SAN FRANCISCO — Ryan Spilborghs’ revelation that he should go back to being himself, regardless of his spot in the batting order, is paying huge dividends.
Spilborghs, batting leadoff Saturday, went 3-for-4 with two home runs off Matt Cain.
It marked the fourth multihomer game of Spilborgh’s career. He also walked, singled and stole two bases, becoming the first major-leaguer in more than two seasons to hit two home runs and steal two bases in the same game. The last one to do it was Pittsburgh’s Chris Duffy, who pulled it off Sept. 7, 2006, at Chicago’s Wrigley Field.
“I got into trouble two weeks ago when I was leading off because I was taking too many pitches and I was getting behind in counts,” Spilborghs said. “I have been really aggressive of late, just trying to jump on pitches early in the count. That’s more my style of hitting.”
In his first 10 games of the season, Spilborghs struck out 14 times. In his last 12 games, he’s struck out just four times. He’s hitting .357 from the No. 3 hole, .313 from the No. 2 spot and .310 when leading off.
“This guy’s done nothing but give us quality at-bats since he got into the big leagues,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
Derby day.
Catcher Yorvit Torrealba took a keen interest in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. Torrealba owns five race horses back home in his native Venezuela.
His pride and joy is a 4-year-old horse named Go Rockies, which won a big race last month in Caracas.
“I bought the horse back in 2007 after we played in the World Series,” Torrealba said. “Back then, my son (Yorvit Eduardo) kept shouting, ‘Go Rockies,’ so that’s what I named my horse.”
“I love horses,” Torrealba said. “I’m thinking of buying a ranch where I can raise them. Maybe I’ll let Go Rockies run free and enjoy himself.”
Footnotes.
Garrett Atkins went 1-for-3, extending his hitting streak to seven games, longest by a Rockie this season. . . . Before Saturday, the Rockies’ last complete game was thrown last July 22 by Ubaldo Jimenez against the Dodgers at Coors Field, a four-hitter in a 10-1 victory.
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
