Rockies report: Helton playing catch

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 22, 2008 at 7:44 p.m.

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32 consecutive games for the Rockies in which they scored at least two runs before Thursday's 3-1 loss at Los Angeles. That had been the longest current streak in the majors. It is also the third-longest single-season streak in Rockies history. The Rockies went 37 consecutive games in 2000 and 34 in 2004 in which they scored two or more runs.

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First baseman Todd Helton, out since July 3 with lower-back problems, was in uniform but was limited to playing catch.

Helton said he is encouraged by recent developments, but trainer Keith Dugger said the team will be very cautious in Helton's rehabilitation program. Twice already, Helton had been cleared to start swinging a bat, and both times, the back problem flared up.

Dugger said Helton is "not even close" to swinging a bat and that, "if he can tolerate this for four or five days, we will consider the next move."

Dugger also said outfielder Ryan Spilborghs (pulled muscle, left side), who began his rehab assignment at Triple-A Colorado Springs on Thursday, will spend a week with the Sky Sox before his situation is re-evaluated. Spilborghs was out for six weeks and had extremely limited activity during the first three weeks.

UP, DOWN

Center fielder Scott Podsednik was activated from the disabled list, and catcher Adam Melhuse was sent back to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Manager Clint Hurdle said Yorvit Torrealba (slight meniscus tear, left knee) and Chris Iannetta (bruised left foot) showed they were healthy enough that he no longer felt the need to carry a third catcher as protection. Melhuse was with the major league team for eight days.

"Both have been able to work through (the injuries)," Hurdle said. "We didn't need the butter anymore."

ETC.

Third baseman Ian Stewart, three games removed from a career-best five RBI in a game, had a career-best four hits Friday. . . . First baseman Atkins, 2-for-24 on the just-completed six-game trip, was hitless in his first three at-bats Friday, then delivered an RBI double in the seventh. He extended his Coors Field hitting streak to 17 games, the longest of the season. Holliday had a 16-game streak June 11-July 6. . . . Atkins is only 4-for-32, however, since missing three games with strep throat. . . . Right-hander Jhouyls Chacin earned his 18th win, one short of the organization's single-season record. Chacin, 20, opened the season 10-1 with a 1.86 ERA in 16 games at low Single-A Asheville and is 8-2 with a 2.35 ERA in 11 games since being prompted to High-A Modesto. He has been limited to five innings in his past seven starts at Modesto but has thrown 1722/3 innings already. Jeff Francis won 19 games at three different levels in 2004. He was 13-1 at Double-A Tulsa and 3-2 at both Triple-A Colorado Springs and the major league team. . . . Rockies catchers Chris Iannetta and Yorvit Torrealba have made fewer errors (two, both by Torrealba) than any other catching tandem in the National League this year. Minnesota's catchers lead the American League with only two errors as well. Iannetta and Chris Snyder of Arizona are the only major league catchers who have played at least 50 games and not committed an error. . . . Left-handed closer Brian Fuentes has struck out 30 of the 66 batters he has faced since July 3.

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