Colorado Rockies injury news: Carlos Gonzalez scratched from lineup

Carlos Gonzalez was scratched from the lineup with a sore left ankle just moments before the Colorado Rockies started their three-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Monday night at Coors Field.

Gonzalez, scheduled to hit sixth against Detroit starting pitcher Jordan Zimmerman, was replaced in the batting order by Ian Desmond, who just returned from a stint on the disabled list. Desmond played left field while Gerardo Parra, originally scheduled to start the game in left field, moved to CarGo’s normal position in right.

CarGo entered Monday’s game hitting .238 on the season with eight homers and 40 RBI. The 31-year-old Gonzalez is hitting .277 in 83 at-bats in August, making it his most productive month of the season at the plate. He has also hit safely in 25 of his last 33 games since July 18, batting .294 during that stretch.

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He recorded a season-high-tying three hits on August 20, marking the third time he has had three hits in a game this year.

Gonzalez was hitting .298 against Detroit in 47 career at-bats.

Desmond was originally scheduled to start the game on the bench but that changed with CarGo’s late scratch. Desmond is back with the Rockies after his second calf strain of the season and second time on the disabled list since the start of July.

The 31-year-old Desmond was placed on the disabled list on July 28, retroactive to July 26, with a strained right calf. He also spent time on the disabled list with a strained right calf from July 3-16. In 65 games in his first season with Colorado, Desmond is batting .285 with 33 runs, eight doubles, one triple, five home runs, 32 RBI, 14 walks and 10 stolen bases. He signed a five-year contract with Colorado on December 13, 2016, primarily to be the team’s first baseman. However, he has played both first base and outfield thanks in part to a solid season by first baseman Mark Reynolds.

Next: Previewing the Detroit-Colorado series at Coors Field

Desmond was brought back onto the active roster prior to Monday’s game while Raimel Tapia was sent back to Triple-A in a corresponding transaction. The move means that Tapia can not be brought back to the Rockies lineup for 10 days, even though roster expansion is set to begin on September 1.