TUCSON — Kip Wells’ methodical approach to spring training paid dividends Thursday afternoon against the Diamondbacks. The right-hander, competing for a spot at the back of the rotation, threw two crisp innings in the Rockies’ 5-5 tie with Arizona at Tucson Electric Park. The Rockies took a split squad across town to TEP to face the Diamondbacks’ regulars in a game called after nine innings.
Wells allowed no runs on two hits and walked one.
“Two zeroes is a good start,” Wells said. “As much as anything, I was trying to throw first-pitch strikes and work quickly.”
His best pitch was his sinker.
“I felt like I had the ability to throw my ‘out’ pitch today,” he said. “Now I’ll take this and build off of it.”
Wells, who struggled with a 7-17 record last year with St. Louis, said he’s not worried about where he sits on the depth chart.
“This early in camp, I’m not really overly conscious of the big picture,” he said. “I’m just trying to go out there and execute my game plan. I just want to continue to improve, then let the chips fall where they will.”
Cook scuffles.
Aaron Cook has dropped weight — 15 pounds, to be exact, to 210 pounds — and added a dose of leadership. He is setting a strong example in drill work. But his first spring outing in the Rockies’ home opener at Hi Corbett Field was sluggish. The White Sox, who won 12-3, tagged Cook for three runs on four hits in two innings. Asked which of his pitches were up in the zone, he said, “All of them.”
Podsednik pops.
Trying to find a spot on the roster, veteran Scott Podsednik made the most of his start against the Diamondbacks. He made a nice running catch on Trot Nixon’s drive to left field in the second and drove in a run with a double to deep center in the third.
Footnotes.
Jeff Baker continues to impress in his audition at second base, pulling off a nifty double play in the eighth against Arizona. . . . New reliever Luis Vizcaino made an inauspicious debut against the White Sox. He was pulled in the ninth after retiring just two hitters and allowing five runs.
Patrick Saunders and Troy E. Renck The Denver Post
