The sweetest swinging piece of the Rockies’ struggling lineup returned Monday, but at significant cost. was back in right field for the series opener against the Reds, after recovering from a shoulder injury that kept him out of a nine-game, eight-loss road trip.
“We get CarGo back, which is huge,” first baseman said.
But as Gonzalez returned in time for the week-long homestand, outfielder Ian Desmond departed. He was put on the 10-day disabled list because of a strained calf.
Desmond broke for a line drive in the fourth inning Sunday at Arizona but pulled up hobbled after making the catch. He was removed from the game and returned to Denver for an MRI on Monday. The Rockies waited until late in the afternoon before putting Desmond on the DL.
Mike Tauchman, an outfielder the Rockies called up last Tuesday, remains on the roster.
Gonzalez tweaked a shoulder muscle during an at-bat against the Diamondbacks two weeks ago, in Denver. After waiting two days for the injury to calm, the Rockies moved him to the DL. His absence, though, was well timed. He is hitting only .221 this season and was just 10-for-58 at the plate in June.
Desmond, who signed a five-year, $70 million contract in the offseason, departs for the second time this season. He suffered a broken hand in spring training when an errant pitch clobbered him near his left wrist in March. He missed Colorado’s first 25 games before returning April 30 and has since hit .283 with a .321 on-base percentage.
The Rockies ended a 1-8 road trip with a loss Sunday. They hit only .211 on the trip and averaged just 2.9 runs per game.
“Our offense is up and down right now,” Reynolds said. “But it has the potential to be great.”
Parra update. Outfielder Gerardo Parra, who was pulled from a June 6 game because of an injured quadriceps, leaves Tuesday for a minor-league rehab assignment. An MRI showed that his leg has healed.
Parra will report to Triple-A Albuquerque for three games. He could return to the Rockies on Friday, he said.
Marked ballots. Reynolds is among five players competing for one open spot on the National League all-star team. Fan voting will determine who wins that spot. The Rockies on Monday started a campaign to get Reynolds selected for All-Star Game, which will be played next Tuesday in Miami.
“This is my second final vote. I’m 0-for-1,” Reynolds said. “Hopefully we can get the word out. It’s an honor to be considered. But I just want to put my focus on getting to October (for the postseason) rather than getting to Miami.”
Looking ahead …
Reds RHP Homer Bailey (0-2, 27.00 ERA in 4 2/3 innings) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (8-6, 3.84), Tuesday 6:10 p.m., ROOT TV, 850-AM
Freeland’s home-road splits tilt toward altitude, with a favorable 3.21 ERA at Coors Field against a 4.35 mark away from Colorado. Not surprising, perhaps, for the 24-year-old rookie right-hander from Denver’s Thomas Jefferson High. His issue in June — as his ERA rose 31 points — was the longball. Freeland, who continues to force more groundballs than nearly any other National League starter, gave up six home runs in six starts last month, more than doubling his season total. Five of those six were hit on the road. Bailey returned from the disabled list after surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow, but he has yet to reach the fourth inning in two starts. Nick Groke, The Denver Post
Wednesday: Reds RHP Scott Feldman (7-5, 3.78) at Rockies RHP Jon Gray (1-0, 3.93), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
Thursday: Reds TBA at Rockies RHP Tyler Chatwood (6-9, 4.41), 1:10 p.m., ROOT
Friday: White Sox at Rockies, pitchers TBA, 6:40 p.m., ROOT
