TUCSON, Ariz.-
Arizona’s Dustin Nippert helped his cause for a slot at the tail end of the Diamondbacks starting rotation by allowing just one earned run on two hits over three innings as the Rockies lost 6-5 Monday afternoon.
Nippert, a 6-foot-8-inch, 25-year-old right hander who is fighting for a spot, struck out two and walked three.
“That’s their decision to make, not mine,” Nippert said of his chances of joining the Arizona staff. “The only thing I can do about it is go out there and pitch. I’ve got to do my job and they’ll do theirs. Hopefully I can make it more difficult on them to make their decision.”
Meanwhile the Rockies’ Aaron Cook—a sinkerball specialist—is in the hunt to become the Opening Day man on the mound for the Rockies. In five innings of work, Cook allowed three runs on eight hits with no walks and a strikeout.
“I’m starting to build my innings up which is a big part of this time of the spring,” Cook said. “Still working on a lot of my other pitches (other than the sinker.)”
Matt Miller drove in two runs with a bloop single in the seventh to put Colorado on top 4-3.
Arizona retook the lead in the eighth at 5-4 when Justin Upton grounded into a fielder’s choice, plating Chris Young. And the Rockies evened the score at five in the next half inning when Geronimo Gil scored a single from Cory Sullivan.
Arizona utilityman Robby Hammock doubled home the eventual game-winning run in the tenth.
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NOTES@: Rockies reliever Darren Clarke left the game in the top of the eighth with a strained right groin. Colorado released catcher Javy Lopez on Monday. Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitski returned from a bruised wrist on Monday. He grounded out in his only plate appearance. The team optioned infielders Jonathan Herrera and Jayson Nix, and outfielder Jeff Salazar and reassigned to the minor league camp infielders Joe Koshansky and Ian Stewart, along with outfielders Sean Barker, Matt Miller, and Seth Smith.
