Troy Tulowitzki, calling it “my third opening day this season,” is back in the lineup as the starting shortstop for tonight’s game against the Dodgers.
After two stints on the disabled list – one because of a torn tendon in his quadriceps and another because of a laceration in his right hand – last year’s rookie phenom is all about full steam ahead.
“I don’t like to reflect back on this season,” he said this afternoon. “I just want to move on and get back in the games. I want to put this behind me.”
Tulowitzki, hitting a disappointing .166 at the big-league level this season, is confident he’ll turn things around.
“I feel fine after all the injuries and I feel like I’m starting over for the third time now,” he said. “The toughest part has been missing out on facing (major league) pitching, so it will take some adjusting, but I’m eager to get back.”
Manager Clint Hurdle said he wants to give Tulowitzki a chance to get back in the groove, but stressed that he’ll continue to find playing time for Clint Barmes at short, adding that he’s been very pleased with Jeff Baker’s play at second base.
“I want to give Tulo a first look,” Hurdle said. “I want to give him a chance to get out there and show us what he can do, but I do have other guys who are playing well. So it will be a challenge for me as we move forward to find playing time for guys.”
Tulo, who just returned from playing five rehab games with Double-A Tulsa, said being back in a Rockies uniform was a relief.
“I’m really excited to be back, especially after playing in some Double-A games,” he said. “Now my pants actually fit.”
The Rockies have won four straight to creep back to the fringes of the National League West race. That recent success, Tulowitzki joked, is a double-edged sword for him.
“It’s nice to be back with the team playing well,” he said. “But it’s almost a lose-lose situation,” he said. “If we keep winning games, people will say we won because we were supposed to. If we lose, people might say it’s because I’m in the lineup.”
Here are the lineups for tonight’s game:
Dodgers
RF Matt Kemp
LF Andre Ethier
C Russell Martin
2B Jeff Kent
1B James Loney
CF Andrew Jones
3B Adam LaRoche
SS Angel Berroa
LHP Eric Stults
Rockies
CF Willy Taveras
2B Jeff Baker
LF Matt Holliday
1B Garrett Atkins
C Chris Iannetta
RF Brad Hawpe
SS Troy Tulowitzki
3B Ian Stewart
RHP Kip Wells
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
