TUCSON, Ariz.-
The Colorado Rockies are taking a cautious approach with Kaz Matsui’s injured foot, and the results have been good so far.
Matsui had three singles in the Rockies’ 7-4 loss to Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. Matsui, the club’s starting second baseman, had been out since March 12 with a strained left foot.
He said he felt like it had healed, though he probably won’t play in Thursday’s game against Milwaukee.
“I could play tomorrow. I’ve been trying to be in good condition,” Matsui said through a translator. “I think Clint (Rockies manager Clint Hurdle) cares about my foot so he wants me to take a rest. But the next game, I will play. The icing and the treatment have got to be a lot less.”
In nine spring games, Matsui is hitting .321 with nine hits in 28 at-bats. With a stolen base Wednesday, he has four steals in four attempts.
“He’s full tilt,” Hurdle said. “He looked good out there. He swung the bat well and ran the bases well. He’s been more aggressive for us on the bases this spring. It is nice to see.”
Matsui played against Japanese countryman Ichiro Suzuki for the first time in exhibition play. The pair had played against each other in one regular-season game, June 17, 2005, in Seattle when Matsui was with the Mets.
“I try to treat it just like a normal game,” said Matsui, who hit .345 in 32 games with the Rockies last year. “But it is fun to play (when he is playing).”
Notes:@ Raul Ibanez homered and Yuniesky Betancourt went 2-for-4 with a triple for Seattle. … Josh Fogg pitched 5 2-3 innings for the Rockies, allowing three runs and five hits.
