NewsHuston has no problem with workload
Colorado (31-33) vs. Tampa Bay (35-31), 6:40 p.m. MT
By Cheng Sio / MLB.com
06/17/09 1:52 AM ET
DENVER -- Huston Street said he wasn't tired even though he has earned a save in five of the last seven games of the Rockies' 11-game win streak, which ended Tuesday night with a 12-4 loss to the Rays.Street didn't have have any problems getting out of bed in the morning either, despite the heavy workload.
 |
"I usually get up pretty quick," Street said. "I may sleep in late but I get up and I'm fine. Thankfully, my arm is usually the one that doesn't get sore. The arm is kind of the last piece of the puzzle. For whatever reason, my arm very rarely gets sore."
Street no doubt popped out of bed with a fresh mind and fresh arm on Wednesday, after not having pitched since Saturday. He and the Rockies hope he'll have yet another save opportunity Wednesday night, when the Rockies look to even their series with the Rays at Coors Field.Street said he held up physically because he was able to put away games quickly in the first few days. Street threw a total of 35 pitches in the first three saves but 39 over the last two.
Rockies manager Jim Tracy said there was a strong possibility Street fatigued late in the streak. He said Saturday night's save against the Mariners "wasn't as clean and as crisp" as some of the earlier saves, but that was to be expected. Tracy said Street had been able to preserve the last two wins because of know-how. Tracy's case in point was Thursday's 5-4 win over the Brewers. The Rockies were leading 5-1 with runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Tracy summoned Street to close it out and Street promptly struck out pinch-hitter Mike Rivera. Slugger Ryan Braun batted next and drove the ball to left field for a three-run home run. Street then carefully worked Prince Fielder, the Brewers' other slugger, to a walk before striking out rookie Mat Gamel to end the game. "He knows how he feels physically," Tracy said. "So, he may pick and choose this spot here and there and say, 'Hey, if I'm losing, this guy is beating me.' "He wasn't going to let [Fielder] beat him." Pitching matchupCOL: RHP Aaron Cook (5-3, 4.26 ERA)
Cook ran the starters' winning streak to eight consecutive games with a solid outing Thursday in Milwaukee, allowing just one run despite seven hits in six-plus innings. He struck out a season-high seven batters and only ran into trouble when he loaded the bases on two singles and a walk in the seventh. After recording the first out of the game, Cook became the first pitcher to throw 1,000 career innings in a Rockies uniform. Tampa Bay has been unkind to Cook -- he has allowed 11 earned runs in 12 innings over two starts in his career against the Rays. TB: LHP David Price (1-0, 2.37 ERA)
It was another short outing for the rookie Price, who in four starts this season has yet to pitch into the seventh inning. The left-hander was erratic in 4 1/3 innings against Anaheim, walking six and throwing 105 pitches. But he was also dominant, striking out six and allowing only two hits and one run. It's that dichotomy that has been frustrating so far for Rays fans, who continue to wait for a breakthrough performance from Price and will hope the thin air in Colorado doesn't deter him. Tidbits
Yorvit Torrealba, who is not yet ready to rejoin the Rockies, was a hitter during Greg Smith's simulated game on Tuesday afternoon. Torrealba's 11-year-old son, Yorvit Eduardo, who was kidnapped two weeks ago, was at Coors Field playing catch before the game against the Rays. ... Taylor Buchholz is scheduled to undergo his previously announced right elbow surgery Wednesday morning in Denver. The surgery is to repair the ulnar collateral ligament. ... Tracy admitted before Tuesday's loss that he was superstitious about the winning streak. He didn't switch out the CD in his car's player during the 11-game run. "I probably wore a hole in a Cat Stevens [CD]. It just happened to be in there. We were listening to it, my wife and I. She brings me to the park and drops me off. It hasn't come out of the [darn] thing. I really believe there's a hole in it. I know one track has a hole in it." Tracy, 53, couldn't remember which track. ... Troy Tulowitzki batted in the fifth spot Tuesday for the first time this season. Tracy made the move to break up a group of four left-handed hitters in the middle of the lineup (No. 3 Todd Helton, No. 4 Brad Hawpe, No. 6 Ian Stewart and No. 7 Carlos Gonzalez). The Rays' top two relievers, Randy Choate and J.P. Howell, are both lefties. ... Tulowitzki stole his eighth base of the season on Tuesday, setting a new career high. ... Rockies Josh Fogg, Ryan Spilborghs and Huston Street and high school students from Denver will be on hand for the intergenerational "Rockies Party" for fun and fellowship Wednesday at Clements Lakewood Senior Center. ... Franklin Morales gave up one run and five hits in 6 1/3 innings in a 1-0 loss for Triple-A Colorado Springs on Tuesday. ... Jhoulys Chacin struck out 10 batters in 7 1/3 innings of two-run ball, and Andrew Johnston notched his Double-A-leading 18th save as Tulsa topped Northwest Arkansas, 5-3. Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio• Gameday
• Official game notes On television
• FSN On radio
• KOA 850 Up next
• Thursday: Rockies (Ubaldo Jimenez, 5-6, 3.92) vs. Rays (Matt Garza, 4-4, 3.63), 1:10 p.m. MT
• Friday: Rockies (Jason Marquis, 8-4, 3.77) vs. Pirates (Ross Ohlendorf, 6-5, 4.56), 7:10 p.m. MT
• Saturday: Rockies (Jason Hammel, 4-3, 4.10) vs. Pirates (Charlie Morton, 0-0, 0.00), 6:10 p.m. MT
Cheng Sio is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
