Chris Rusin’s excellent spot start Saturday against the Miami Marlins could turn into a full-time gig in the Rockies’ rotation. But the left-hander isn’t ready to go there. “I’m just doing what they say, and every time I get an opportunity I try to take advantage of it,” he said. “I am really not thinking about anything else.”
Rusin — a replacement for Jordan Lyles, who will undergo season-ending toe surgery Wednesday — limited Miami to two runs on seven hits in seven innings in Colorado’s 10-5 victory. He struck out a career-high eight batters, including four strikeouts of Miami slugger Giancarlo Stanton. Rusin became the first pitcher to ever do that.
“I have to be crafty,” he said. “I’m not a power pitcher and I have to get weak contact to be successful. Today, I was able to attack early and get some good location. I trusted my pitches and relied on my movement.”
In three appearances this season (two starts), Rusin is 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA.
“He knows how to pitch and bear down when he needs to,” manager Walt Weiss said.
In the third inning, for example, Martin Prado tagged Rusin for a one-out triple, but Rusin struck out Stanton and got Jeff Baker to ground out to first.
“After that triple, I just tried to stay calm and minimize the damage,” he said.
Corey Dickerson looks to test injured foot
Left fielder Corey Dickerson, who’s been battling plantar fasciitis in his left foot, could be headed to the team’s training complex in Scottsdale, Ariz., as early as Sunday. He will play in extended spring training games to test the foot.
Chad Bettis’ next start pushed back
Right-hander Chad Bettis’ next start has been pushed from Monday to Wednesday. With the Rockies having begun a stretch of 17 consecutive games, Weiss wants to give all of his starters extra rest. … The Rockies are expected to recall right-hander David Hale (1-0, 4.26 ERA in two games) from Triple-A Albuquerque to start Monday against the Cardinals.
Looking ahead
Marlins’ Jose Urena (0-2, 7.24 ERA) at Rockies’ Kyle Kendrick (2-7, 6.55), 2:10 p.m. Sunday, ROOT; 850 AM
By any measure, Kendrick has been one of the biggest disappointments of the Rockies’ season. His Coors Field experience has been a disaster: 0-3 record, 7.99 ERA in four starts. Colorado signed Kendrick in hopes of acquiring a pitcher capable of logging inning and getting groundball outs. Instead, he has served up 15 home runs (eight at Coors), tied for most in the National League. On the bright side, he owned the Marlins when he was pitching for Philadelphia, going 13-4 with a 3.45 ERA in 26 games (21 starts). Urena, a 23-year-old from the Dominican Republic, will be making his third major-league start.
Monday: Cardinals’ John Lackey (4-3, 2.93 ERA) at Rockies’ David Hale (1-0, 4.26), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
Tuesday: Cardinals’ Michael Wacha (8-1, 2.18) at Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (2-2, 6.15), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
Wednesday: Cardinals’ Carlos Martinez (6-2, 2.94) at Rockies’ Chad Bettis (2-0, 2.70), 1:10 p.m., no TV
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
