Rockies report: Fuentes takes bereavement leave

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 26, 2008 at 5:42 p.m.

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“I have been in favor of (instant replay on home run calls) for some time. We have five or six situations last year where we had a (homer) become a double,”

Rockies manager Clint Hurdle on the decision to institute instant replay on home runs beginning Thursday.

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123 stolen bases for the Rockies going into Tuesday’s game, tied with Tampa Bay for the major league lead. The Rockies had been successful on 81.5 percent of their attempts, second in the majors to Philadelphia (83.2 percent). Matt Holliday was successful on 23 of 24 for 95.8 percent, best for an individual in the majors.

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SAN FRANCISCO — The Rockies on Tuesday placed left-handed pitcher Brian Fuentes on the bereavement list and called up right-hander Steven Register from Triple-A Colorado Springs.

The team did not give a reason for Fuentes' leave. But, according to MLB rules, a player must remain on the bereavement list for a minimum of three days and a maximum of seven.

“When it’s family issues I don’t push it,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “He just needs to get back to his family and he’ll come back when he can.”

Fuentes, 33, is 1-4 with 26 saves and a 2.73 ERA in 57 games this season. He has converted 12 consecutive save opportunities since July 3 and currently has the third-longest active save streak in the majors. For the season, he has converted 26 of 30 save chances, including 26 of 28 since assuming the closer’s role on April 26.

Register, 25, is 5-3 with a 3.32 ERA in 54 games for the Sky Sox this season. He is 16-for-19 in save opportunities and ranks third in the Pacific Coast League with 16 saves. His 54 appearances rank fifth in the league and second among Sky Sox pitchers.

Etc.

Stewart walked in his first three plate appearances, then singled home a run against left-hander Jack Taschner in the seventh inning, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. That's tied with San Diego outfielder Chase Headley, a graduate of Fountain-Fort Carson High, for third longest by a National League rookie this season. Jay Bruce of the Reds had streaks of 12 and 13 games. . . . Right-hander Steven Register, called up when left-hander Brian Fuentes was placed on the bereavement list, was 5-3 with a 3.32 ERA in 54 games with Triple-A Colorado Springs, has converted 16-of-19 save opportunities. He struck out Lastings Milledge of the Nationals on Aug. 4 in his only major league appearance. . . . Fuentes' streak of 13 consecutive save conversions is third longest in the majors behind Philadelphia's Brad Lidge, a graduate of Cherry Creek High School who has converted 31 in a row, and San Diego's Trevor Hoffman, who has converted 15 in a row. . . . Trenidad Hubbard, the Rockies' organizational baserunning and outfield instructor, is with the team in San Francisco, his first extended look at the major league club this season. . . . Veteran shortstop Omar Vizquel started 53 of the first 71 games this season but has started only five of the past 25.