The Rockies came up short in their search for a starting pitcher in a trade. They did, however, find hope for their rotation Thursday. Jeff Francis had a strong effort in his final tune-up before being activated from the disabled list and rejoining the rotation Tuesday night against Washington.
Francis, who equaled a franchise record with 17 wins last season but battled mechanical problems that led to left shoulder inflammation this year, was given a four-week break to gets things in order. Once the inflammation subsided, he was sent to Class AA Tulsa for a rehab assignment so that he could work with pitching coach Bo McLaughlin, who knows Francis well from the minor leagues, where the two developed a strong mutual respect.
Francis worked six shutout innings Thursday, allowing seven hits with two walks and nine strikeouts, and he reached the desired 100-pitch level, throwing 65 strikes among 105 pitches. In three appearances with the Drillers, he gave up one run in 14 1/3 innings, striking out 10 and walking just two.
"We are in a spot where we are able to make a run at the division, and if we can have a healthy Jeff Francis who can pick up where he left off last year, that would be a huge shot in the arm," said Aaron Cook, who has 14 wins, second in the NL. "We are talking about getting our No. 1 pitcher back."
Francis is 3-7 for Colorado this year.
"We need him back, and we need him to be productive," manager Clint Hurdle said. "That was the plan when we sent him out. It's why we left him down there for that one more start, to get him through the full cycle, getting him using all of his pitches and get the confidence back
"It sounds like he has done all he can do. Now it is time to revisit the situation and bring him back here."
MARLINS 12, ROCKIES 2: What consolation the Rockies had found from Jorge De La Rosa's back-to-back wins in his previous starts was tarnished by a 65-pitch, 33-strike performance Thursday night against the Marlins.
De La Rosa showed an ability to pitch out of jams in a 5-1 victory at Cincinnati on Sunday in which he walked five. But he wilted in the second inning in Florida, issuing two four-pitch walks and two others on only five pitches, hitting a batter, giving up two singles and a double, and failing to get the third out of the inning.
"He showed growth the last two times, but (Thursday) he fell through that trap door," manager Clint Hurdle said. "It's frustrating. He feels it. The team feels it. Everybody feels it."
