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: --RHP Ubaldo Jimenez lost his fourth straight start but pitched well. After going 0-3 with a 12.00 ERA and pitching a total of 12 innings in those games, Jimenez allowed five hits and three runs in seven innings. It was the first time he pitched seven innings since April 7 at Arizona in his 2009 debut.
--The Rockies are 0-6 in one-run games and 0-2 in two-run games.
--1B Todd Helton, who went 2-for-4 with one RBI and raised his average to a season-high .314, has four straight multi-hit games and at least one RBI in four consecutive games. He did ground into an inning-ending double play in the sixth with runners on first and second and the Giants ahead 2-0.
--C Chris Iannetta has nine hits this season; four have been home runs. He's 19-for-44 (.432) lifetime at AT&T Park with four home runs in 16 games.
--RHP Aaron Cook's victory Wednesday, which was his first in nine starts since Aug. 29, improved his record with the Rockies to 53-44 and tied him for second place in victories on the club's all-time list with Pedro Astacio (53-48). The leader in wins is Jason Jennings. And the fact Cook beat the Padres should come as no surprise. He's 12-4 with a 2.80 ERA lifetime against the Padres in 21 games, 19 starts, and he has more wins against them than any against other club.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RF Brad Hawpe (sore neck) left the April 27 game and didn't play April 28-29. He pinch-hit on May 1 and is day-to-day.
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 Huston Street (closer)
RHP Manuel Corpas
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
