to put runners on the corners. But the 34-year-old lefty danced out of danger with the three-run lead intact by forcing Donovan Solano into an inning-ending groundout.
"I think I find my rhythm when I throw more strikes," said De La Rosa, who threw 67 of 109 pitches for strikes. "I walked four guys today, but I still made my pitch when I needed, and I think that was the biggest key."
De La Rosa's career in Colorado hasn't been all smooth sailing. After recording five wins to start the 2011 season, he tore a ligament in his elbow and had season-ending Tommy John surgery. He returned in 2012, but went 0-2 with a 9.28 ERA.
However, De La Rosa eventually returned to form and won 16 games in 2013 before earning 14 victories last season.
"When I got the setback, it put a lot of things in my mind," he said. "I thank God I'm here and I came back better."