Catch the daily spring training roundup each afternoon from Rockies beat writers Troy E. Renck and Patrick Saunders in Tucson. You’ll find insider information on players and what the team is working on as it gets ready for the 2007 season. Check every afternoon for the Rockies Rundown.
Surprise, Ariz. – Lefty Jeff Francis, scheduled to be the Rockies’ No. 2 starter this season, had what can be described as a so-so performance against the Rangers this afternoon.
Francis pitched six innings, giving up four earned runs on 11 hits. He struck out one but didn’t walk a batter. He gave up a solo homer to Matt Kata to open the third.
In four A-game appearances this season, Francis has walked only two batters.
Inside the game
Too bad they don’t take out the home run tape measure during spring training games. If they did, we’d know which Rockies slugger – Brad Hawpe or Matt Holliday – has hit the longest homer this spring.
Earlier this spring, Hawpe hit a bomb over the green monster in center field at Tucson Electric Park. Longtime TEP observers estimated the ball traveled at least 440 feet.
This afternoon, Holliday belted a two-run homer onto the grassy hill beyond the center field wall at Surprise Stadium. The ball traveled an estimated 445 feet.
By the numbers: Four
When Aaron Cook starts on opening day for the Rockies, he’ll be become the Rockies’ fourth different opening-day starter in the last four seasons. Here’s the list:
2007: Aaron Cook
2006: Jason Jennings
2005: Joe Kennedy
2004: Shawn Estes
The last time the Rockies had the same opening-day pitcher in back-to-back seasons was in 2001-02 when Mike Hampton did it.
Staff writer Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
