Tapia dazzles despite Rockies’ 8-4 loss to end to road trip in Arizona
May 3, 2021, 6:35 AM
Though the Rockies lost on Sunday in Arizona to complete a disappointing, 2-5 road trip that cemented their standing at the bottom of the National League, not all was lost — especially regarding the team’s future.
“Today was a good Tapia day,” manager Bud Black said with a smile.
Leftfielder Raimel Tapia went 3-for-5 with a RBI on Sunday to go along with a pair of steals and a highlight-reel, diving catch in the third inning.
“He had three hits, two stolen bases,” Black continued. “We talked prior to the game about the potential of a long-ranging diving catch, and we saw that. That was a great catch he made off the bat of (Arizona’s Eduardo) Escobar down the left-field line.”
Over the weekend, Tapia’s bat was scorching; the Rockies’ leadoff hitter went 7-for-11 (.636) to raise his season average to .320.
“I’m the type of hitter that plays relaxed all the time. When I was younger, all I needed was more playing time, more at-bats to feel more comfortable,” Tapia said. “That’s all we need, more time and more experience.”
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NEXT UP: Rockies (10-18, 5th in NL West) vs. Giants (17-11, 1st in NL West) | Monday, May 3 at 6:40 p.m. | COL: German Marquez (1-2, 4.13 ERA) vs. SF: Aaron Sanchez (1-1, 2.22 ERA).
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NOTES
• Trevor Story hit a two-run home run in the third inning, but left the game with a bruised right index finger after being hit by a pitch in the eighth. “Trevor, we think, is going to be fine,” manager Bud Black said after the game. “He had X-rays; they were negative, so I think we dodged a bullet there.” Story may sit out Monday, but the injury isn’t expected to linger.
• Daniel Bard had a disastrous outing on Sunday, taking the loss after coughing up four runs on four hits and a walk in only 1/3 of an inning… immediately after the Rockies had scored two in the top of the eighth inning to tie the game at four apiece. Bard, 35, has allowed nine earned runs in his last six appearances, spanning only 5 1/3 innings (15.19 ERA).
• Antonio Senzatela was placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with a sore groin. He experienced soreness in his start last Thursday. “We feel that, hopefully, this is just missing one start,” manager Bud Black said. “He’s doing much better (Sunday) than (Saturday). The soreness is lessening, the mobility is lessening and the strength is pretty good.” Jhoulys Chacin is the likely replacement for Senzatela’s scheduled start on Tuesday.
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THE FINAL WORD
“I would like to think two things — our bullpen will be better this month, and our offense will be better this month.” — Bud Black, on his hopes for the Rockies in May.
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STARTING LINEUP
LF Raimel Tapia
CF Garrett Hampson
SS Trevor Story
3B Ryan McMahon
1B Matt Adams
RF Yonathan Daza
C Elias Diaz
2B Alan Trejo
SP Chi Chi Gonzalez
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INJURY WATCH
• Trevor Story (bruised right index finger) left the May 2 game after being hit by a pitch. X-rays showed no break, so Story is expected to miss a game or two at most.
• Antonio Senzatela (strained right groin) was placed on the 10-day IL on May 1. He is expected to miss only one or two starts.
• Yency Almonte (bruised right hand) was placed on the 10-day IL on Apr. 29.
• Kyle Freeland (strained left shoulder) was placed on the 10-day IL on Apr. 1. He has been throwing bullpen sessions and is expected back in early May.
• Brendan Rodgers (strained right hamstring) was placed on the 10-day IL on Apr. 1. He has been practicing and could potentially return before the end of April.
• Chris Owings (left thumb surgery) was placed on the 60-day IL in mid-April and will likely be out until the All-Star break.
• Scott Oberg (blood clots) had surgery prior to the end of Spring Training. He was placed on the 60-day IL on Mar. 27 and his season is in doubt.
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Shawn Drotar is the host of “The Fan Late Night with Shawn Drotar;” weeknights from 10:00 p.m. to midnight — only on 104.3 The Fan. Follow him on Twitter at @sdrotar.
