2B Clint Barmes had no walks in his first 52 at-bats, hardly a surprise since he walked 17 times in 417 plate appearances last year. But Barmes gives the Rockies some punch batting eighth, having opened the season 13-for-48 with four doubles, three homers and seven RBIs. Todd Helton played in 15 of the first 16 games and started 14 of them. But the power stroke he showed in spring training had been missing. He began the season 14-for-55 with two doubles and one homer. Troy Tulowitzki and Chris Iannetta, two young players the Rockies hoped would show improvement, were trying to dig their way out of huge holes.
PLAYER NEWS: --C Chris Iannetta's three RBIs were one more than he had in his previous 13 games. He was 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position this season before his two-run homer in the second.
--RHP Huston Street, pitching for the fourth consecutive day, struck out the side in the ninth to earn his second save and first since his Rockies debut April 7 at Arizona. Faltering closer Manuel Corpas had thrown 70 pitches while working the previous three days and wasn't going to be used Wednesday.
--OF Matt Murton was recalled from Class AAA Colorado Springs and INF Jeff Baker was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 27 with a sprained left hand.
Murton, 27, was acquired Feb. 4 from the A's for INF Corey Wimberly. At Colorado Springs, Murton was hitting .411 (30-for-73) with six doubles, four home runs and 19 RBIs. He also had eight walks and just four strikeouts. Murton was third in the Pacific Coast League in batting average, tied for second in hits, second in on-base percentage (.476), third in slugging percentage (.658) and tied for second in runs (18). Murton made his Rockies debut Wednesday and struck out swinging as a pinch hitter in the seventh.
Baker went 3-for-23 (.130) in 12 games with three RBIs, all coming Sunday on a bases loaded triple. He injured his hand while striking out Sunday on his final at-bat. He was hopeful of being ready to play Friday, but the Rockies medical staff deemed otherwise, and after missing three games, he was placed on the disabled list.
--3B Garrett Atkins, who didn't hit the ball out of the infield in five at-bats Tuesday, was out of the lineup for the first time this season. He had made 16 starts at third base and three at first base.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RF Brad Hawpe (sore neck) left the April 27 game and didn't play April 28-29. He might sit out a few more games.
INF Jeff Baker (sprained left wrist) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 27.
LHP Franklin Morales (strained left lat) went on the 15-day disabled list April 22.
RHP Ryan Speier (strained left hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 19. He threw a bullpen session April 27.
RHP Taylor Buchholz (partial tear in right ulnar collateral ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 22. The Rockies are being very cautious with Buchholz, trying to make sure the partial tear doesn't become a full-blown one and require Tommy John surgery that would sideline Buchholz for about a year.
LHP Jeff Francis (left shoulder surgery in February 2009) went on the 60-day disabled list April 5. He likely will miss the entire season. Recovery time ranges from six to 12 months, meaning it's possible Francis could pitch in September but not very likely.
ROTATION:
RHP Aaron Cook
RHP Ubaldo Jimenez
RHP Jason Marquis
LHP Jorge De La Rosa
RHP Jason Hammel
BULLPEN:
RHP Manuel Corpas (closer)
RHP Huston Street
LHP Alan Embree
LHP Glendon Rusch
RHP Jason Grilli
RHP Matt Belisle
RHP Matt Daley
CATCHERS:
Chris Iannetta
Yorvit Torrealba
INFIELDERS:
1B Todd Helton
2B Clint Barmes
SS Troy Tulowitzki
3B Garrett Atkins
INF Omar Quintanilla
INF/OF Ian Stewart
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Seth Smith
CF Ryan Spilborghs
RF Brad Hawpe
OF Dexter Fowler
OF Matt Murton
