Brothers: 'I get outs and keep my team ahead'

The challenge for Rockies left-handed reliever Rex Brothers on Wednesday was to treat the first closing opportunity of his career like any other game.

Rockies option Rutledge, will activate Cuddyer

The Rockies have optioned Opening Day second baseman Josh Rutledge to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Outfielder Michael Cuddyer will take his active roster spot Friday, when he is eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list (bulging disc in neck).

Chatwood draws task of keeping Scutaro quiet

Colorado's Tyler Chatwood is the next pitcher who has to deal with the pesky Marco Scutaro, as the Rockies right-hander makes his second consecutive start against the Giants opposite Tim Lincecum.

CarGo's homer, triple clinch series for Rockies

Backed by Carlos Gonzalez's homer and RBI triple, Rockies left-hander Jorge De La Rosa battled for 5 1/3 innings and was rewarded with a key victory, as the Rox topped the D-backs, 4-1, on Wednesday.

Lefty Francis feels good after bullpen session

Left-hander Jeff Francis (left groin strain) felt good Wednesday after a 25-pitch bullpen session Tuesday. Francis will accompany the team to San Francisco, where he will play long toss Friday and throw another bullpen Saturday. Beyond that, the plan for rehab under game conditions hasn't been set.

LeMahieu earning more time with hot hitting

Rockies infielder DJ LeMahieu's three-hit, two-double game in Tuesday night's 5-4, 10-inning victory over the D-backs earned him a start at second base Wednesday in the No. 2 spot.

Betancourt expects to be on the mound Friday

Rockies closer Rafael Betancourt had an anti-inflammatory shot in his right groin on Wednesday, and expects to return to the mound Friday at San Francisco and avoid the 15-day disabled list.

Tulowitzki gets scheduled rest Wednesday

The Rockies gave shortstop Troy Tulowitzki planned rest Wednesday, which means he will have two off-days before Friday's series opener in San Francisco.

Weiss, unafraid to shake up order, bats Fowler cleanup

With the Rockies resting cleanup man Troy Tulowitzki, not wanting to disrupt No. 3 hitter Carlos Gonzalez and wanting to move hot second baseman DJ LeMahieu up in the order to No. 2, manager Walt Weiss wrote Dexter Fowler -- normally either the leadoff or No. 2 hitter -- into the cleanup spot.

Betancourt to undergo MRI with groin injury

Rafael Betancourt has been pitching and succeeding through right groin tightness since late April. But after two pitches to the D-backs' Paul Goldschmidt in the top of the 10th inning Tuesday night, he knew the pain had caught up to him.

Despite his slump, Weiss confident in Rutledge

Rockies second baseman Josh Rutledge believes he can see success at the end of his struggles. Manager Walt Weiss started DJ LeMahieu on Tuesday night against the D-backs, instead of Rutledge, who went into Tuesday 2-for-16 during the current homestand.

Weiss goes with Pacheco at first, gives Helton rest

Right-handed-hitting Jordan Pacheco, who had one of the three hits and the lone RBI the Rockies managed against lefty Patrick Corbin in Monday night's 5-1 loss to the D-backs, started against righty Ian Kennedy on Tuesday.

Astacio, Monfort to rep Rockies at Draft

Pedro Astacio, one of the most accomplished pitchers in Rockies history and now a part-time pitching instructor and advisor, will represent the Rockies at the MLB First-Year Player Draft on June 6 at the MLB Network studios in Secaucus, N.J.

Rosario plays hero in Rockies' walk-off win

Wilin Rosario's 10th-inning single gave the Rockies a 5-4 victory over the D-backs at Coors Field on Tuesday night in front of 27,096 fans.

Rockies stall against D-backs' Corbin

The Rockies seemed to be rolling after winning three of four against the Giants over the weekend, but D-backs left-hander Patrick Corbin twirled a complete game, holding Colorado to three hits while striking out 10 in a 5-1 victory on Monday night at Coors Field.

Fowler uses clear head to get back on track

After a lengthy slump, center fielder Dexter Fowler went 10-for-20 as the Rockies won three of four games against the Giants, raising his batting average from .254 to .286 in the process.

Lefty-swinging CarGo thriving against southpaws

Going into Monday night, Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez's .386 batting average in 57 at-bats against southpaws was third-highest among batters with a significant number of left-on-left at-bats.

Cuddyer could return on Friday

Rockies right fielder/first baseman Michael Cuddyer will play two days this week at extended spring training in Scottsdale, Ariz. If all goes well, he will rejoin the active roster Friday in San Francisco.

Nicasio's strong start leads Rockies to victory

Rockies right-hander Juan Nicasio quieted talk of possibly being sent down to the Minors by shutting down the Giants for six innings of a 5-0 victory at Coors Field on Sunday afternoon.

Oswalt getting sharper, set for Double-A start

Right-handed three-time All-Star Roy Oswalt is still three to four weeks from being considered for the Rockies' rotation, but his effort Saturday at extended spring training suggests he is progressing rapidly.

Confident Lopez finds pitching groove with Rockies

Offseason acquisition Wilton Lopez didn't endear himself to his new Rockies fans when he posted a 9.00 ERA in his first nine relief appearances. But since then, he has been scored on just once in 12 games and has fulfilled the right-handed setup role the Rockies envisioned when they acquired him from the Astros.

Chatwood impresses in solid effort vs. Giants

Right-hander Tyler Chatwood threw many good pitches over 5 2/3 innings Saturday night, but even his worst pitch worked out for the Rockies in their 10-2 victory over the Giants at Coors Field.

Torrealba to guide Nicasio in start vs. Giants

The Rockies need right-handed pitcher Juan Nicasio to take a step forward when he faces the Giants in Sunday afternoon's finale of the four-game set at Coors Field, and they hope veteran catcher Yorvit Torrealba can give him a push.

Cuddyer on track for activation from disabled list

Rockies outfielder Michael Cuddyer was happy enough with his throwing and hitting in the batting cage that he believes he will be ready to return from his neck injury Friday, the day he is eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list.

Weiss expresses confidence in Belisle

Rockies right-hander Matt Belisle has given up six runs in his last five outings, including Friday night's Buster Posey home run in the eighth inning. But manager Walt Weiss said he believes Belisle (1-2, 4.22 ERA) is in a good place.

Tulowitzki realizing value of occasional rest

Troy Tulowitzki hates sitting out of games when he's not seriously injured. But now he knows it was the right decision when the team made sure he missed three starts in a five-game stretch early this month with left groin inflammation.

Yankees add Brignac to their infield fold

Twice this month, the Yankees have traded with the Rockies for a reserve infielder. New York acquired Reid Brignac from Colorado for cash considerations on Saturday.

Pacheco's slam helps Rockies solve Giants

Jordan Pacheco's grand slam helped the Rockies end their 10-game losing streak against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night, 10-9, though they nearly squandered a five-run lead at Coors Field.

Rockies seek more of the same from Chatwood

Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood left a stunning last impression the last time he was in the Majors -- six scoreless innings in a 12-2 victory over the Dodgers on April 29. Now the Rockies are counting on him to do the same Saturday.

Nicasio's start bumped to Sunday

By calling up Tyler Chatwood to pitch Saturday, the Rockies will give right-hander Juan Nicasio an extra day's rest. Nicasio, who has struggled on and off this season, will start Sunday in the finale of the four-game set with the Giants.