There are times in which a series of factors join to produce bad results. And there were plenty of those last weekend in Denver for the Astros, which were swept in Denver by the Colorado Rockies.

Let’s be fair: the Rockies are playing great baseball, surprising everyone as current leaders in the NL West. But the Astros, who are not precisely at a dismal position themselves, were defeated by a combination of bad starting pitching, exactly the opposite to what we have been seeing so far a the cast of rookie hurlers.

Even though Wandy Rodriguez doesn’t want to put the blame for the loss experienced on Saturday to his throat infection (and the fact it helped him from eating food for a couple of days), we can’t deny that certainly the lack of food added to medication took a toll on Rodriguez’s strength. Jason Jennings, someone who historically has not precisely been razor sharp against Houston, silenced opposing bats with a complete game shutout that ended with a 5-0 score. Jennings gave up seven hits during the whole game.

Aaron Cook didn’t want to be left behind, so he also pitched wonderfully, granting two runs and six hits in eight plus innings; while Fernando Nieve struggled on the mound and defensively as well, with an ERA reaching 5.55. The Astros rebellion in the ninth inning was quickly suffocated and in the end the Rockies took the win 5-3.

It is certain that these young hurlers didn’t have great outings in the series, but it’s also true that the Astros could see first hand why offensive numbers at Coors Field are on the way down.

Now, a quick stop in San Francisco, then Los Angeles and later a new series against the Rockies, this time at Minute Maid Park.