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Tulowitzki: 'No pain' in first rehab game

By Nick Giannandrea, Special to the Rocky

Published June 11, 2008 at 10:27 p.m.

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Troy Tulowitzki hit the ball hard in three at-bats Wednesday.

Photo by © Associated Press

Troy Tulowitzki hit the ball hard in three at-bats Wednesday.

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Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki showed no noticeable problems Wednesday night from the torn left quadriceps tendon injury he suffered April 29.

More important to Tulowitzki and the Rockies, he didn't feel any worse for wear after playing his first game in more than a month.

Tulowitzki made a rehabilitation start for Single-A Modesto of the California League, going hitless in three at-bats and fielding his only ball at shortstop cleanly during the Nuts' game against the Visalia Oaks.

"I felt real good, no pain," said Tulowitzki, who has been on the disabled list since April 30. "It was nice to be in the batter's box and play some defense in a real game."

Tulowitzki didn't reach base, but he did hit the ball hard three times before leaving to receive an ice treatment after the fifth inning.

He hit a sharp grounder to shortstop in the first inning, sent a sacrifice fly to the warning track in straightaway center field in the third and hit a rocket right at the third baseman in the fifth.

Defensively, Tulowitzki turned the only ball hit to him into a double play.

"I hit the ball hard and I got a double-play ball," said Tulowitzki, who sent five balls out of Recreation Park during a pregame batting-practice session that seemed to get better with every turn he took in the cage. "I'm happy with where I'm at."

Originally thought to be sidelined until about the All-Star break, Tulowitzki will continue his rehabilitation tonight and is expected to play seven innings for the Nuts in their series finale at Visalia.

He will remain with Modesto for a three-game series at Rancho Cucamonga, where he is expected to test the leg more by playing nine innings. Tulowitzki will return Monday to Denver to be evaluated.

If everything checks out, he'll continue his rehabilitation with Triple-A Colorado Springs. Tulowitzki tentatively is targeting a return to the Rockies lineup for their June 20-22 series at home against the New York Mets.

Tulowitzki was hitting .152 with one home run and 11 RBI before injuring his quadriceps while charging a groundball against the Giants.