A little bit of the old and a little bit of the new are putting a different face on the Rockies.
Right fielder Brad Hawpe rejoined the lineup Friday from the disabled list.
On Saturday, the Rockies brought back right-handed relief pitcher Luis Vizcaino from the DL, and manager Clint Hurdle was mapping plans to add Vizcaino into the late-inning mix with Taylor Buchholz, Manuel Corpas and closer Brian Fuentes.
“We’ll find a spot for (Vizcaino) and keep them all in play,” Hurdle said.
Left fielder Matt Holliday, who went 4-for-4 with a double Saturday night in his second game of a rehabilitation assignment in Colorado Springs, may return from the DL as early as Tuesday.
Infielders Troy Tulowitzki and Clint Barmes are also working their way back.
“We’re definitely looking forward to getting all the pieces back and developing a more consistent theme with our lineup,” Hurdle said. “My confidence level always is high. We still have every intention of finding a way to get into the playoffs.”
One of the items on Hurdle’s wish list is to find a regular second baseman.
“Everybody internally is looking to the day when Barmes gets back healthy, and he and Tulowitzki get the opportunity to play together in the middle infield,” Hurdle said.
Special night.
Hawpe’s home run Friday was part of his first game since May 20.
“It was nice to be part of a late comeback like that. It was special,” Hawpe said. “We have a lot of good players who are hurt. We have a lot of good players right here. By the end of the year when we look up, we’ll probably be where we should be.”
Making room.
With Vizcaino coming off the disabled list, left-hander Glendon Rusch was optioned to the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Rusch started one game and lost 5-4 to the Chicago Cubs.
Vizcaino had appeared in two early-season games for the Rockies before going on the DL because of a strained right shoulder. He signed Dec. 21 with the Rockies after pitching for the New York Yankees in 2007.
Looking ahead.
Rockies scouting director Bill Schmidt said left-hander Christian Friedrich, the team’s first-round pick in the draft last week, is slated to pitch for Tri-City (short-season Single-A) if he and the Rockies come to contract terms.
Irv Moss, The Denver Post
