Rockies earn split decision as pitchers dominate Diamondbacks
ROCKIES 6, D-BACKS 1 WHITE SOX 7, ROCKIES 3
scottsdale, ariz.» Sunday produced split verdicts for the Rockies, whose pitching dominated the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields but got lit up by the Chicago White Sox on the west side of Phoenix.
Six Rockies pitchers limited Arizona to only four hits in a 6-1 victory.
“I know it’s early, but I told Fostie (pitching coach Steve Foster) that you don’t see games in the Cactus League like that,” manager Bud Black said. “That was a well-pitched game by our guys. I thought our young guys did great.”
The White Sox, however, ripped Colorado pitching for 10 hits in a 7-3 victory.
For Left-hander Chris Rusin, making a bid for the fifth-starter job, tossed two scoreless innings vs. Arizona, facing the minimum six batters. Rusin allowed one hit and struck out one, needing just 23 pitches (15 strikes) to complete his day. He used a low-and-inside sinker to induce a double-play grounder out of Dawel Lugo in the second.
“I have felt a lot better this spring than I have in the past,” Rusin said. “My body and timing and delivery is a lot better than it usually is this early in spring. I had good location with my fastball on both sides and I’m working on a slider.”
In Colorado’s loss to Chicago, right-hander German Marquez, another rotation candidate, pitched two scoreless innings, allowing two hits.
Hits: Charlie Blackmon, who launched 29 homers from the leadoff spot last season, opened the first inning Sunday doing the same, cranking a 1-0 pitch from Arizona’s Branden Shipley to deep center. … Nolan Arenado also hit his first home run of spring, a solo shot to left with one out in the third off the D-Backs’ Tyler Jones. … Right-hander Yency Alomnte threw two scoreless innings, whiffing three while giving up one hit and one walk vs. Arizona. … Top prospect Brendan Rodgers, Colorado’s first-round pick in the 2015 draft, doubled and scored a run against the White Sox in his Cactus League debut. Pat Valaika, fighting for a utility spot, homered off White Sox starter Jose Quintana in the second.
Misses: Gerardo Parra, starting in left against Arizona, went 0-for-3. … Rockies right-hander Jason Motte served up a run-scoring to the DBacks’ Jeremy Hazlebaker in the seventh, breaking up Colorado’s bid for a shutout. … Second baseman Rafael Ynoa committed a two-run throwing error against the White Sox.