Rockies veteran outfielder returned to on Friday from a quad strain that sent him to the disabled list for more than a month.
He immediately started in left field, hitting fifth against the visiting Chicago White Sox. His reappearance, the Rockies hope, will spark a revival.
“Let’s hope Gerardo can give us a lift,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “When he’s right, he can do a lot of things: hit the ball over the fence, find a gap, spray the ball all over the field, he likes hitting with guys on base, he has some energy and personality.”
Parra was on a bit of a tear before injuring his thigh chasing a line drive in Arizona on June 6. He was hitting .318 with an .828 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage).
Rookie Raimel Tapia moved from left to right field so Black could sit struggling slugger . Parra’s return, and Tapia’s ability to hit for contact and his speed around the bases, Black hopes, will give the team’s struggling offense a lift.
“We need more contact. We’re punching too much,” Black said. “Putting the ball in play when we need to, good (at-bats) will go a long way to getting our offense back on track.”
Looking ahead
White Sox LHP Jose Quintana (4-8, 4.45 ERA) at Rockies RHP Jeff Hoffman (5-1, 4.01), 7:10 p.m. Saturday, ROOT; 850 AM
The last-place White Sox seem to be headed toward a rebuild, with tradable pieces that could attract young prospects in return. Quintana is at the top of that list. On the surface, he seems a neat fit for the Rockies — a veteran lefty starter under contract for three more seasons after 2017, with a relatively affordable salary of about $8 million in 2018, then $10 million per the next two. There have been no indications the Rockies are interested. But they will get a close look at how Quintana, an American League all-star last year, can handle Coors Field.
Sunday: White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon (1-1, 1.59 ERA) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (8-7, 4.09), 1:10 p.m., ROOT
Monday: All-star break
