TUCSON — After getting rocked by the Royals on Tuesday, Ubaldo Jimenez had a ready explanation.
“I ran out of gas,” the Rockies’ No. 2 starter said with sheepish grin. “That last inning, I felt pretty tired.”
For the first three innings, Jimenez was solid. In the final 1 1/3 innings, he was ragged. Miguel Olivo launched a three-run homer off him in the fourth. In the fifth, Jimenez hit Billy Butler in the lower back with a fastball and walked in a run before manager Clint Hurdle gave him the hook.
Jimenez refused to blame the poor outing on the emotional and physical rigors of playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Jimenez shined, striking out 10 in just four innings in his last outing.
Still, there is evidence that pitchers who compete in the WBC struggle when they rejoin their major-league teams. A recent study by USA Today showed that nearly four out of every five pitchers who participated in the WBC in 2006 recorded a higher ERA than in the previous season — up 18.4 percent.
Asked if he thought Jimenez’s fatigue was related to the WBC, Hurdle said, “I don’t have any idea about any of that.”
Hurdle simply saw a fatigued Jimenez fall back into some bad habits.
“Sometimes you fall back into a comfort zone rather than fighting through it,” Hurdle said, adding Jimenez was trying to pitch too fine and hit the corners. “He doesn’t have to black out every pitch, just make good pitches, repeat his delivery and get the ball down in the zone.”
Footnotes.
Injured pitcher Taylor Buchholz (right elbow) will begin a 12- to 14-day strengthening program Thursday, setting him up to begin throwing March 31, with May 1 a realistic return date. “We want to make sure it’s right. The pain has gone away, wanted to make sure I was symptom free,” he said. . . . Jeff Baker (sore right elbow) played his first game since Feb. 26. Originally slotted to start at second base, he played first instead, replacing Todd Helton in the sixth. . . . Garrett Atkins (groin) went through 40 minutes of stretching exercises and plans to swing in the cages today and Thursday.
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
Rockies Recap
At the plate
Troy Tulowitzki has regained his power stroke. He drove a ball over the left-center field wall for a two-run homer in the first. It was Tulo’s first homer this spring. He finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Todd Helton hit his third homer (and second in two days) and Ryan Spilborghs socked his second of the spring.
On the mound
Closer candidate Manuel Corpas pitched an efficient seventh, allowing one baserunner on a walk. Ryan Speier, closing in on a roster spot, pitched a perfect ninth.
In the field
Jeff Baker, playing just his third game, made a sparkling play at first base in the sixth, ranging far to his right to scoop up a grounder.
Up next
The Rockies have their only day off today, although Greg Reynolds, Jason Smith, Speier, Josh Fogg and Matt Belisle are all scheduled to pitch in “B” games or minor-league games.
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
