It’s September, but Willy Taveras is fresh and still tearing around the basepaths. He stole three bases Monday, increasing his franchise-best total to 65. They weren’t meaningless thefts, either, as he scored twice. In a game in which the Rockies had only four hits, Colorado needed Taveras to make something happen.
The Rockies scratched out a run in the third when Taveras led off with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on Matt Holliday’s groundout. Taveras raced home on Garrett Atkins’ shallow sacrifice fly to left. He easily beat the off-line throw by Fred Lewis.
“I decided to go on my own,” he said. “I knew it was shallow, but I’ve got to trust my speed and make them make a perfect throw.”
Taveras also singled in the eighth, stole both second and third and scored easily on a wild pitch by Giants reliever Keiichi Yabu.
Spilly’s back.
Whether his presence can help the Rockies make a September run remains to be seen, but gregarious outfielder Ryan Spilborghs returned to the Rockies on Monday, starting in right field and going 0-for-3 with a run scored.
“Obviously, I would have liked to have been back right away, but after the wait and the process, I’m excited to be back,” said Spilborghs, who hit .322 last September and was a key part of the Rockies’ run to the National League pennant.
Spilborghs had been out since July 9 with a strained left oblique. He missed 47 games, a much longer absence than he anticipated. He said he felt 100 percent “about two weeks ago” but needed an extended minor-league rehab assignment to get back in shape and test the oblique.
Before his injury, he played 72 games for the Rockies, hitting .314 with six homers and 33 RBIs.
Helton’s return.
Todd Helton is making a slow, steady recovery from his lower back problems that have kept him out since July 3. That leaves a looming question about when, or if, he should return this season.
Manager Clint Hurdle declined to comment on the pros and cons of Helton’s return “until it’s the appropriate time for me to respond.” Hurdle sounds open to Helton making a contribution this season.
“I like the fact he’s working his way back,” Hurdle said. “Nobody wants the season to move on without him, and he feels that he still might have some value to add.”
Footnotes.
The Rockies called up right-handed reliever Steven Register and catcher Edwin Bellorin from Triple-A Colorado Springs. The Rockies will expand their roster to 40 players today.
