Notes: Fuentes' everyday role; Davis returns
DENVER -- Clutch hits from rookie Josh Fuentes -- like his double during the run-up to Charlie Blackmon’s walk-off grand slam in the Rockies’ 8-4 victory over the Angels on Friday night -- are a new phenomenon. But he’ll get opportunities to get you used to it.
In his first 14 games since being summoned from the Rockies' alternate training site, Fuentes slashed slashed.333/.359/.528 with a home run and six RBIs. Saturday was his third straight start and fourth in the last seven. As a starter, Fuentes has batted .313 with three doubles, a home run and three RBIs.
Veteran Daniel Murphy showed early signs of rebounding from a down 2019, but he entered Saturday hitting .174 (12-for-69) in his previous 23 games. Manager Bud Black used Murphy as designated hitter on Saturday, and Black will feed Murphy at-bats to keep him sharp for pinch-hit duty. Murphy is 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs as a pinch-hitter.
But Fuentes has grabbed regular duty.
“He’s been getting hits and giving us real good at-bats, and he’s getting on base, simply put,” Black said. “He’s hitting over .300, he’s gotten a couple big hits for us, he’s playing great defense at first base. He’s playing well, so he’s been playing. It’ a performance-based game, and he’s performing.”
The Rockies hope Fuentes’ emergence adds to a lineup that has been too heavily dependent on Trevor Story, Blackmon and Nolan Arenado.
The addition of Kevin Pillar in a Trade Deadline deal with the Red Sox has helped. The Rockies also hope for a lift from David Dahl, who made his first start since a mid-August lower back injury. Pillar was out of the lineup on Saturday.
Davis returns
The Rockies reinstated righty reliever Wade Davis, the team's closer before a right rotator cuff strain forced him to the injured list a week into the season.
Davis, 35 and in the final year of a three-year, $52 million contract, converted his first two save opportunities and had two outs toward another in the home opener before blowing the save by giving up two home runs against the Padres. Even before then, Davis had been unavailable for games and he felt pain in the shoulder.
With David injured, and Scott Oberg out for the season because of a recurrence of blood clots, Black has had to juggle the bullpen.
Daniel Bard’s emergence as closer has been a fortunate development, and the team acquired Mychal Givens from the Orioles at the Trade Deadline. Jairo Diaz replaced Davis as closer, but he slumped his way out of the late innings. Yency Almonte, Carlos Estevez, Tyler Kinley and even former starter Jeff Hoffman have had their turns late in games, with Black going with who was hot.
Davis’ opportunities likely will be governed by how he pitches.
The Rockies optioned righty rookie Ashton Goudeau to the alternate training site to make roster room for Davis.
Other injury updates
• Righty Jon Gray, who had wild swings in effectiveness from start to start before going to the IL with right shoulder inflammation, on Saturday threw his first light bullpen session since the injury.
• Utility man Chris Owings continues to work out before games in hopes of returning from his left hamstring strain.
• Rookie infielder Brendan Rodgers, on the IL with a shoulder capsule injury, has been playing in games at the alternate training site and was doing infield drills at Coors on Saturday.