Colorado Rockies: Blackmon Activated, Barnes Sent Down

One week after coming up with one of the biggest hits of the season for the Colorado Rockies, Brandon Barnes was sent to Triple-A Albuquerque to make room for Charlie Blackmon, who came off the 15-day disabled list after battling turf toe.

Barnes was hitting .194 for the Rockies with three extra-base hits and four RBI on the season. Three of his RBI came in a two-game span against the Los Angeles Dodgers, including a two-run eighth-inning triple that keyed a come-from-behind 7-5 victory on April 22. That win was Colorado’s lone victory in an eight-game stretch heading into Friday night’s game at the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“I was looking for three and trying to get another guy in scoring position,” Barnes said. “I got a pitch where I was looking and didn’t try to do too much with it.”

After that two-game stretch, however, Barnes went 0-for-10 at the plate. Still, Colorado manager Walt Weiss refers often to the energy Barnes brings to the Rockies and paid him great compliments after the victory over the Dodgers.

“Tremendous at-bat. Gets 0-2, lays off a couple of tough pitches, fights off a hard slider/cutter,” Weiss said in describing Barnes at the plate before hitting the triple. “That’s an incredible at-bat and to stay on it and hit it where he did, that’s a huge at-bat for Barnes. I’m really happy for him. The guy shows up every day thinking about what he can do for the team. He’s got a great attitude. He’s inspiring to his teammates and it’s good to see those guys get rewarded.”

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Barnes would also fire up the Rockies later in that same inning by tagging on a fly ball in foul territory by DJ LeMahieu and testing Los Angeles outfielder Yasiel Puig on a throw to home. Barnes beat the throw to give the Rockies an insurance run

“That was another great play by Barnesy right there, running on Puig because that ball wasn’t that deep,” Weiss said. “That was a gutsy move to score on that sac fly by DJ. Barnesy came up big a few times tonight.”

Barnes said after the game to decision to tag and score was calculated on his speed being able to beat Puig’s cannon-like arm.

“Puig has to make the grab to his left and make the throw. He has to make a good throw. I know he’s in close, but I know my speed and I know how to gauge it,” Barnes said. “We needed that run out there so I was going to give it my everything to score. I’ll test anybody. You have to in this league.”

Barnes, who will turn 30 on May 15, entered the season feeling very confident in his abilities and what he could bring to the Colorado Rockies.

“My confidence has been great this year,” Barnes said. “I’ve been working on a lot of things. I’ve scuffled lately but that doesn’t hurt my confidence because I know I’m going to hit the ball. I’m going to do good things and when my name is called, I’m going to go out there and do what needs to be done for my team.

“I’m a guy who just hits the ball and tries to run. I’m trying to get as many bases as I can on any hit. You won’t ever see me unless I absolutely know I got it jog out there. I’m out there to get some bases.”

During his batting slump right before being sent down, Barnes said he was just trying to take things in stride and work his way out of it.

“I try to take it one day at a time,” Barnes said. “In this game, you’re going to struggle. You’re going to have good days and bad days. Don’t let it get it to you. Just go out there and continue to work every single day and good things will happen.”

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Blackmon has also struggled in April, posting a .185 average heading into Friday’s contest. The Colorado Rockies are hoping that Blackmon can inject some life into the leadoff spot as Colorado leadoff hitters have a combined .194 average so far this season, ranking them 29^th in Major League Baseball.