NewsHammel hopes to go deeper vs. D-backs
Colorado (74-60) vs. Arizona (61-74), 7:10 p.m. MT
By Thomas Harding / MLB.com
09/03/09 7:48 PM ET
DENVER -- Rockies right-hander Jason Hammel was quiet and professional about it, but he didn't understand or agree with being pulled early from his last start. Thanks to his manager, Jim Tracy, he understands it better now. Hammel gave up two runs and four hits in five innings Saturday against the Giants, and he had thrown just 53 pitches. But Tracy liked the matchup of lefty reliever Franklin Morales against the Giants after the first two batters of the sixth had reached against Hammel. It worked out then, as Morales escaped the inning. The Rockies took a late lead but lost, 9-5. Of course, Hammel wanted to go deeper into the game. But Hammel said he appreciated Tracy seeking him out and explaining the decision. "He came to me [Wednesday] during batting practice and explained the whole situation," Hammel said. "I understood it was a situational move. I just felt strong that I could've kept going, and I told him that. He said, 'Yeah, I understand, you looked great.' But he is a skipper who really loves matchups. "It was confusing to me at first, but I looked at it and saw what he was doing. I'm going to throw the ball when he tells me to throw it." Hammel will look to make staying with him a no-brainer on Friday night, when he opens a three-game set against the D-backs at Coors Field. It's the second leg of a 10-game homestand. It's no wonder Hammel wants to stay on the mound. In his past three starts, Hammel is 1-0 with a 2.37 ERA. The beginning of this success coincides with a decision to stick with his four-seam fastball over his two-seam sinking fastball. He forced eight fly balls, many of the weak variety, against the Giants, and looked comfortable. Hammel said the sinker isn't dead, just in his back pocket since the other way is working. "When I used a two-seamer, it helped a little bit, but I'd change my arm angle trying to make it sink, and it was affecting my other pitches," Hammel said. "So I'm sticking with what works." Pitching matchupCOL: RHP Jason Hammel (8-7, 4.40 ERA)
Hammel was effective in his last outing, when he held the Giants to four hits and two runs in five innings. Hammel has to be better at home, where he is 2-3 with a 6.47 ERA in 12 games, 11 starts. ARI: RHP Dan Haren (13-8, 2.78 ERA)
Haren picked up the win in his last start against the Astros last Sunday at Chase Field. The right-hander allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings. In his past two starts, he has allowed five earned runs in 14 innings. Haren was dominant in the season's first half, compiling a 2.01 ERA in 18 starts. The second half has been a different story as he has a 4.50 ERA in nine starts. In three starts against the Rockies this year, he is 2-1 with a 0.90 ERA, and in those 20 innings, he has fanned 24 and walked just two. Tidbits
An MRI on closer Huston Street revealed, as expected, inflammation in the right biceps tendon, but no structural damage. He'll be treated aggressively with anti-inflammatory medicines in hopes of getting him ready soon, but his status is day-to-day. ... Center fielder Dexter Fowler, who is recovering from a bruised right knee and a procedure to remove fluid from it, ran under the care of trainers on Thursday. He'll do a full workout during batting practice on Friday. If all goes well, he'll join Triple-A Colorado Springs for an injury-rehab stint. Tickets
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• Saturday: Rockies (Jose Contreras, 5-13, 5.42) vs. Diamondbacks (Doug Davis, 7-11, 3.78), 6:10 p.m. MT
• Sunday: Rockies (Jorge De La Rosa, 13-9, 4.60) vs. Diamondbacks (Yusmeiro Petit, 3-8, 5.47), 1:10 p.m. MT
• Monday: Rockies (Ubaldo Jimenez, 13-10, 3.28) vs. Reds (Justin Lehr, 4-1, 4.43), 1:10 p.m. MT
Thomas Harding is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
