TUCSON — The Rockies’ version of an “Iron Man” chose precaution today. Third baseman Garrett Atkins was scratched from the lineup against Team Mexico with a slight right hip flexor injury. Atkins hurt the leg reaching for a groundball this week.
“It’s not an issue hitting or even running the bases. But defense is something where you can’t control how you are going to react,” Atkins said. “I talked with the training staff. They said to take it easy. There’s no reason to be a hero on March 5.”
Any injury is met with the concern in Rockies’ camp these days given their run of bad luck. They lost starter Jeff Francis to season-ending shoulder surgery last week, and learned today that reliever Taylor Buchholz will start the season on the disabled list with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
Atkins is the Rockies’ top returning offensive player. Even in a down season, he led the Rockies with 99 RBIs.
Atkins is hitting .250 with one RBI in 12 at-bats this spring. Christian Colonel, who has appeared in every game this spring, replaced Atkins. The revised starting lineup is as follows:
Rockies (0-7)
CF Scott Podsednik
2B Clint Barmes
RF Carlos Gonzalez
SS Troy Tulowitzki
1B Joe Koshansky
LF Matt Murton
3B Colonel
C Paul Phillips
LHP Jorge De La Rosa
Mexico (1-0)
CF Alfredo Amezaga
RF Jerry Hairston
1B Adrian Gonzalez
3B Jorge Cantu
DH Jorge Alberto Vazquez
LF Scott Hairston
C Rod Barajas
2B Edgar Gonzalez
SS Augie Ojeda
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
