Friday nightap intrasquad scrimmage saw the Rockies’ Purple and Pinstripe squads combine for three runs in about five innings before the teams began situational work. On Saturday, three runs were on the board by the end of the first inning.
Charlie Blackmon set the tone early. On the second offering he saw from Pinstripe starter Ryan Castellani, the four-time all-star launched a fastball deep over the wall in right center for his second home run in as many days since his return from COVID-19 quarantine.
“Charlie just needs to get some stamina,” Rockies’ manager Bud Black said. “The main thing with Chuck is getting back on his feet, getting his baseball legs under him, getting that game-condition stamina to a point where he feels confident mentally and physically to play a big league game.”
Four batters later, Chris Owings knocked Castellani’s 2-0 fastball off the top of the right field wall to bring Daniel Murphy all the way around from first. The Pinstripes added one in the bottom of the frame on a Ryan McMahon RBI groundout.
But the Purple squad continued to shell Castellani, scoring five times in the top of the second. Raimel Tapia singled with the bases loaded, and a Murphy double added another pair. Owings followed him by doubling again, his fourth extra-base hit in two days, to finish the scoring and Castellani’s day.
Blackmon added another RBI off Daniel Bard later in the game. Seven of the nine players in the Purple lineup reached base in the first three innings.
Sam Hilliard also went deep for the Pinstripes.
David Dahl returns
Technically, David Dahl returned Friday.
After missing part of summer camp because of core soreness, Dahl walked up to the plate for the first time in months and promptly struck out. The rest of his Friday wasn’t much better though he did hit a sacrifice fly during the team’s late-inning simulation.
“Hopefully things can stabilize as he gets older,” Black said about Dahl’s injuries. “As he gets older and continues to mature physically, and gets — what we refer to in the scouting world as man-strength — hopefully these little nagging injuries can go away.”
But on Saturday, Dahl looked more like his normal self. Leading off the bottom of the first for the Purple squad, he doubled deep into the left field corner before scoring on McMahon’s groundout to second.
One frame later, and Dahl knocked a clean single back up the middle against Purple squad starter German Márquez to bring home a run.
Black said he’s seen players in Dahl’s situation before, and hopes he can keep producing for the Rockies as he continues to grow. He thinks playing, repetition and experience are the best way for the centerfielder to continue his development and avoid these injuries in the future.
“He’s had some reps, but his timing is a little bit off right now.” Black said. “We gotta get that in order. David will tell you that just comes with playing and getting reps, getting in the cage and figuring things out.”
Footnotes. After sitting out yesterday’s scrimmage, Nolan Arenado returned Saturday, hitting a single in his third at bat after striking out and fouling out earlier. … Bard made his first appearance since officially being added to the roster, but struggled, allowing a run and failing to get out of his first inning of work. … Hilliard made a nice diving catch in left field on a Drew Butera line drive. … Márquez went four innings and allowed two runs, four hits, two walks, and struck out five including four of the final six batters he faced.
