Rockies report: Nix returns

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 8, 2008 at 3:09 p.m.

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25 seasons without a postseason appearance for the Brewers, who lost to St.Louis in the 1982 World Series and haven't been back to the postseason since.

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Second baseman Jayson Nix, who started the season in the Rockies lineup, was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs, giving the club more flexibility in the middle infield. Outfielder Seth Smithwas sent down.

With Clint Barmes moving from second base to shortstop to replace the injured Troy Tulowitzki and with first baseman Todd Helton also on the disabled list, Jeff Baker had been the right- handed-hitting option at second and first.

Baker jammed his right wrist sliding into second base on a stolen-base attempt Monday. While X-rays were negative, there was enough soreness that he was given a magnetic resonance imaging exam and was not available to play.

Nix was given only a brief shot at the second base job, hitting .111 in 17 games, then was sent back to the minors. He hit .299 with 14home runs and 43 RBI with the Sky Sox.

"He went down and went about his business and got better," manager Clint Hurdle said. "We wanted to let him know we were paying attention."

RIGHT ON

With left-hander CC Sabathia starting for Milwaukee, the Rockies lineup was jumbled to maximize right-handed bats.

Shortstop Omar Quintanilla was the only left-handed hitting position player. Barmes, the usual shortstop, moved to third base with Garrett Atkins moving to first, where he played while at UCLA and during his first two pro seasons.

Ryan Spilborghs took over for Brad Hawpe in right field.

Atkins started two games at first base in 2004 and 2007 and had appeared at the position defensively in 2004 (one game), 2006 (three) and 2007 (eight).

Barmes went in defensively at third base once last year. He never had started at third in a major league game.

ETC.

Left-hander Jeff Francis, on the disabled list with left shoulder inflammation, played catch Monday and Tuesday. "It wasn't too good the first day, but (Tuesday) it felt fine," Francis said. "Now we'll see how it responds." . . . Manager Clint Hurdle said there was no immediate decision on who to bring up to replace Spilborghs. Most likely, the Rockies would want a right-handed hitter. The one right-handed bat having an impressive season still with Triple-A Colorado Springs is first baseman/third baseman Christian Colonel, hitting .349, but he is not on the 40-man roster. The biggest question is whether the Rockies would want to jump-start the career of center fielder Dexter Fowler, a switch-hitter with a .327 average with Double-A Tulsa, but that would require a commitment to put him in center field on a daily basis. . . . Right-handed pitcher Jhoulys Chacin was selected High-A California League Pitcher of the Week after his first week with Modesto. Chacin went 2-0 and allowed one earned run in 14 innings of his first two starts for Modesto. . . . The Rockies have turned 102 double plays, most in the NL. . . . Left fielder Matt Holliday extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a leadoff single in the two-run sixth inning. . . . Jason Hirsh picked up a win and allowed one run in five innings of his start Monday for Colorado Springs at Sacramento but walked seven. . . . The Rockies are 13-11 in games left-handed pitchers have started against them but only 3-7 on the road. . . . Left-hander Josh Newman was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Colorado Springs to make room for Nix.

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