San Diego – In one of their most critical games of the season, the Rockies will be without arguably the National League’s most valuable player. Left fielder Matt Holliday is not starting and available only in an emergency tonight because of a left oblique injury.
“Of course I want to be out there, but it doesn’t make sense if I am hurting the team,” Holliday said.
Holliday said he sustained the injury five days ago while swinging a bat. It grew worse last night as the game progressed and was affecting his at-bats. He informed trainer Keith Dugger and was ultimately double-switched for Jeff Baker in the bottom of the 13th inning. When asked about being hurt last night, Holliday insisted he was fine.
But as manager Clint Hurdle explained, it’s kind of hard to sell this as a scheduled off day for Holliday, who has 11 home runs in his past 13 games. Holliday has played in 151 of 154 games. He leads the Rockies with a .337 average, 36 home runs and 131 RBIs.
“I hope to be out there tomorrow. We’ll see. I will listen to the Duggy,” said Holliday, who will not be injected with cortisone because that would actually require two days rest to take affect.
The Padres were understandably elated that Holliday was not in the lineup.
Staff Writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
