Desmond hits two homers, including rocket off Ohtani

TEMPE, ARIZ.» Friday’s affair at Tempe Diablo Stadium was just another Cactus League game that will soon be forgotten.

Or maybe not. For a couple of reasons.

First, Rockies hitters got their first look at Angels right-hander Shohei Ohtani, the much-hyped two-way player from Japan. The Rockies ripped him for seven runs on seven hits in 1L innings, including home runs by Nolan Arenado and Ian Desmond.

Second, the swing adjustments that Desmond has been working on this spring finally paid off. He entered Friday’s game batting 3for-31 with 16 strikeouts, but by the time Colorado’s eight-run second inning was over, he had his first two homers of spring — the first one a leadoff shot against Ohtani, the second one a solo shot off right-hander Tyler Warmoth.

“I feel good,” Desmond said. “I’m just looking to hit the ball hard on a more consistent basis. Today was a good day.”

But Desmond shrugged off the idea that his homer vs. Ohtani carried extra significance.

“It’s spring training,” Desmond said. “We’re all working on stuff. Unfortunately, he’s got to do it in front of the whole world. But I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

Rockies manager Bud Black was pleased to see the two strong atbats from Desmond.

“You are talking about Ohtani, who has a big fastball, and Ian turned it around,” Black said. “I mean, that ball was smoked to left. Great swing. And then he followed that up with a homer off a breaking ball from (Warmoth), who’s a little bit of a softer thrower. But Ian hit that one on a line. That was a bullet, too.”

Friday’s recap

Rockies 18, Angels 6

At Tempe Diablo Stadium The education of righthander German Marquez continued Friday afternoon against the Angels. His rough, three-run first inning included giving up a two-run homer to Kole Calhoun, a double to Andrelton Simmons, followed by a wild pitch and balk that brought Simmons in to score.

But Marquez regrouped and finished with a relatively decent line: 3L innings, three runs allowed on five hits, with five strikeouts.

“The first inning, I had trouble commanding my pitches … the ball was a little up,” Marquez said. “But I feel pretty good because I had to change my (mind-set) quick.”

Marquez went into the game intent on working on his slider and changeup.

“My changeup is pretty close,” he said. “Today, I felt

Ohtani’s fastball reached 98 mph twice in the first inning, but the Rockies ambushed him in the second. Arenado cut loose on a 3-0 pitch, missing the pitch, but then he swatted a three-run homer to left on a full count.

“I figured he probably doesn’t want to walk anyone right here, get bases loaded,” Arenado explained.

And what did Arenado think about Ohtani?

“He’s got a good arm, he’s got good stuff,” Arenado said. “It looks like he’s going to be good. … You hear about him a lot. He’s young and I think he’s got a bright future. But it was fun going up there and facing him. I know he’s going to be better during the season.”

Ohtani to minors?

Angels manager Mike Scioscia was asked before pretty good throwing it. It’s coming pretty good.”

On the mound Right-handed reliever Jairo Diaz, likely bound for Triple-A to begin the season, entered the game having allowed no runs, but that streak came to an end. The Angels touched him for two runs on three hits in the fifth.

At the plate

The Rockies pounded out 18 hits and got started early, scoring eight runs in the second inning. Seven of those came off Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani, including a leadoff homer by Ian Desmond and a three-run bomb by Nolan Arenado. Desmond also homered later in the same inning, off Tyler Warmoth.

Up next

Rockies at Brewers, 2:05 p.m. (MDT), Maryvale Baseball Park. Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela vs. Brewers RHP Zach Davies the game if Ohtani was assured a spot on the 25-man roster regardless of what he does in spring training.

“We’re not going to get into roster decisions,” Scioscia said. “I can only say that Shohei’s talent is real. Obviously we believe in it. We anticipate him being ready to both pitch and hit when the season starts, and we’re going to work hard to reach that goal from now until we start the season.”

Green light.

Black wants the Rockies swinging at more 3-0 pitches this season, and that’s been evident this spring.

“We are talking a little bit more about the 3-0 swing, being more aggressive in taking that swing,” he said. “Last year, you’d be surprised, we had the 3-0 swing on a lot, but our guys didn’t swing.

“I think there is a comfort factor there. And you can feel good about it if you make an out, as long as you can get your swing off and you swing at a good pitch. That’s something we are talking about as a group.”

Added Arenado: “It’s mostly just to work on it. (On) 3-0, there’s a good chance he’s going to throw something over the plate. We’re just trying to work on getting our timing down, and that’s what it’s all about. I don’t think we’re really worried about popping it up.”

Closer watch.

The Rockies are working to build up new closer Wade Davis’ innings, so he’s been pitching on the back fields. After giving up two runs to the Angels in a Cactus League game Thursday, he faced three batters on a back field Friday. He gave up an infield hit, forced a groundout to second and hit a batter.