The left-handers finally have the right of way. Jeff Francis hasn’t felt this good since 2007. He has been able to locate his fastball inside to right-handers, setting up his crisp curveball and changeup.
He credits Miguel Olivo for guiding him through his first couple of starts.
“He’s been great. I only shook him off three times (against the Royals). It made my job a lot easier,” Francis said.
And Jorge De La Rosa (torn pulley tendon in left middle finger) is on the right track. He played catch again at 170 feet, and when he moved into 60, he fired the ball at about 80 percent effort.
“I can tell it’s better because it doesn’t feel like I am holding onto an egg when I am gripping the ball,” De La Rosa said.
De La Rosa could throw off a mound next week. Rockies trainer Keith Dugger is taking it slowly because of the unique nature of the injury. He has consulted with former Rockies pitcher Adam Eaton, who had a similar problem earlier in his career.
Sick as in great.
The Rockies poked fun at Seth Smith on Thursday, sealing his locker cubicle off with Saran Wrap and Caution! signs. Smith, who homered twice Wednesday, was unavailable to start because of the flu bug. But that didn’t prevent him from coming through in a pinch in the seventh. He hit the first of back-to-back-to-back home runs. In his career, Smith is 35-for-89 as a pinch hitter.
Just right in left.
Ryan Spilborghs started in left field and delivered three hits, including a home run. Dexter Fowler has made just five starts since May 11 as the team contemplates whether to keep him as a bench player or get him regular at-bats in Triple-A.
Footnotes.
Ubaldo Jimenez has joined select company. Only three other pitchers have posted nine victories in their first 10 starts with an ERA less than 1.00. The list according to Elias Sports Bureau: Eddie Cicotte (10-0, 0.84 in 1919), Hoyt Wilhelm (9-0, 0.83 in 1959) and Juan Marichal (9-0, 0.59 in 1966). . . . Huston Street (right groin) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Wednesday. . . . Taylor Buchholz (elbow) returned to Coors Field for a check-up. He’s on track to come off the DL on June 3. . . . Greg Smith will join the Sky Sox’s rotation with the implicit instructions to work ahead in the count. . . . Joe Beimel extended his scoreless streak to 16 1/3 innings. . . . Mike Rice will work the next two KOA broadcasts with Jack Corrigan as Jerry Schemmel attends a family funeral.
