Opening Day with difference

Loss can't dampen spirits for return of NL champion Rockies

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published April 3, 2008 at 7 p.m.

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Photo by Jeff Roberson / Associated Press

Center fielder Ryan Spilborghs can't come up with a first-inning double by Albert Pujols on Thursday. Pujols was stranded at third base when Ubaldo Jimenez worked his way out of the jam.

Rockies first baseman Todd Helton always has enjoyed Opening Day at Coors Field.

This year, he admits, he expects to enjoy it even more.

"I always look forward to it because it is a chance for the fans and the team to reunite, and this one will have a little more meaning to it," he said.

So much more meaning, in fact, that a 3-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at rain-soaked Busch Stadium on Thursday afternoon that left the Rockies with a sputtering offense and two losses in their season-opening three-game series can't detract from the expectations of today's home opener against Arizona at Coors Field (2:05 p.m.).

Journeyman left-hander Mark Redman, who 13 months ago was facing an unwanted retirement, will start for the Rockies against Diamondbacks right-hander Micah Owings as Arizona provides the opposition for the home opener for the third year in a row.

A sellout crowd will be on hand when the Rockies, coming off the first National League pennant in franchise history, return to Coors Field for the first time since the Boston Red Sox finished a sweep in the World Series 159 nights ago.

But the disappointment of that failure did little to lessen the enjoyment the Rockies and their fans found in the late-season surge that allowed the Rockies to make their World Series debut in their 15th season of existence.

The team did, after all, win 14 of its final 15 regular-season games, including beating San Diego in an NL wild-card tiebreaker, then swept Philadelphia in the NL Division Series and Arizona in the NL Championship Series.

"Last year was special because it was my first Opening Day," shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. "This year will be a little different. This year is more for the fans. It will be nice to see them again."

And it will be especially nice for the Rockies to be out of St. Louis, where they salvaged a 2-1 season-opening victory thanks to rookie Jayson Nix's bases-loaded walk, but then were stymied in back-to-back losses.

"We have confidence in our offense," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Our guys are going to drive in runs."

They didn't do much of that in St. Louis, particularly against the Cardinals' starting pitchers. Brad Hawpe's home run in the second game was the only run the Rockies scored in 16 2/3 innings that St. Louis starters were on the mound.

Not only did the Rockies manage to get only three hits in 25 at- bats with a runner in scoring position, but on one of them, an inning ended - Helton was thrown out attempting to score from second on Garrett Atkins' single in the sixth inning Thursday.

Meanwhile, right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez struggled to finish innings. In four of the five innings he pitched, he retired the first two batters, but it took him 42 pitches to finish the innings, including 17 in the first, which ended with Ryan Ludwick leaving the bases loaded when he flew out to center.

And now the Rockies head home.

"It's going to be refreshing," Hurdle said. "I haven't slept in my bed since Super Bowl Sunday."

While Hurdle heads to spring training a bit earlier than most, it has been close to seven weeks since any of the Rockies have been in Denver, having gone from Phoenix, where the six weeks of spring training ended, to St. Louis, where the season began.

"It's going to be a great atmosphere," Helton said. "Last year was a special year. There was a lot to be proud about last year and it's the reason for some extra excitement this year."

For Redman, there is a special appreciation at being a part of what is happening.

A year ago, he didn't sign with Atlanta until mid-March, then went on a whirlwind run during which he was released by the Braves and spent time at Triple-A with Kansas City and Toronto before taking a late-season flier with the Rockies that paid off.

After making an appearance at Double-A Tulsa and two more at Triple-A Colorado Springs in the final days of August, Redman not only was called up by the Rockies, but he played a significant enough role in the push to the postseason that he was scheduled to start Game 4 in the NLDS if the Rockies hadn't swept Philadelphia.

He quickly signed on to return with the Rockies in 2008.

"It was a pretty neat compliment when Clint said, 'He's like having a good book, you are going to go back and read it again,' " Redman said. "(General manager Dan) O'Dowd referred to it as a good bottle of wine in the cellar. I appreciated that and want to give them reason to feel good about the decision (to bring Redman back)."

Redman gets his first chance to repay Hurdle and O'Dowd today.

CHALLENGED

Rockies manager Clint Hurdle admitted he has to work to ensure backup Jeff Baker of getting more playing time this year than a year ago. Baker was with the team all season in 2007 and had 144 at-bats. What helps this year is Baker, in addition to being able to play the four corner positions, showed in spring training he could handle second base.

Baker got the start Thursday at second, Chris Iannetta at catcher and Ryan Spilborghs in center field.

"I need to be creative," Hurdle said. "I have to find opportunities to get Baker more at-bats. It is hard because of the guys he plays behind.

"You don't look to take at-bats away from (Matt) Holliday, (Brad) Hawpe, (Garrett) Atkins or (Todd) Helton. With the addition of second base, that provides another opportunity."

IMPROVED

Right-hander Luis Vizcaino, who gave up four runs and retired only two batters Wednesday, worked one shutout inning Thursday. After getting Albert Pujols to fly out and Rick Ankiel to pop up to start the seventh, he gave up a double to Troy Glaus and walked Ryan Ludwick but struck out Jason LaRue. Vizcaino said he talked about his situation with pitching coach Bob Apodaca, then had some early-morning bullpen work to clean up his mechanics.

HE SAID IT

"After two outs, I was trying to be too fine. I was trying to throw too hard. My fastball was there and I had my breaking ball. I just tried to do too much."

Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies right-hander, who threw 46 of his 100 pitches with two out during his five-inning performance.

Three keys

Three keys to the Rockies' 3-0 loss against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday afternoon at Busch Stadium:

1 Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez threw 46 two-out pitches in five innings, including 42 in the four innings in which he retired the first two batters, limiting how many innings he could work.

2 The Rockies had only one runner reach second base with less than two out. Garrett Atkins doubled with one out in the second, but Brad Hawpe and Jeff Baker grounded to shortstop.

3 Luis Vizcaino, who struggled in spring training and gave up four runs while retiring two batters Wednesday, worked a scoreless seventh, striking out Jason LaRue to end the inning with two runners on base.

Etc.

The Rockies were shut out for the first time since Aug. 14, a span of 48 regular-season games. . . . The Rockies have won three of their past 12 games in St. Louis. They haven't won a series in St. Louis since they took two of three in 2003. . . . St. Louis had not held an opponent to five runs or fewer in the first three games of a season since 1993. . . . Jimenez equaled a career high with five walks. He also walked five at Atlanta on Aug. 4. . . . Elias Sports Bureau reports Jayson Nix, who drew a bases-loaded walk Tuesday for his first major league RBI, joined pitcher Kevin Ritz as the only players in franchise history to pick up their first RBI by drawing a walk. Ritz did it May 9, 1995, against San Francisco. . . . Hitless in his first six at-bats of the season, Atkins has four hits in the past five, beginning with an infield single Wednesday night. He doubled and singled twice Thursday. . . . Held hitless in the opener, Albert Pujols went 4-for-6 with two walks in the final two games of the series.

Scouting report: Diamondbacks

* Series history: The Diamondbacks lead the all-time series 93-76, but the Rockies have a 45-40 edge at Coors Field. The Rockies won 10 of 18 last year, going 5-4 at Coors Field and Chase Field.

* Roster report: Left-hander Randy Johnson (recovering from back surgery) is on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Tucson. Also on the disabled list are catcher Miguel Montero (fractured right finger) and third baseman Chad Tracy (recovering from right knee microfracture surgery).

* Quickly: The Diamondbacks have won four National League West titles in their 10-year existence, including last year, when the Rockies swept them in four games in the NL Championship Series. . . . The Diamondbacks started the season with average age of 27 years, 184 days, youngest in the majors. Oakland was the second youngest (28 years, 14 days). . . . . Second baseman Orlando Hudson, who committed five errors in earning a Gold Glove last year, had his first error of the season Thursday.

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