[Quack Attack]

Tulowitzki says he's ready to return to Rockies after helping Sky Sox to win

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June 18, 2008 - 11:46PM
BY BOB STEPHENS
THE GAZETTE

Jayson Nix slugged a two-run homer and scored the winning run on Christian Colonel's seventh-inning single to give the Colorado Springs Sky Sox a 3-2 victory over Salt Lake on Wednesday at Security Service Field.
The crowd of 6,552 saw Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki excel in his second and possibly final game with the Sky Sox. Fans also witnessed veteran left-hander Mark Redman top former Angels No. 1 draft pick Dustin Moseley in a pitching duel.

"I definitely felt better tonight," Tulowitzki said. "I'm ready to go. We'll see what the trainer and manager decide." Tulowitzki, on the disabled list since April 30 with a left quadriceps tendon tear, will be evaluated today in Denver.

"We might see him here Friday," Sky Sox manager Tom Runnells said. "My bet is we won't." Redman (3-2) lasted seven innings before Micah Bowie and Steven Register closed out the Sky Sox's fourth win in their past five games. Redman tied a Sky Sox season high with nine strikeouts and walked none while allowing seven hits in seven innings.

"He looked great," Rockies second baseman Clint Barmes said. "He didn't miss over the fat part of the plate much." Barmes, who is on a rehabilitation assignment after straining his right medial collateral ligament, will play nine innings Friday and Saturday, rest Sunday and perhaps join the Rockies in Kansas City on Monday. Tulowitzki played nine innings for the second straight game and was 1-for-3 with a walk and stolen base.

Tulowitzki singled ahead of Nix's homer and handled four fielding chances flawlessly while also teaming with Barmes on a double play.
Nix's homer gave the Sky Sox a 2-1 lead in the fourth but Dee Brown doubled for the Bees in the sixth and scored on Matt Brown's single.
It was Nix's 11th homer in 41 games with the Sky Sox. He hit 11 last year in 124 games.

"I'm just continuing to build my game," said Nix, who was the Rockies' opening day second baseman. "I feel I'm definitely a better hitter now than I've been in my whole career." Nix, who has started 39 games at second base and one as the DH, made his first appearance at third base and played well until making a throwing error in the seventh.
Seth Smith (.323) had a nine-game hitting streak end.

[Lefty Noob]

He is back, and according to Yahoo! Sports, "Tulowitzki, who missed 46 games with a torn tendon in his left quadriceps, went 3-for-12 with two doubles in three games against the Mets after returning to the lineup Friday." Think he can regain his form of a year ago?

Rockies Team Report - MLB - Yahoo! Sports

[Quack Attack]

I think he is slowly but surely Lefty. What I always loved about Troy last year and is starting to show up lately, he is always a clutch hitter. Something the Rockies have been lacking all year. He has made some awesome clutch hits lately and hopefully the Rockies, now winners of 4 in a row, will start to make a run at the division title. Rockies have so much talent, they just need to start winning which they are finally doing now! Pitching still is a problem, so they need to start outscoring every team!

Notes: Todd Helton and Jeff Francis are on the 14 day DL list, hey, this is not a bad thing really as both of them have stunk all year long!

[Lefty Noob]

Yeah... Helton hasn't been good at all this year. Wasn't last year either, was he? Flash in the pan?