--1B Todd Helton's three-run home run off Ted Lilly in the first inning was the first home run Helton hit off a lefty since he faced Doug Davis of Arizona on April 15 last season.
--LHP Glendon Rusch will join the Rockies Saturday and move into the rotation with a start against his former Cubs teammates at Wrigley Field. Diagnosed with a blood clot in his left lung in September of 2006, Rusch sat out the entire 2007 season and then signed last winter with the Padres. He was 1-2 with a 6.41 ERA in 12 appearances for the Padres before being released earlier this month and signing a Class AAA deal with the Rockies. Rusch made two starts with Colorado Springs, allowing one run in 11 innings. LHP Josh Newman was sent to Colorado Springs to make room for Rusch, with LHP Jorge De La Rosa moving from the rotation to the bullpen. A key for Rusch is throwing strikes. He walked three and allowed five hits in 11 innings with the Sky Sox after giving up 11 walks and 22 hits in 19 2/3 innings with the Padres. --RF Jeff Baker equaled a major league record with four doubles. He is the 50th player to have four doubles in a game, the first since Matt Murton of the Cubs in the second game of an Aug. 3, 2006 doubleheader against Arizona.
--LHP Micah Bowie (strained left forearm) threw a full bullpen session on Friday morning without any pain. He will pitch batting practice on Tuesday in Los Angeles and then go on a minor league rehab assignment. "I want to be ready when I come back to come into a game with runners on second and third and prevent them from scoring," said Bowie.
--RHP Ryan Speier (bruised right rotator cuff) was charged with a blown save at Class A Asheville (N.C.) in the first appearance of his rehab assignment. He struck out two, but gave up two walks and a hit and was charged with two runs in a game the Tourists rallied to win 3-2 against Atlanta's affiliate in Rome. John Smoltz started and worked two shutout innings for Rome.
BY THE NUMBERS: 4 -- Players in the Rockies starting lineup on Sunday opened the season at Class AAA Colorado Springs -- 2B Jonathan Herrera, RF Seth Smith, 3B Ian Stewart, and SS Omar Quintanilla.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's what life is all about. Nobody anticipates things like this, but it is the speed of life. You don't know where it is going to take you next. You better be able to ride it out, not back off, if you have any concern of winning." -- Rockies manager Clint Hurdle, on key injuries that the team has suffered.
