Scottsdale, Ariz. — The lines didn’t look particularly good, but there was incremental progress for Rockies right-handers Jhoulys Chacin and Eddie Butler in their Cactus League debuts Thursday afternoon against the Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields.
Jhoulys Chacine is coming back from a shoulder injury. (Getty Images file)
Chacin started and pitched 1 2/3 innings before he was lifted because of his early spring pitch count. Chacin gave up two runs on two hits, with one strike out and a I walk. In the big scheme of things, what mattered was how his shoulder felt.
Arizona led the Rockies 4-2 after eight innings.
“I felt very good, and I hope I can keep like this all year,” said Chacin, who was pitching for the first time since June 28 when he was shelved because of a shoulder injury. “I threw a lot of changeups and sliders today because that’s what I’ve been working on. I have been working on the slider because that’s my strikeout pitch.”
Butler, the prospect who made the first three starts of his big-league career last summer before he went down with shoulder problems, is trying to regain his rhythm this spring. He was hit and miss with it on Thursday, giving up two runs on four hits in his two innings of work. The big blow was a two-run homer off the bat of Arizona first baseman Danny Dorn in the fourth inning.
“It was just bad pitch,” Butler said. “I was trying to throw a sinker down and away and I left it up over the fat part of the plate.”
Overall, Butler was pleased with his day’s work, as was his catcher, Michael McKenry.
“There was really good life on his pitches,” McKenry said. “He reminded me of the pitcher who started off camp last year. I think he’s got his arm slot back, now it’s just a matter of getting that consistency.”
The Rockies scored two runs in the third on an RBI singles by designated hitter Wilin Rosario and McKenry.
Tags: Eddie Butler, Jhoulys Chacin
