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Rockies first pitch

Pat Rooney, Special to the Rocky and Jack Etkin, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 7, 2007 at midnight

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TWO OF A KIND

Rockies manager Clint Hurdle had succinct and easy-to-follow instructions for Sean Barker upon his arrival for a first tour of duty in the majors: follow Ryan Spilborghs.

Barker, called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs to take the place of Steve Finley after the veteran outfielder was designated for assignment Tuesday, was selected by the Rockies in the sixth round of the 2002 draft.

Spilborghs, who, like Barker, is from Southern California, was drafted in the seventh round in 2002.

The duo made their professional debuts together that summer at rookie level Tri-City (Wash.) and have been teammates nearly every year since.

Barker made a painful debut Wednesday, getting hit by a pitch as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning.

SHUFFLING

To make room for right- hander Josh Fogg, who is scheduled to make his first start today since he suffered a strained left groin May 22, the Rockies optioned right- handed reliever Ramon Ramirez to Colorado Springs after the 8-7 victory against Houston.

The Rockies had an extra pitcher in the bullpen after Taylor Buchholz, who made six starts as Rodrigo Lopez and Fogg recovered from injuries, was returned to a middle-relief role.

BAD BLOOD

The benches cleared Tuesday after Rockies relief pitcher Manny Corpas hit Carlos Lee in the eighth inning.

Tension between the Panamanian players has been simmering since they were teammates during the World Baseball Classic in 2006, when the brash young Corpas and Lee, a veteran, failed to hit it off.

"It was quite obvious that it was deliberate," Houston manager Phil Garner said. "I thought (Corpas) should have been out of the game."