At Salt River Fields
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — An obvious outlier was listed on the Rockies batting order Thursday, with eight spots filled by prospects, rookies and bench players, and a ninth as Nolan Arenado.
Top prospect Brendan Rodgers, playing shortstop and second base, singled twice in four at-bats and left fielder Sam Hilliard doubled and hit the game-winning single to left in the Rockies’ late 3-2 victory over the visiting Reds.
“It’s good to see these guys in these situations. This is great experience,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “These are little steps, even though it’s a spring training game, it’s big-league camp. We look for these things. We want to know these players, to see what they can do.”
Hilliard, 24, was a 15th-round draft pick in 2015 out of Wichita State. He hit .300 with an .847 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) at High-A Lancaster last season. Arenado went 0-for-2 with a walk.
On the mound: Lefty Kyle Freeland was scheduled for four innings but made it through only three after reaching a pitch-count limit in his third spring start. He gave up one run on three hits, but his goal, he said, was to locate a tailing fastball down in the zone.
“I felt much more on top of the ball, commanding the zone,” Freeland said.
At the plate: Noel Cuevas, as a designated hitter, doubled on a sharp line drive to center field in the fourth inning to score catcher Tom Murphy. He also set down a successful sacrifice bunt.
Worth noting: Former Rockies prospect Rosell Herrera in the first inning singled, stole second base and scored on a single. … Colorado reliever Bryan Shaw pitched a 1-2-3 fourth inning, all groundouts.
Up next: Rockies vs. Cleveland, at Salt River Fields, Friday, 1:10 p.m. Rockies RHP Jon Gray is scheduled for four innings against Cleveland RHP Corey Kluber.
