TUCSON, Ariz.—Aaron Cook had his sinker working in Colorado’s 7-5 victory over Arizona on Monday.
He allowed one run in three innings. Cook gave up two hits—Chris Young’s first homer of the spring and a triple by Orlando Hudson—and struck out two.
“I felt like I was able to get the ball down effectively today,” said Cook, who made his second start. “I just got that one pitch up to Young and he put a real good swing on it.
“It was kind of simple today,” said Cook, who retired four straight batters on grounders, a good sign for a sinkerballer.
Cook said he felt strong on a blustery 58-degree day.
“I didn’t feel fatigued at all,” Cook said. “Honestly, I think I could’ve thrown a couple more (innings).”
Cook said he is taking a different approach to training camp this spring. A year ago, Cook came to camp and beat out Jeff Francis for the opening day starter job. This year, manager Clint Hurdle has already picked Francis as his No. 1 starter.
“This year, I’m really more focused on getting ready for the season than worrying about anything else,” Cook said. “Last year, me and Jeff were competing for the opening day spot, so it was a little bit different. But this year we both know where we stand going into it, and I think we’re both just using spring training to get ready. It’s a little more freedom.”
Like Cook, Young knows where he stands heading into the season.
Batting in the leadoff spot, Young had a double and a homer for his first two hits of the spring, and he drove in two runs. Young had struck out three times in his first seven spring at-bats, and Arizona manager Bob Melvin was happy to see him making solid contact.
“C.Y.’s at-bats in batting practice have been real good,” Melvin said. “It’s good to see him getting some hits. He’s got a confident look in his eye. He’s got a chance to have a big year.”
The Diamondbacks’ pitching news wasn’t as positive. They scratched starter Micah Owings with a sore shoulder.
Owings said he’s had soreness in the back of the shoulder before and that he’s confident it will subside soon.
“Right now I’m just nipping it so I’ll be ready to go here shortly,” Owings said. “That’s why I’m not too concerned about it.”
Owings was replaced by right-hander Dustin Nippert, who gave up three runs on two hits in two innings.
Nippert struggled from the start, walking Marcus Giles and Todd Helton before giving up a three-run homer to Brad Hawpe.
Nippert was the first of seven Arizona pitchers, most of them ticketed to open the season in the minors. “We had a lot of pitchers without names on the back of their uniforms out there,” Melvin said.
