TUCSON — After receiving the worst news of his life, Ryan Spilborghs has enjoyed the best spring of any Rockie. With a pair of doubles Friday, Spilborghs is hitting .371 and leads the Rockies with 10 RBIs and four stolen bases.
He will be gone this weekend to attend a memorial for his 57-year-old mother, Essie, who died Feb. 27 due to complications from a lung infection.
“We will probably have half of Santa Barbara at the memorial,” Spilborghs said. “It’s part of the healing. I think it’s going to help with the process.”
Spilborghs has maintained a remarkable energy and attitude since his mother’s death. He insists he’s able to separate his grief from his play.
“I can’t think about it when I am out there. You have to be able to separate it,” he said.
Hawpe’s hammy.
Brad Hawpe emerged from the training room Friday evening with a smile, confirmation his strained left hamstring was a minor matter. “I just felt it cramp up a little bit when I came around first, so I thought it would be best to come out,” the right fielder said. Hawpe hit a double in the sixth of the Rockies’ 11-5 loss to Texas.
Footnotes.
Todd Helton played seven innings as he continues the road back from back surgery. The next step is playing nine innings in back-to-back games. Troy E. Renck and Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
