Yohan Flande. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)
ROCKIES 1,
MARINERS 1
Peoria Stadium
Peoria, Ariz. — The Rockies built some pitching depth behind their starting rotation to begin the season — they’re stashing it in the bullpen.
Christian Bergman and Chris Rusin will begin in Colorado’s bullpen as long relievers. Yohan Flande is likely headed to Triple-A. All three have starter’s experience — and will be available if injuries hit or arms falter.
Two of them pitched back-to-back Friday night. Bergman and Flande tag-teamed to hold the Seattle Mariners scorless through seven innings in the Rockies’ only night game this spring, in front of 8,529 mostly M’s fans.
Bergman threw 53 pitches over three innings, giving up just three hits. Flande followed with four innings on 58 pitches, giving up four hits. Bergman struck out four and walked 1. Flande struck out two and walked one.
“Both guys throw strikes and attack,” manager Walt Weiss said. “That’s just what they do.”
Taken together, “Berde” (or “Flanman”) pitched a good start — seven innings, seven hits, no runs, six Ks, two walks.
Has anybody ever considered a piggy-back rotation around here? (Just kidding.)
“I feel strong,” Bergman said. “The first inning was a workout, but it was good to get that in and follow it up with a couple strong innings after.”
Bergman prepared at the end of his spring run by ramping up with a starter’s length. He threw his count into the 70s his last outing. This plan was “to a T what it was last year,” he said.
“I learned last year that having my pitch-count built up in spring, all of a sudden two innings feels really easy,” Bergman said. “And I feel like I can recover faster after that.”
If Flande goes to Triple-A Albuquerque to start the season, he could slip into the rotation for the same reason Bergman got starter’s length at the end of spring — to have him doubly ready for the big leagues, as a starter or long reliever.
“We’ll keep him lengthened out,” Weiss said of Flande. “To what degree, I don’t know. But multiple innings.”
HITS
**First base prospect Correlle Prime started for the Rockies as a designated hitter, batting seventh. His double in the second inning scored Ben Paulsen
**Paulsen was the only Rockies player with multiple hits (2-for-3) against a Seattle set of pitchers led by Wade Miley.
MISSES
**Cristhian Adames, Ryan Raburn, Brandon Barnes and catcher Jackson Williams each went 0-for-3.
UP NEXT
Rockies (15-12-4) play their final Cactus League game at home, facing the Mariners again at Salt River Fields, Saturday, 1:10 MT (Root TV, 850-AM radio). Jordan Lyles will pitch for Colorado against Seattle’s Nathan Karns.
