Scottsdale, Ariz. — There were plenty of eyes focused on Jon Gray when he took the mound Monday afternoon at Salt Rivers Fields. The right-hander kept those eyes wide open with an impressive performance.
When the Rockies cut veteran Jhoulys Chacin on Sunday, Gray’s candidacy for the starting rotation moved closer to reality. He responded with four scoreless innings vs. the Brewers. His fastball sizzled between 93-95 mph and topped out at 97. He allowed two hits, struck out two and walked none. Gray threw 44 pitches, 33 for strikes.
The Rockies led the Brewers 5-1 after eight innings.
Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, coming back from hip surgery, made three highlight-reel plays Monday against the Brewers. (Chris Carlson, The Associated Press)
Asked if he went to the mound thinking about the open spot in the rotation, Gray said: “It’s something I have thought about, but I didn’t let it eat me up. The only thing I can control is going out there and pitching.”
Hits
* Nolan Arenado continues to show oomph in his bat. The third baseman led off the second with a line-drive solo home run to left, giving the Rockies a 1-0 lead. It was his fourth Cactus League homer.
* Wilin Rosario, coming in as a substitute at first base, broke a 1-1 tie with a run-scoring double in the seventh. He then scored on a single by Cristhian Adames, giving Colorado a 3-1 lead.
* Troy Tulowitzki made three vintage Tulo plays — two on groundballs, the other on a line drive. His best play came in the third inning when he speared a grounder deep in the hole between short and third base, and then made a leaping throw to nail Milwaukee’s Martin Maldonado by half a step.
* Carlos Gonzalez, showing the outfield speed that was lacking last season when his left knee was aching, sprinted on an Scooter Gennett’s sinking liner in the fourth inning and made a diving catch.
* Right fielder Tim Wheeler hit a two-run homer in the eighth to put the Rockies ahead 5-1.
Misses
* Lefty Tyler Matzek, who already has secured a spot in the rotation, did not fare well in a Triple-A game against Reno, the Diamondbacks’ top affiliate. In 3 1/3 innings, Gray gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits. He struck out six but walked three.
“I gave up some hits, I was a little wild,” Matzek said. “I was throwing a lot of heaters and I was trying to get the ball inside. Overall it was all right.”
Matzek added that his body and arm feel very good at this stage of camp.
Up Next
The Rockies travel to Glendale to face the White Sox in a 2:05 p.m. (MDT) game. Right-hander Jordan Lyles starts for Colorado opposite lefty John Danks. Other Rockies scheduled to pitch: RHP Christian Bergman, RHP Jairo Diaz, LHP Christian Friedrich and LHP Boone Logan.
Tags: Jon Gray, Troy Tulowitzki; Carlos Gonzalez, Tyler Matzek, Wilin Rosario
