Houston – Ryan Spilborghs, armed with a cockeyed grin, a freshly shaved head and unlimited passion for the game, was a ray of sunshine in the Rockies’ gloomy road trip.
Starting for the injured Willy Taveras in center field, Spilborghs went 2-for-5 in Colorado’s 5-0 victory Friday night and got one of the team’s four hits in Sunday’s 12-0 loss. In his 14 starts, Spilborghs is hitting .316 (18-for-57) with 11 RBIs. As a pinch hitter, Spilborghs has three hits in his past four at-bats, including his first pinch-hit homer Friday night.
Called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs on May 19, Spilborghs has emerged as the spark off the bench that veterans John Mabry and Steve Finley were supposed to be before they were released.
“He’s a ballplayer, he never stops and he makes things happen,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
Taveras is recovering from a sore right quadriceps. He pinch-hit in the sixth inning Sunday.
“I’m feeling better,” Taveras said. “I think I can start tomorrow. But we have to see how I feel tomorrow after the flight back.”
Taveras said he believes he strained his leg Friday night while chasing a ball onto the hill in deep center field at Minute Maid Park.
June boom
The 1-9 road trip cast a dark shadow over what was a nice month for the Rockies. Posting a 14-13 record, the Rockies hit .292, best in the National League. It was Colorado’s best offensive month since it hit .295 in April 2005.
Garrett Atkins, emerging from an early-season slump, drove in 25 runs in June, second best in the National League behind Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard (27). Brad Hawpe tied for third with 23 RBIs.
Squeeze play
After three losses in four games at Minute Maid Park, the Rockies are 0-8 in series in the ballpark. They have not won a series in Houston since taking two of three in the Astrodome from April 28-30, 1995.
