SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is expected to miss a couple of days with a bruised left calf after being hit by a pitch in the Rockies’ 6-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night.
Tulowitzki fell to the ground and clutched his leg after Arizona starter Wade Miley hit him with a fastball with two outs in the fourth. He limped to first before leaving the game.
X-rays were negative, but it was a scary moment for the Rockies, who have seen their three-time All-Star suffer numerous injuries.
“It hit him on the outside of the leg, so it didn’t hit the bone or anything,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. “He won’t be in there (Thursday), but I don’t think it will be long.”
Miley said he was trying to work Tulowitzki inside and it cut too far.
When asked if he thought Miley may have intentionally been throwing at Tulowitzki after Arizona slugger Mark Trumbo was hit in the top of the fourth, Weiss said, “I don’t know.”
Miley went five innings, allowing one run on four hits, including Michael McKenry’s RBI double. He struck out five.
Aaron Hill had three hits, including a solo homer off Rockies starter Pedro Hernandez.
Miguel Montero had a two-run homer for Arizona and Paul Janish hit a solo shot for Colorado.
HITTING TIME
Miley said an inside fastball to Tulowitzki got away from him.
“I tried to go in on his first at-bat and left it out over the plate and he crushes it,” Miley said of the shortstop’s lineout to center in the second. “I got away with it. I just made sure I got it in and it just kind of cut off a little bit.”
Trumbo had been hit by Tommy Kahnle in the top of the fourth. McKenry was later hit by Jimmie Sherfy.
When Colorado’s Raul Hernandez threw behind Montero in the eighth, plate umpire Doug Eddings warned both dugouts.
“You never want your guys to get hit,” Weiss said, “but stuff happens.”
STARTING TIME
Diamondbacks: Miley likes the extended work he’s been getting with Arizona on a fast track to open the season March 22 in Australia.
“I think you get more out of it going four or five innings rather than two,” Miley said. “I feel great.”
Rockies: Hernandez, a non-roster invitee who made 12 starts for Minnesota last season, allowed a run on three hits in three innings. He was helped by two stellar defensive plays by Tulowitzki.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: Right-hander Trevor Cahill, who left Tuesday’s game with what the team calls a jammed knee, received treatment Wednesday and later played catch without difficulty. . Outfielder Cody Ross, out since August with a dislocated right hip, went 3 for 6 with two doubles in a minor league game Wednesday. Ross, who did not play in the field, is next scheduled to play in a game Sunday.
OUTFIELD COMPETITION
While veteran Drew Stubbs went 2 for 3 and remains the favorite for Colorado’s open center field job, Brandon Barnes is impressing.
Barnes is hitting .346 (9 for 26) and has shown good range running down balls in the outfield, a must at spacious Coors Field.
“One of the reasons I think they brought me in here is I can go get the ball,” Barnes said.
The right-handed hitter said it was “definitely a surprise” when Houston included him in the deal for center fielder Dexter Fowler after he hit .240 in 136 games last year.
“I became a man there,” Barnes said of his eight-year stint in the Astros organization. “But at the same time, I was excited to get out of there and come to an organization that prides themselves on winning.”
Charlie Blackmon and Corey Dickerson are also in the crowded outfield mix.
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