Phoenix – Zach Day’s bad late-season break turned out to be a good break for Mike Esposito.
Day suffered a fractured right thumb Friday night against Arizona, leaving a hole in the Rockies’ rotation for the rest of the season. Esposito will attempt to fill the void Wednesday night when he makes his major-league debut against San Diego at Coors Field.
“I’m not going out there and say, ‘I wonder if I can?’ I’m going to go out and compete,” the 23-year-old right-hander said Sunday after he got the news.
The Rockies consider Esposito a solid, unpolished pitcher. He spent the 2004 season with Double-A Tulsa, finishing 10-6 with a 3.33 ERA and one complete game in 24 starts. His 2005 season with Triple-A Colorado Springs was a mixed bag. He started 27 games, finishing 8-9 with a 5.49 ERA.
BK NOT OK: When starter Byung-Hyun Kim tweaked his right hip Wednesday night in Los Angeles, the Rockies didn’t think it was reason to worry. But Kim’s hip flexor injury has persisted, and he’ll miss his scheduled start Tuesday night against the Padres.
Former starter Jamey Wright, demoted to the bullpen last month, will take Kim’s place. Manager Clint Hurdle made it clear Wright is only a spot starter, not a contender to regain a spot in the rotation.
FOOTNOTES: Rookie Ryan Shealy started at first base Sunday, giving Todd Helton a rare chance to rest. Shealy, now hitting .337, was 1-for-2 with two walks. … Although starter Jeff Francis threw just 73 pitches in six innings, relievers Scott Dohmann and Mike DeJean were a bit wild, throwing a combined 69 pitches in their two innings. Dohmann walked three batters in the seventh but gave up only one run, a homer by Chad Tracy. … Catcher Danny Ardoin likes Arizona pitching. He was 8-for-13 with one double, two homers and three RBIs against the Diamondbacks in 2005. … Rookie Omar Quintanilla started at second base for the second time this season.
