After 11 straight starts and 11 stolen bases, center fielder Willy Taveras was replaced in the lineup by Ryan Spilborghs. Taveras said the break will help him keep his legs fresh. He has a swollen bruise above his right knee that he has had to monitor for the past month.
“Nothing is going to keep me from running,” Taveras said. Spilborghs and Jeff Baker could see at-bats in right field against left-handed pitchers, but Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said he is “leery of platooning” Brad Hawpe.
Injured ump. On the same day Major League Baseball officials expressed concern and approved immediate studies on the safety of maple bats, plate umpire Brian O’Nora was hit with a shard in the forehead that left him with a laceration. He left the game in second inning and was taken to a hospital for more evaluation.
Numbers game. For a few moments, Hurdle and bench coach Jamie Quirk, both former Royals, had their numbers “retired.” Some players taped the numbers 13 and 9 to the outfield wall as a joke, joining Royals legends Dick Howser, George Brett and Frank White.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
