Tapia triples, reminding Rox what he can do

DENVER -- Raimel Tapia has gone from the top of the Rockies’ lineup to witnessing a parade of teammates auditioning for his order spot, as well as his job in left field. But twice in the last week, Tapia has reminded folks that he is still around.

Tapia led off the seventh with a pinch-hit triple to center to set up an important insurance run in a 3-1 victory over the Nationals at Coors Field on Tuesday night. The game also included a 475-foot solo homer from shortstop Trevor Story off Nats starter Patrick Corbin.

The triple off Nationals reliever Jhon Romero restored the two-run cushion after the Nationals scored their only run off Rockies starter Kyle Freeland (6 2/3 innings, one run on six hits) in the top of the seventh. Last Thursday, Tapia swatted a home run off the facing of the second deck in right field off Dodgers star Max Scherzer.

But the big hits are coming during an extreme dry spell. Tapia dealt with a recurring right big toe injury for a month before sitting out 18 games in August. Since his return, Tapia, who struck out in the eighth, has batted .194 (14-for-72). The struggle has pulled Tapia’s overall average to .274, after he was hitting as high as .320 on May 2 and .307 on June 22.

While Tapia was out, Connor Joe began running with the leadoff spot until he sustained a right hamstring injury that ultimately sidelined him for the season. During the Rockies’ 7-2 road trip to Philadelphia, Atlanta and Washington, Garrett Hampson received a run of playing time atop the lineup. Hampson, also fighting to establish himself, struck out after Tapia’s triple. However, Brendan Rodgers doubled Tapia home.

“Teams have been really pitching him inside with velocity, and now he’s starting to realize that and he’s got to turn the ball a little bit -- he’s got to get the [bat] head out,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “So he's made that adjustment a couple of times the last week or so.

“We’ve only got four games left. But he’s realized that some teams are just pounding him inside.”

Tapia has quietly worked on his adjustments through the sporadic playing time.

“It’s the same thing -- stick to my routine and just keep working hard,” Tapia said after the homer off Scherzer, with bullpen catcher Aaron Muñoz interpreting. “Nothing really changed from the beginning. I’m just waiting my turn.”

When making solid contact, something that has been missing since his return, Tapia is a threat for doubles (25) and stolen bases (20). The question facing Tapia, as well as Hampson (an infielder-outfielder) and Joe (a corner infielder and outfielder with burgeoning power) is how the Rockies plan to improve the roster. They’ve lacked the experienced power that successful Rockies teams have displayed, which means trades and free agency could supplant or reduce the roles of players on the current roster.

Tapia’s situation bears watching. He made $1.95 million this season and is heading into his second year of arbitration -- maybe an enticing and economical trade piece if a team seeks traditional leadoff skills. But the Rockies have also seen how Tapia’s torrid streaks can ignite the offense.

Also, Tapia could work in tandem with another outfielder, with opportunities as a designated hitter should the position become universal. Although Tapia doesn’t have much history of success off the bench, this year he is 6-for-19 (.316) as a substitute.

Black said “we don’t need to talk about that now” when asked about Tapia’s future, but the skipper said being adaptable is good.

“It will only help a player, and I'll include Tap, if they're able to not play for a few days or they're a role player -- and I'm not saying he's a role player,” Black said. “I'm just saying you’ve got to mentally accept what's going on at that present point in your career, and produce.”