Notes: Lambert pitches with smile on his face

MESA, Ariz. -- Where all this leads for Rockies right-hander Peter Lambert is anyone’s guess. But simply putting himself in the club’s pitching plans was enough to make his two scoreless and hitless innings significant in a 7-3 victory over the Athletics on Monday afternoon at Hohokam Stadium.

Lambert has made two Major League appearances since his rookie year of 2019 (3-7 with a 7.25 ERA in 19 starts). Rehab from Tommy John surgery in '20 hit several snags last spring and throughout the ’21 season. But against Oakland, Lambert struck out one, walked one, forced a double-play grounder and felt nothing but momentum.

“It always feels good to pitch in real competition, a real game,” Lambert said.

Lambert, who turns 26 on April 18, felt he could have been in the strike zone more, and some breaking balls were not what he wanted. But the fastball was spotted well, and it set up his changeup, which he used to finalize a strikeout of the game’s second batter, Ramón Laureano.

“It was good to see Peter back -- and with a good look on his face of confidence that he’s healthy,” said manager Bud Black, who noted that there were some small coaching points on the delivery that will be presented to Lambert. “It was good to see Peter with a smile on his face.”

With the milestone of a Major League Spring Training game cleared, Lambert wants to compete and force a decision. The Rockies have talked of capping his innings, but there is nothing to stop most or all of those innings from coming in the Majors.

“I hope to be in Denver, but I’ve got to take care of a few things first,” Lambert said. “I’ve got to do well in camp. I’ve got to be healthy -- that’s most important. I’m feeling great now and I’ve got to recover well, but I’m not worried about that right now.”

Liking his new look

Righty Connor Seabold threw two spotless innings with a strikeout in his Rockies debut. Seabold, 27, came over in a trade with the Red Sox during the offseason. Seabold felt his excitement hurt his secondary pitches, but those should be crisper next time.

“The mind won’t be racing so much,” Seabold said, smiling. “I’ll know what I want to throw, and I won’t rush through it. I’m not saying it was an absolute blur out there, but I definitely could have shook [off a pitch call] to get to what I wanted, but I’ll have a few more outings to tighten that up.”

Is this a home?

Lefty Logan Allen, who fanned two and walked one in his Rockies spring debut, looks to follow the path of Adam Ottavino, Tyler Kinley (out until midseason with a forearm injury) and Dinelson Lamet -- pitchers who found success in Colorado’s bullpen.

Once a top prospect with the Padres, Allen bounced between the rotation and bullpen with the Guardians. He saw just six relief innings last year, was claimed off waivers by the Orioles and had minimal opportunity in the Majors and at Triple-A. Allen was finally signed by the Rockies last Aug. 26 after being released by the Orioles.

The Rockies are intrigued that Allen, who turns 26 on May 23, has a starter’s mix, a ground-ball pitcher’s profile and a resilient arm. Allen has hit it off with pitching coach Darryl Scott, and he is happy to have role clarity.

“Buddy said, ‘This is what you’re going to be and what we think you’re going to be, but how do you feel because it’s your career?’” Allen said. “Buddy really made it easy for me because he communicated with me. I was bought in as soon as I was told what I would be doing.”

Bats get going

Kris Bryant’s first-inning homer off Athletics righty Drew Rucinski drew some gasps from the Hohokam Stadium crowd. But Bryant is more concerned about an excitement from the Rockies’ dugout over runs being scored (31 in the first three games) because of the right kind of at-bats.

Catcher Elias Díaz also went deep.

“The energy is real good and the results are there, which is always nice to see early in spring,” Bryant said. “It’s an awesome energy. Everybody’s pulling for one another in meaningless Spring Training games. Everybody forgot last year and moved on.”