Blackmon homers in his 1st intrasquad game
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DENVER -- It didn’t take Rockies right fielder Charlie Blackmon long to get his swing back at Summer Camp.
After missing the start of workouts -- he acknowledged a mild case of COVID-19 -- Blackmon singled off Antonio Senzatela on Friday in his first at-bat of intrasquad action. Next time up, he homered just above the out-of-town scoreboard in right field at Coors Field. He went 2-for-4 before leaving the contest.
Center fielder David Dahl, who missed the last two intrasquad games because of what manager Bud Black called “core soreness,” went 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly.
Asked whether both can play the field and go nine innings by next Friday, Black said, “We’ll see, but we feel good about both of them being ready for the season.”
Intrasquad impressions
• Senzatela gave up seven hits in 3 1/3 innings but just two runs. He struck out two and didn’t walk anyone. Righty Ashton Goudeau, who spent last year at Double-A Hartford, went three innings and gave up one run on three hits, with two strikeouts and no walks. Each starter forced a double-play grounder.
• Closer Wade Davis walked Trevor Story to open his inning but gave up no further damage. After the walk, the location of his pitches was solid as he gradually builds arm strength.
• Before taking the field, utility man Chris Owings and outfielder Matt Kemp were told they have made the team after arriving as non-roster invitees. Owings then doubled in his first two at-bats and laid down a solid sacrifice bunt as the Rockies practiced extra innings with an automatic runner at second base. Kemp collected a single.
• A scary moment came when right-hander Joe Harvey, who was taken off the 40-man roster during the winter but has made himself a roster candidate with a solid Summer Camp, threw one high and inside to Story. The ball hit the knob of the bat and didn’t catch a hand or finger.
• Non-roster lefty Tim Collins, also with Major League experience and bullpen hopes, gave up one hit during a scoreless inning.
• Catcher Elias Díaz made a strong throw to pick off Joshua Fuentes at third base during extra-innings practice. Díaz and Drew Butera, non-roster invitees with Major League experience, are in a contest for a roster spot and playing time.
• General manager Jeff Bridich said first baseman Brian Mundell, invited to Summer Camp after batting .299 with 51 home runs in 562 career Minor League games, has retired. Mundell, 26, hit .333 in 110 games at Triple-A Albuquerque last year.