Rockies report: De La Rosa back in rotation

By Jack Etkin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 17, 2008 at 11:36 a.m.

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Jorge De La Rosa is back in the rotation and will start Thursday at Los Angeles, taking the place of Glendon Rusch. De La Rosa, 27, had been bumped from the rotation by the arrival of Livan Hernandez but after two scoreless relief outings, De La Rosa started Friday at Washington.

He allowed six hits and three runs in six innings with seven strikeouts while winning 4-3 but did allow three walks, threw two wild pitches and hit a batter.

Rusch, 33, who pitched a scoreless ninth Sunday, went 4-0 with a 3.55 ERA in six starts before stumbling in a 6-2 loss against Arizona on Thursday, when he allowed five runs in 42/3 innings.

"I want to give Jorge every opportunity to show me this is something that he can't handle," manager Clint Hurdle said. "I think he's got age on his side. There's a more dynamic arm; that's not to take away anything from Glendon's efficiency."

Hurdle said De La Rosa has worked hard and has been "very receptive" to extensive coaching. "He's growing up and I think a vote of confidence right about now might be something that can help him," Hurdle said.

NEXT STEP

Outfielder Scott Podsednik left Sunday for Salt Lake to play today and Tuesday with Triple-A Colorado Springs on a rehabilitation assignment that will include games for the Sky Sox at home on Wednesday and Thursday.

Hurdle said Podsednik could "potentially be ready" to rejoin the Rockies on Friday, when they begin a series with Cincinnati at Coors Field. He has been sidelined with a fractured left pinkie and last played July 27.

ETC.

Willy Taveras has stolen at least one base in a career-best five consecutive games. He has seven stolen bases in that span, including one Sunday that extended his single-season franchise record to 58. . . . Seth Smith has hit two of the Rockies four pinch-hit homers this season. In addition to his three-run shot off Jesus Colome in the eighth, Smith hit an inside-the-park pinch-hit homer July 18 at Coors Field off Pittsburgh's Tyler Yates with the bases empty. The Rockies' other pinch-hit homers were by Iannetta June 3 at Los Angeles with no one aboard and Stewart's two-run shot Aug. 5 against Washington. . . . The Rockies won the season series 4-3 against the Nationals, who won three of four at Coors Field earlier this month. . . . Clint Hurdle's next victory will be his 500th managing the Rockies. . . . The Rockies are 13-24 in day games, and Cook has eight of those wins. He's 8-1 with a 3.97 ERA in 10 day starts. . . . Outfielder Cory Sullivan will join Triple-A Colorado Springs. He traveled to Washington with the Rockies after being optioned Thursday to the Sky Sox when catcher Adam Melhuse was brought up from Colorado Springs. Sullivan was kept because of the uncertainty over catcher Yorvit Torrealba, who has a small cartilage tear in his left knee and was scratched from a start Thursday. It was thought Torrealba might end up on the disabled list, but that didn't happen. . . . The series sweep was the Rockies' fourth of the season and first since they swept three games July 25-27 at Cincinnati.

• August 17, 2008

  12:27 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  RDenver writes:

  HUH? Rusch is pitching much better than De La Rosa and he is put back in the bullpen?? That's why Hurdle is a loser!

• August 17, 2008

  7:49 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  malis writes:

  RDen, Rusch has pitched courageously but not particularly well...in most of his starts he's given up 3-4 runs and been good for about five innings (but has gotten run support). Glad to have him around but De La Rosa has a much greater upside, and has shown signs of consistency. Good decision by Hurdle.

• August 18, 2008

  6:27 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Hambone writes:

  The only reason I support this decision is that the season is over. If De la Rosa can pull his head out of his rectum then he is capable of being pretty good.

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