TUCSON — Jeff Baker’s strong spring has hit a small detour.
Baker, who has impressed in his audition at second base, was scratched from Friday’s 15-2 victory over the Mexican national team. Baker injured his left elbow Thursday when he was hit by a pitch in the ninth inning against the Diamondbacks.
“It’s getting better,” Baker said. “I just have fluid in my elbow joint that we have to get out so that I can get my full range of motion back. It should be good in a couple of days.”
Jimenez strong in debut. Ubaldo Jimenez wasn’t fretting over Friday’s pitching assignment against Mexico. Less than an hour before the game, he asked pitching coach Bob Apodaca if he was starting. Jimenez wasn’t sure he could trust the order on the clubhouse board.
It wouldn’t have mattered when he pitched — the right-hander was sharp, throwing two scoreless innings. He labeled his sinker his best pitch, feeling he lacked command of his curveball. He allowed one hit, struck out two and walked one.
Jimenez took extra steps to prepare for this season. He threw five innings — three once, two innings the other time — at the Rockies’ Dominican Republic facility in Boca Chica.
“I didn’t want spring training to be the first time I threw to hitters,” Jimenez said.
Adding 17 pounds to his frame during the offseason has Jimenez feeling strong.
“My arm feels very powerful right now,” he said when camp opened.
Mixed bag. As a second baseman, third baseman Ian Stewart continues to be a work in progress. In the sixth inning, he made a nice diving stop behind the bag and nearly threw out the runner. Just a few moments later, he ran under a shallow fly to right, but dropped the ball. Stewart was charged with an error when the runner at first advanced to second. In the ninth, Stewart helped turn a nifty double play.
Out of gas. Ryan Spilborghs, who hit two doubles and scored two runs, was removed after his second double. Questioned as to whether he hurt his leg, Spilborghs said no, adding that he was merely sore and that he’s been pushing himself too hard early in camp.
On the Mark. Left-hander Mark Redman remains a strong candidate to fill either a final bullpen spot or the fifth spot in the rotation. He escaped a jam in Wednesday’s opener, stranding two runners after Dexter Fowler lost a flyball in the sun.
“One of the advantages I have is that I am not going be affected by the pressure of trying to make the team,” Redman said. “I have been through it before as a young player, and that’s not easy. I know what I have to do.”
Redman began throwing several weeks earlier than usual this winter to help his command when he arrived at spring training.
Weary road for Mexico. The Mexican team appeared a bit ragged, likely worn out from criss-crossing its homeland in preparation for next week’s Olympic qualifying tournament in Taiwan. The Mexicans must finish in the top three of that event to advance to the Beijing Olympics this summer. If Mexico advances, Rockies special assistant Vinny Castilla would have a role with the team, either as a manager or player. Castilla played well this past winter in his homeland.
Footnotes. Fowler’s impressive spring continued Friday. He went 2-for-6 with a double and two runs scored. . . . Ben Sheets will start Saturday for Milwaukee at Hi Corbett Field opposite the Rockies’ Jason Hirsh. Hirsh, who missed the final two months of the 2007 season with a fractured fibula, will be making his first start since Aug. 7. That’s when a line drive by the Brewers’ J.J. Hardy caught Hirsh on his lower leg and ended his season. . . . Mexican manager Jose Tolentino was thrown out for arguing a foul ball call in the sixth inning. . . . Reliever Luis Vizcaino blamed a faulty arm slot for his poor performance Thursday against Chicago. Apodaca said it was a classic case of Vizcaino trying to do too much, causing Vizcaino’s pitches to flatten out.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
