Log In


Reset Password
Sports Youth Sports Professional Sports More Sports College Sports High School Sports

Rockies drop spring opener

Colorado debuts a new-look lineup

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Paul Goldschmidt walked and struck out in his first major league action since a broken hand cut short his 2014 season, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies 6-2 on Wednesday.

Rockies’ prospect Jon Gray fanned Goldschmidt with a 97 mph fastball in the third inning. The two-time All-Star drew a walk against Rockies starter Jordan Lyles in the first.

Goldschmidt was sharp at first base a day after he singled in his only at-bat in an exhibition against Arizona State. He had been out since getting hit by a pitch on his left hand in August.

“He’s all the way back,” new Diamondbacks’ manager Chip Hale said. “He’s fine, he’s game-ready, he’s confident. He’s not worried about his hand, his wrist.”

Rubby De La Rosa threw two scoreless innings in his Arizona debut on his 26th birthday, getting out of a second-inning jam when Rockies newcomer Nick Hundley flied to right.

Arizona prospects Aaron Blair and Braden Shipley each threw two scoreless innings, and Jordan Pacheco had a run batted in on a double.

Gray and Lyles combined to throw four scoreless innings for Colorado in its spring opener. D.J. LeMahieu went 2-for-2 and Rafael Ynoa drove in a run in the ninth.

Rockies’ prospect Jairo Diaz hit 98 mph but was wild and surrendered three runs in the eighth.

HHH

De La Rosa, acquired from Boston in the offseason deal that sent Wade Miley to the Red Sox, allowed only Wilin Rosario’s infield single. The right-hander “looked great,” according to Hale, striking out two as he aims for a spot in the rotation.

“I feel they are giving me an opportunity,” De La Rosa said. “I’m trying to work hard and not throw away that opportunity.”

Lyles didn’t allow a hit in two innings, striking out two, including Nick Evans on a changeup in the second inning.

Lyles, who went 7-4 with a 4.33 earned-run average last season, said he made some tweaks to his mechanics and used all of his pitches. He hit Jake Lamb with a cut fastball in the second.

“I wanted to throw everything, especially the changeup,” Lyles said.

HHH

Goldschmidt wore a specially designed protective pad on his left hand. He’s not scheduled to play Thursday.

Colorado stars Troy Tulowitzki (hip) and Carlos Gonzalez (knee) began running the bases this week as they recover from surgeries. While declining to be specific, manager Walt Weiss said they could play in a game “sooner than I probably thought.”

HHH

Arizona left fielder David Peralta left as a precaution after left-hander Aaron Laffey hit him with a fastball in the sixth. The ball hit Peralta’s forearm, then glanced off his helmet.

Peralta took first base, but was then lifted for a pinch runner.

“He was coming out of the game anyway there,” Hale said. “He’s fine.”

The next batter, Peter O’Brien, singled in the game’s first run off Laffey.

HHH

Colorado provided some new looks. Rosario, who lost his starting catching job to Hundley, started at first base and looked smooth. He cleanly fielded Cliff Pennington’s grounder in the third and threw on target to second base. The return throw to first was too late for a double play.

Left fielder Corey Dickerson led off, coming off an impressive 2014 season in which he hit .312. He flew out twice. “This isn’t a foreshadow of anything, “Weiss said. “I just like him at the top of the order.”

Hundley, who signed to a free-agent deal in the offseason, went 0-for-2.

HHH

The teams will meet again Thursday. Travor Cahill, working from a new arm angle this spring, will get the start for Arizona as he competes for a rotation spot. Jhoulys Chacin and Eddie Butler are scheduled to throw two innings each for Colorado.

Mar 4, 2015
Nuggets 2-0 in post-Shaw era
Mar 4, 2015
The Sheriff rides again


Reader Comments