Scottsdale, Ariz. — Kyle Kendrick’s real Rockies debut is just five days away. That’s when he’ll step on the mound at Milwaukee’s Miller Park on Monday for opening day of the 2015 season.
The right-hander wasn’t particularly sharp Wednesday in his Cactus League finale against Texas: five innings, four runs (three earned) on five hits. He also gave up a solo homer to right fielder Nomar Mazara, the Rangers’ red-hot 19-year-old prospect.
The Rockies’ offense, however, behind big days by Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, was potent as the Rockies throttled the Rangers, 10-4.
Kendrick, the former Phillies starter who signed a free-agent deal with the Rockies, was unconcerned about his stats in Wednesday’s game, saying he feels strong and healthy for the regular season.
“Personally, I feel ready to go,” said Kendrick, who finished spring with a 3.84 ERA. “I worked on my curveball this spring and I used it today. That’s something that’s come along and it’s probably something that is going to be big for me this year.”
HITS
* The Tulo & CarGo Show cranked up the tempo. They went back-to-back with long solo homers in the third inning off Rangers starter Colby Lewis. Gonzalez’s blast to dead center traveled 423 feet and landed in the cactus. Tulowitzki followed with a 443-foot drive into the grass berm beyond the wall in left-center. Tulo, who went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, put the Rockies on the scoreboard in the first inning with a two-run homer. All told, he’s hit five homers this spring and he’s hitting .385.
CarGo went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.
* Matt McBride was awarded the annual Abby Greer Award as the Rockies’ spring training MVP, an award usually presented to a developing player who has the best camp. McBride, who started in left field for Corey Dickerson, backed up his award with a 2-for-4 performance that included an RBI.
* Relievers Brooks Brown and Christian Friedrich, both of whom are having excellent springs, each pitched a scoreless inning.
* Outfielder Drew Stubbs snapped out of his spring funk to finish 2-for-4 with a walk.
MISSES
* Tulowitzki committed an error in the first on a grounder hit by Shin-Soo Choo. Playing a shift to the right side of second base, Tulo fielded the ball cleanly and made a 360-degree spin, but his throw to first was way off target.
UP NEXT
The Rockies are off on Thursday before playing the Mariners on Friday in Peoria in their penultimate game of the Cactus League season. Right-hander Jordan Lyles, who will start Game 2 of the regular season on Tuesday in Milwaukee, starts for the Rockies. Seattle starts lefty J.A. Happ.
Tags: Carlos Gonzalez, Kyle Kendrick, Matt McBride, Troy Tulowitzki
