Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood, coming back from his second Tommy John surgery, threw three solid innings Monday against the Mariners. Chatwood allowed no runs and no hits.
- ROCKIES 6, MARINERS 4At Peoria Stadium
Peoria, Ariz. — There was plenty for manager Walt Weiss to smile about after the Rockies’ victory over Seattle on Monday. Tyler Chatwood put up zeroes, Ryan Raburn illustrated why the Rockies’ signed him and Trevor Story continued writer the best chapters of spring training.
Chatwood didn’t overpower the Mariners, but kept the ball down and followed his game plan. Chatwood pitched three scoreless, hitless innings and induced two double play groundouts. Eight of his nine outs came via groundballs. The only downside were the two walks he issued.
“Today I was just kind of getting a feel for my sinker,” Chatwood said. “It’s been kind of inconsistent, but today it got a lot better. I still have work to do, but today I felt good.”
Chatwood, returning from his second Tommy John surgery, said his elbow feels “normal and strong.”
His fastball was moving at 89-92 mph Monday — down a few clicks from what he used to throw — but his command was excellent and he threw with a nice, easy motion.
“Two Tommy Johns will do that to you,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t want to crank on my elbow too much.”
HITS
** Story, continuing his strong audition to be the starting shortstop, continues to rake big-league pitching. He tripled off Mariners ace Felix Hernandez in the first inning and then scored on a wild pitch. He drew a walk off Hernndez in the third and then hit an opposite-field, solo homer to right in the seventh off right-hander Joaquin Benoit. Story’s four home runs lead the Rockies.
“He’s in a really good place,” Weiss said. “He’s in complete control with what he’s doing right now. He looks very comfortable right now.”
** Raburn, competing for a spot on the 25-man roster, had a big day. The veteran outfielder had a double, two singles and four RBIs in three at-bats. The Rockies signed him because of his ability to hit left-handers, but all three hits Monday came off right-handers.
“I haven’t had too many (at-bats) against right-handers the last couple of years, so that felt good,” he said. “I just want to show the Rockies that I can play, go from there and see what happens.”
Raburn, who will earn $1.5 million if he makes the big-league team, said his spring training hits matter, but said statistics are not the only thing that will determine if he makes the club.
“I think to a certain extent (they matter), but I do have a track record,” said Raburn, who has 10 seasons under his big-league belt and a career .256 average. “So I still have to show them what I can do. I don’t want to go out there and not get a hit in spring training.”
MISSES
** Right-hander Eddie Butler came into spring training hoping he could crack the starting rotation, but three weeks before the regular-season opener, he’s still making critical mistakes at critical times — hence his 7.04 ERA.
Butler gave up four runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings against the Mariners. All four runs scored when there were two outs, including back-to-back solo homers by Adam Lind and Franklin Gutierrez.
“He needs to take that next step, where he’s finishing hitters and he’s finishing the inning,” Weiss said. “Early in the at-bat, he’s gotten into decent counts, but then he’s had a probelm finishing the at-bat. Likewise with a the inning. He gets a couple of quick outs, but then things snowball.
“But he’s throwing the ball well. Today was a little bit tougher outing, but the last couple outings have been encouraging for Eddie.”
** Catcher Tommy Murphy, bidding to become the backup catcher behind Nick Hundley, was 0-for-3 with a strikeout and left four runners stranded as the designated hitter. He’s hitting 1-for-18 (0.56) this spring, his only hit a home run.
WHAT S NEXT
The Rockies host the Oakland A’s at Salt River Fields, 2:05 p.m. MDT (Radio: 760 AM)
Rockies pitchers — LHP Jorge De La Rosa, RHP Jason Motte, RHP Scott Oberg, RHP Miguel Castro
A’s starter: LHP Sean Manaea
