Bettis takes another step in comeback
Rockies pitcher makes second rehab start as he recovers from testicular cancer surgery
Apparently, Chad Bettis was on a very strict 71-pitch count Friday night in Isotopes Park.
The Colorado Rockies pitcher making his second rehab start for the Albuquerque Isotopes after recovering from testicular cancer surgery was pulled in the middle of a sixth inning at bat -- a 1-1 count to Omaha catcher Cam Gallagher -- with no visible injury from the press box and with no reliever warming up in the bullpen.
He was pulled after Isotopes manager Glenallen HIll and the team’s trainer went out to the mound to talk with Bettis.
“Oh, he’s fine,” Hill said when asked what happened with the starter.
“It was nothing injury related? That was it?” a reporter asked. “That was it,” Hill said. Bettis, who was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) in 5 ⅓ innings worked with five hits and two walks, had already left the clubhouse by the time reporters were there after the game to talk with him. He threw 71 pitches, 43 for strikes.
In two ‘Topes starts, he has a 6.75 ERA.
Earlier this week, Bettis said his road back to the majors was no longer about the physical. Health wise, he felt fine and was more focused now on fine tuning his mechanics and getting the mental approach to the game back.
He looked sharp in his first five innings before leaving the game.
“He very easily could have given up only two runs,” Hill said. “He definitely shows you why he is who he is. He can absolutely command the ball. …
“He’s a competitor. He is a bulldog. Right now, he is competing, so I don’t think there are going to be very many days he’s going to feel bad about what he’s doing.”
So was he OK with being pulled from the game? “Not determined,” Hill said. Earlier this week, Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich told Albuquerque media before Wednesday’s Isotopes game he and the whole organization were looking forward to Bettis’ return to Denver, but they wouldn’t rush it.
“I can speak for the entire organization on this one,” Bridich said. “That day when he steps on the major league mound for us again this year, it can’t happen soon enough. We’re going to be so excited when it does. But we’re not going to skip steps between now and then. We just look forward to it when it happens.” BUSY NIGHT: Isotopes trainer Heath Townsend had a busy Friday night.
In addition to the walk to the mound that led to Bettis being pulled from the game, Townsend also had to go examine two other injured players on the field during the game.
He had to check on Shane Carle in the seventh inning after the relief pitcher was hit by a line drive. He then Vs. Iowa 7:05 p.m. Radio: 610 AM
Promotions: Paw Patrol T-shirts, postgame fireworks, Eastdale Little League team recognition
Probable starters: Isotopes LHP Sam Howard (3-2, 5.13) vs. Cubs
RHP Aaron Brooks (5-8, 6.11) Friday: The Omaha Storm Chasers managed a series split, scoring five runs on just seven hits Friday night for a 5-4 win in front of an announced crowd of 9,028 at Isotopes Park.
Colorado Rockies starter Chad Bettis, making his second triple-A rehab start for Albuquerque, left the game after 5⅓ innings with an apparent injury. He allowed four runs (three earned) off five hits and a pair of walks and picked up the loss.
The ‘Topes had 13 hits, including two more triples (the have a clubrecord 66 on the season), but left 10 on base in the loss.
This and that: Some 150 kids ages 5-15 are signed up for today’s Youth Skills Clinic at Isotopes Park, 9 a.m.-noon. … The All American Kids documentary series, which gives a host kid a chance to meet someone who has his/her dream job, comes to the ballpark today. A 9-year-old girl from Jemez Pueblo hosts and will interview ’Topes manager Glenallen Hill. had to run out to left field in the eighth when Noel Cuevas tried, without success, to rob a Ryan O’Hearn home run over the left field wall. Cuevas fell awkwardly on the warning track.
Neither Carle nor Cuevas left the game with injury. Townsend is listed as day-to-day.
TRIPLE THREAT: The Isotopes continue to be a triple threat unlike any other in professional baseball.
Mike Tauchman and Derrik Gibson each tripled for the ‘Topes on Friday night, increasing the organization single season record to 66 on the season. Albuquerque leads all of professional baseball — minor and major leagues — in triples this season.
The PCL’s record for triples in a season is 114 set in 1931 by San Francisco with the “modern era” record (since 1958) being 95 set by Phoenix in 1973.