Angels 4, Rockies 3 Rockies’ Meulens, Lawrence start strong
Two Rockies participating in the World Baseball Classic got off to good starts.
In the opening game of the WBC on Tuesday, new hitting coach Hensley Meulens managed Team Netherlands to a 4-2 win over Cuba in Taiwan.
Also in Taiwan, righthander Justin Lawrence closed out Panama’s 12-5 victory over Chinese Taipei on Wednesday.
Lawrence did not allow a baserunner and struck out one over one inning of work.
Here are the other Rockies playing in the WBC: Left-hander Kyle Freeland and right-hander Daniel Bard (USA); catcher Elias Diaz (Columbia), righthander Michael Peterson (Great Britain); and infielder Alan Trejo (Mexico).
Right-handers Jake Bird (Israel) and German Marquez (Venezuela) were originally scheduled to represent their countries but were removed because of injuries.
Injury updates: Versatile outfielder Sean Bouchard, who has a good shot to make the 26-man roster, departed Wednesday’s game against the Angels in the first inning with a left biceps injury he suffered on a swing.
Manager Bud Black told reporters that he didn’t know the severity of Bouchard’s injury.
Position battles: Nothing much has changed in regard to the starting rotation.
As it stands now, the rotation plays out like this: Freeland, Marquez, righthander Jose Urena, lefty Austin Gomber and righthander Ryan Feltner.
Right-hander Antonio Senzatela (knee surgery) is scheduled to be back in
May, while right-handers Peter Lambert and Connor Seabold, obtained from the Red Sox on Jan. 17, are depth pieces at this point.
The Rockies lost the game on a two-run, walkoff homer by Angels infielder Jeremiah Jackson in the bottom of the ninth off Rockies minor-league call-up Fineas Del Bontasmith.
At the plate: Second baseman Ryan Mcmahon swatted his second Cactus League homer, a solo shot in the first inning. Infielder Elehuris Montero, battling for a roster spot, hit his first home run, a solo blast in the seventh.
Up next: Team Mexico at Rockies (5-7), 1:10 p.m. Thursday.
Probable Rockies pitchers: RHP German Marquez, RHP Peter Lambert, LHP Brent Suter, LHP Josh Rogers, LHP Ty Blach.