Colorado Rockies Injury Updates: Lyles, Weiss, Morneau

Sep 1, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss (22) walks out to the mound in the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Rockies lost, at various points of the day, Justin Morneau, Jordan Lyles, and manager Walt Weiss on a tough Wednesday evening in Anaheim.

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The Colorado Rockies had a difficult night last night, losing to the Los Angeles Angels 2-1 in eleven innings, and seeing their losing streak extend now to 11 games, dropping to 11-19 on the year.

But, well, nothing like injuries and some health scares to put everything into perspective for the team, which starts a four-game series tonight against the Dodgers about 45 minutes north of their two-game series this week in Anaheim.

Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reported late-night on the Rockies’ injury woes from the game, specifically regarding manager Walt Weiss, starting pitcher Jordan Lyles, and first baseman Justin Morneau.

Weiss underwent an emergency appendectomy on Wednesday after beginning to feel ill during Tuesday’s game, and admitting himself to the hospital before last night’s affair. He’ll be in the hospital at least through this morning after undergoing the procedure, and may not be around the team for another day or two:

"“We know that he had some surgery on his appendix and everything went well,” said Tom Runnells, the bench coach who filled in for Weiss. “He’s resting and he will come to (Los Angeles) tomorrow, and I think he is probably going to be out of commission for a couple of days.”"

The Rockies, of course, are not new to emergency appendectomies, as reliever Rafael Betancourt underwent one while with the team in 2013.

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Lyles took a comebacker off his hand at the end of the first inning from the bat of Albert Pujols, and had to leave the game after recording just three outs on 13 pitches. Luckily for Lyles, who broke his non-throwing hand last season on a fluke tag play at home plate and missed one-third of the year, this injury wasn’t as serious:

"“It’s not broken, and that’s the good thing,” Lyles said after the game. “I fully intend to make my next start. I was thinking about that as I was walking off the field,” he said. “But luckily nothing is broken. I think I’ll be OK.”"

The Rockies can ill afford to lose Lyles for any stretch, so if he is that bullish about making his next start… thank goodness.

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Morneau was replaced by Daniel Descalso in the eighth inning, after he came up dizzy diving for a ball in the field. His removal was entirely precautionary, due to his concussion history, which almost cost him his career at one point a few years ago.

Granted, the Rockies could have used Morneau hitting in the eleventh rather than Descalso when Carlos Gonzalez tried to score on Descalso’s sacrifice fly, but precautions for past head injuries are, you know, just a little more important than a baseball game.

Next: Game Notes: Rockies Waste Great Work By Christian Bergman

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