was out of the Rockies’ lineup Sunday for the first time this season, but he deflected any concern — even after an odd situation in his team’s extra-inning victory the night before.
“It’s not something I would consider an injury,” Blackmon said. “It’s more of a spasm situation.”
Rockies manager Bud Black said Blackmon’s back issue is a day-to-day situation.
“It was a little bit tight for most of the game and kept getting tighter,” Blackmon said. “I’ve dealt with it before and been all right.”
Blackmon, the defending National League batting champion, twice tried to bunt in the ninth inning with two runners on base and no outs, in a tie game. His second attempt popped into a foul-ball out. Black then removed Blackmon for the 10th inning, replacing him with Mike Tauchman in center field.
Black later said that he didn’t want Blackmon swinging in that at-bat.
“I was trying to get a run across to win the game,” Blackmon said. “That’s a bunt situation.”
Tauchman started in center field Sunday. replaced Blackmon as the leadoff hitter.
Spending spree. Rockies owner reiterated that he isn’t afraid to boost player payroll, even after a $106 million winter spree on three relievers and a new $108 million deal for Blackmon.
“Sometimes it doesn’t look like we are, but we are,” Monfort, in an interview with KOA radio, said of his interest in winning every year. “We’ve got a couple things going for us. We have a very strong farm system. We have an opportunity to get good and stay good for a while.”
With all-star third baseman approaching free agency in 2019, the Rockies might be in line for even more spending. To that end, Monfort said his relationship with general manager remains strong.
“Jeff and I get along great,” Monfort said. “Jeff is pretty protective, but we see things pretty much similar. And if we don’t see things similar, he usually wins. That makes it easier for him.”
Hoffman update., who missed the final month of spring training because of a shoulder injury, threw a successful bullpen session Saturday at . So the Rockies will start the right-hander on a minor-league rehab assignment Tuesday.
Hoffman will first pitch for Single-A Lancaster, then report to Triple-A Albuquerque if he remains healthy, Black said.
Footnotes. ‘ walk-off walk in the 10th inning Saturday extended a streak. The Rockies’ last three walk-off wins came from walks. The last team with three walk-off wins earned without a hit was Toronto, in 1997. … The Rockies hadn’t played an extra-inning game at Coors Field since Oct. 2, 2016.
Looking ahead…
Padres LHP Clayton Richard (0-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. Rockies RHP Jon Gray (1-1, 2.45), 6:40 p.m. Monday, ATTRM; 850 AM
A pair of No. 1s will face off again after Gray bested Richard last week in San Diego. They could face each other again this month when the Padres return to Denver for a third series in three weeks against the Rockies. Gray’s last outing put him back on track; he pitched seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and posted his first win. Better still, Gray didn’t allow a walk. The Rockies, on the flip side, pounced on Richard for five runs on eight hits over five innings. Nick Groke, The Denver Post
Tuesday: Padres LHP Joey Lucchesi (0-0, 2.79 ERA) vs. Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (0-0, 7.56), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM
Wednesday: Padres RHP Luis Perdomo (1-1, 6.00) at Rockies RHP German Marquez (0-1, 6.52), 1:10 p.m., ATTRM
Thursday: Rockies RHP Chad Bettis (1-0, 2.53) at Nationals TBD, 5 p.m., ATTRM
