That Brad Hawpe started for the first time since last Tuesday had as much to do with his sore shoulder as his slumping bat. A week of several long throws from the outfield required ice and rest. It worked. On a sharp single to right field Saturday, Hawpe fired a bullet to third base, erasing Texas’ Mark DeRosa for his team-high 10th assist.
“I just needed a couple of days,” said Hawpe, who recorded hits in two of his first three at-bats as he works his way out of a month-long slump.
KING’S ROLE CHANGES: Ray King’s difficult June has dropped the reliever on the depth chart. Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca said left-hander Tom Martin would be used in favor of King for late-inning outs. Apodaca will look to match King against left-handers earlier in games.
MATSUI HURTING: Colorado Springs Sky Sox infielder Kaz Matsui was back at Coors Field because of his aching back. An MRI revealed a disc problem the Rockies hope will be alleviated through stabilization exercises. Matsui hopes to return to playing in about a week.
