Colorado Rockies manager Jim Tracy wanted to give the dayoff Sunday, but the hot-hitting shortstop talked him out of it.
Tulowitzki will try to help the Rockies bounce back from a rare loss as theyclose their three-game series Sunday against the Chicago Cubs.
Fri, Apr 15 - Final Sat, Apr 16 - Final Sun, Apr 17 - Final
Colorado (11-3) had its seven-game winning streak snapped with an 8-3 lossto Chicago (7-7) on Saturday. The Rockies went 0 for 12 with runners in scoringposition and were held under five runs for the first time in eight games.
Well file this one away and start over tomorrow and try to win a series,Tracy said. Its one of those things, this is going to happen once in a while.And as long as it only happens once in a while, well be in a very good place.
It should help that the Rockies expect to have back in thelineup. Helton did not start Saturday, entering as a pinch-hitter in the sixthand flying out to center. He did not remain in the game.
Helton, batting .353 this season, faces a favorable matchup against Sundaysscheduled starter (1-2, 6.30 ERA). Helton is 9 for 21 with threehomers against the right-hander.
Left fielder could also return for Colorado after sittingout Saturday with soreness related to the flu. Gonzalez is 3 for 6 with a homerun against Dempster.
While Tracy said before the loss that he hoped to rest Tulowitzki on Sunday,the manger was talked out of it by his All-Star shortstop.
I just walked up to him and I talked to him about (how) the San Franciscoseries (beginning Monday) was not going to be an option, and he looked at me andsaid, Tracy, Im good. And as long as hes good and the head trainers goodwith the fact that were not grinding him too hard, then well let him keepgoing out there, Tracy said.
It probably wasnt too difficult a decision. Tulowitzki raised his averageto .365 after going 2 for 4 with a triple and a run scored in Saturdays loss.However, hes just 1 for 6 with two strikeouts against Dempster.
The Cubs will be trying try to win back-to-back games for the second timethis season. They had a season-high 17 hits Saturday, getting home runs fromand will make his major league debut for the Rockies, who need aspot starter after Thursdays doubleheader sweep of the Mets.
Johnson has spent six-plus seasons in the minors, going 56-42 with a 4.55ERA. The 27-year-old right-hander made one start at Triple-A Colorado Springsthis season, allowing no earned runs in five innings.
