TUCSON, Ariz.-
Left-hander Jeff Francis might just become the slowest ace in baseball.
Francis, who is competing with Aaron Cook and Rodrigo Lopez for the No. 1 job in Colorado’s rotation after the offseason trade of Jason Jennings to Houston, threw two crisp innings in the Rockies’ 4-3 win over a split squad of the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.
Francis’ fastball tops out in the high 80s, so his game is all about location, and he was on top in his spring debut, facing seven batters and allowing an infield single to Joe Crede, who later homered.
Cook was also impressive in his first start Wednesday and Lopez, acquired from Baltimore in the offseason, gets his first crack Friday in an intrasquad game—not that any of them are fretting over who gets the Opening Day start against Arizona next month.
“I don’t think anybody’s wearing that shirt right now,” Francis said. “All it means is you start on Opening Day, and after that, it’s every fifth day for everybody.”
Manager Clint Hurdle is more concerned about finding the Nos. 4 and 5 pitchers in his rotation than worrying about who will emerge as his No. 1 guy, but he’s a big believer in Francis, who is 30-25 in two-plus seasons in the majors after going through the minor leagues with a 28-12 mark and a 2.71 ERA.
“You know, when he came up, there was a lot of questions. I mean, he dominated the minor leagues and as soon as he got up … all I heard was what he couldn’t do, from a lot of people who were very quick to break him down,” Hurdle said. “And what he’s done every year is gotten better.
“I think he could end up in the front of the rotation, I don’t have any doubt in that. I really believe that.”
Ramon Ramirez picked up the win with a scoreless eighth inning. Sean Tracey took the loss, and Manny Corpas got the save when shortstop Jonathan Herrera, who was playing in with the runner on third and one out, raced back to catch Donny Lucy’s fly ball while falling down, then jumped up to nail Kenny Kelly at the plate for the final out.
Notes:@ The Rockies filmed commercials Thursday for their first TV ad campaign since 1993. … LHP Heath Phillips started for Chicago and allowed one run on three hits in two innings in his Cactus League debut.
