MEDIA CLIPS – April 6, 20172017/04/06  · in Philadelphia on Aug. 14. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a mid -back strain after that game. MEDIA CLIPS – April 6,

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Balk irks Chatwood more than home run balls By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | @harding_at_mlb | April 5th, 2017 MILWAUKEE -- Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood often directs ire at himself when he feels he deserves it.

Interestingly, Chatwood was poker-faced after giving up an Eric Thames solo homer in the fourth inning and a Travis

Shaw homer two batters later on almost an instant replay -- left-handed hitter crushing a 95-96 mph fastball into the right-

field seats.

But it was the last of the four runs he yielded Wednesday in six innings of the Rockies' 6-1 loss to the Brewers at Miller

Park, that had him screaming and clenching his fist.

It wasn't the double through the box by Hernan Perez. It was the goofy-looking balk on a pickoff throw that put Ryan

Braun in scoring position. Chatwood stepped toward first, but the ball didn't come out for a second or so. His lob wasn't

enough to dissuade umpires from calling the infraction.

"I had a changeup grip, and when I went to throw, the ball knocked my glove out of my hand," Chatwood said. "You're not

happy about that, especially when you're trying to keep us in the game. That stupid mistake cost us another run."

Otherwise, Chatwood took the seven-hit, five-strikeout performance in stride, even though based on last year it was an

unusual event.

Chatwood posted a 1.69 road ERA last year in 80 innings. The only time he coughed up four runs was a four-inning outing

in Philadelphia on Aug. 14. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a mid-back strain after that game.

MEDIA CLIPS – April 6, 2017

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With the exception of the two pitches to Thames and Shaw on Wednesday, it was a solid outing, and Chatwood

understood that. Chatwood didn't think the two four-seam fastballs were as bad as they ended up looking when they

reached the seats.

"The pitch to Thames, it was up and in, kind of where I wanted to throw it," Chatwood said. "He got to it. The pitch was in

to Shaw, he just beat me. He just got it, caught it out front."

Thames and Shaw were two of the four Brewers who swung from the left side. Another, switch-hitting Jonathan Villar,

homered off righty reliever Jordan Lyles for two runs in the eighth.

"Chatwood is a tough pitcher, and he's especially tough on [right-handers]," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "Braun

was coming back from facing him and said, 'That guy has a live fastball. That's a tough fastball.' The left-handed hitters

got a little better look at it tonight. It is just balance. That's what it is. It is balance to your lineup."

Rockies manager Bud Black said Chatwood generally pitched well. He climbed as high as 97.5 mph in the fourth inning,

and even with the misfortunate pitches worked six innings to give a rest to a bullpen that was used heavily as the Rockies

won the first two games of the four-game set.

"A couple balls he got up in the zone, over the plate, and in this park if you hit the ball up in the air squarely it's got a

chance to go out," Black said. "Those guys who hit the homers are guys with power -- Thames and Shaw. And they got it

middle-in, up, and that was his downfall. Chatty's stuff was fine."

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CarGo's double play catches Arcia at the plate By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | April 5th, 2017

MILWAUKEE -- Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez achieved standout feats at both ends of a defensive play to rob the

Brewers of a run in the third inning of a 6-1 loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday night.

Orlando Arcia tripled off Rockies pitcher Tyler Chatwood with one out, and it seemed as if he'd score easily on

pitcher Wily Peralta's line drive to right.

However, Gonzalez, a three-time Gold Glove Award winner and a finalist last year, rushed forward to make a shoestring

catch. According to Statcast™, the drive had a 46 percent catch probability, meaning that's a hit more than half the

time.

Arcia tagged up at third, but Gonzalez beat him with a laser throw at the plate. Statcast™ did not pick up the miles per

hour, but the opportunity time was 3.3 seconds. That was plenty of time for the CarGo throw. Catcher Tony

Wolters apparently missed the tag, but Arcia never tagged home. Chatwood yelled for him to make sure Arcia was out.

"That's what you want to do when you're on the field -- play for your teammates, play for your pitcher, try to avoid runs,"

Gonzalez said. "We're capable of doing that. The first three games we've been showing some good defense in the infield

and the outfield, too."

The play kept the game scoreless at the time.

"You're not going to win every game, but if you have that mentality good things are going to happen," Gonzalez said.

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Chatwood struggles in Rockies' first loss By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | April 5th, 2017

MILWAUKEE -- With two starting pitchers on the disabled list before the Brewers banked a win, Wily Peralta's five

scoreless innings Wednesday represented just the sort of outing Milwaukee needed in a 6-1 victory over the Rockies at

Miller Park.

Not to mention what the outing meant to Peralta himself.

"This is a big season for me this year," said Peralta, who struggled so mightily last season -- beginning with a loss on

Opening Day -- that he spent more than two months in the Minors. "I wanted to make sure I started the season pretty

strong, because the last two years, I struggled in the first half."

Neftali Feliz recorded a one-out save in his Brewers debut. It was the 100th save of his career.

Brewers newcomers Eric Thames and Travis Shaw each homered for the first time, and Jonathan Villar added a two-

run shot in the eighth. The Rockies scored in the ninth on a two-out single by Mark Reynolds, avoiding what would have

been their first shutout loss in Milwaukee since 2000 -- the Brewers' final season at County Stadium.

Peralta touched 98.8 mph with his second pitch -- he threw only five pitches harder all of last season, according

to Statcast™ -- and scattered three hits and a walk, while striking out five before exiting at the 90-pitch mark. It marked a

continuation of Peralta's surge to end 2016, when he returned from a demotion to post a 2.92 ERA over 10 late-season

starts.

"He was pumped -- first game of the season, throwing 99, 98, and he was hitting spots," Rockies right fielder Carlos

Gonzalez said. "Normally, he's a guy that makes a lot of mistakes. Today, he was on a roll."

Peralta spent the early innings Wednesday dueling with Rockies starter Tyler Chatwood, who didn't allow a run through

the first three innings, but took Colorado's first loss after allowing four earned runs on seven hits in six innings.

pickoff ends 6th

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Powerful introduction: Milwaukee general manager David Stearns signed first baseman Thames and traded for third

baseman Shaw because he desired some left-handed power for a righty-dominant lineup. Both newcomers delivered their

first Brewers homers in the fourth inning at Chatwood's expense -- Thames' towering home run for a 1-0 lead and Shaw's

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a two-run shot two batters later. For Thames, who spent the past three seasons mashing in the Korea Baseball

Organization, it marked his first Major League home run since Sept. 23, 2012.

"I'm just trying to show my teammates and the people of Milwaukee and Wisconsin that I'm here for a reason," Thames

said. "I'm here to do a job." More >

The gloves finally arrived: Disjointed would be a kind description of the Brewers' defense in the first two games, but

solid glove work helped reliever Carlos Torres deny the Rockies a big sixth inning. Torres walked Charlie

Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu to open the frame, but Thames dove to steal an RBI from Gonzalez and threw to second for

a forceout. Then, Nolan Arenado grounded into an inning-ending double play.

"It looked like a potential breakthrough there," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "CarGo hit a bullet, and somehow,

Thames made the play. But it was more about their pitching, and we couldn't solve it."

Said Brewers manager Craig Counsell: "That was a huge play. They really had something going if that ball gets through

with Arenado coming up."

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Chatwood led all Major League pitchers that compiled at least 80 innings with a 1.69 road ERA last season. The only time

he gave up four runs away from Coors Field last year was Aug. 14, when he yielded four in four innings. After that outing,

Chatwood was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a mid-back strain.

GONZALEZ MAKES SENSATIONAL PLAY

A sparkling play by Gonzalez in right field prevented a run in the third, when the game was scoreless. Gonzalez made a

shoestring catch on a Peralta line drive -- a 46-percent catch probability, according to Statcast™ -- then threw

out Orlando Arcia at the plate. Arcia nearly got his fingertips on home plate as he slid past, but missed by a couple of

inches. More >

WHAT'S NEXT

Rockies: Righty Antonio Senzatela, who was limited to seven starts last year at Double-A Hartford because of right

shoulder inflammation and the death of his mother in Venezuela, was one of two rookies to earn a rotation spot. He will

make his Major League debut against the Brewers at Miller Park on Thursday at 11:40 a.m. MT.

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Brewers: When Matt Garza's groin injury sent him to the 10-day disabled list, it opened a spot in the Brewers' rotation

for Chase Anderson, who will start Thursday's 12:40 p.m. CT series finale. Anderson authored a strong finish last

season, going 5-1 with a 2.56 ERA over his final 12 starts. However, he might have opened 2017 in the bullpen had

Garza not been sidelined.

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Senzatela parlays spring into MLB debut By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | @harding_at_mlb | April 5th, 2017

Antonio Senzatela smiles, his eyes twinkle, and he uses words like, "awesome," in a manner one would expect of a 22-

year-old about to do something big. Making his Major League debut Thursday afternoon against the Brewers and righty

Chase Anderson would qualify.

Senzatela, whose highest experience is seven starts at Double-A Hartford, won a rotation spot, with 21 strikeouts against

three walks in eight Spring Training games, because all that youthful expression disappears into cold precision on the

mound.

Senzatela's motion is so easy, there isn't even a strain in his face as he throws. Yet, his fastball sits at 95-96 mph and

climbs toward 98 on occasion, and he has a slider that induces ground balls and a swing-and-miss changeup. Senzatela

grew up in Valencia, Venezuela, following the Mariners' Felix Hernandez, and says he tried to copy the aggressive slider

of late Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez.

"I worked hard on it when I was younger -- I want to use all my power for my fastball and all my pitches," said Senzatela,

who went 41-19 with a 2.45 ERA in five Minor League seasons.

Anderson is in the rotation because veteran Matt Garza opened the season on the 10-day disabled list with a right groin

injury. Anderson spent all of last season in Milwaukee's rotation and finished strong. He was 5-1 with a 2.56 ERA in his

final 12 starts.

"I'm excited to be part of the rotation again, and I'm looking forward to a more consistent season this year from start to

finish," he said. "That's the goal I'm setting for myself."

Three things to know:

• Anderson will try to start hot for the second straight season. Last year, he became the first Brewers pitcher since Earl

Stephenson in 1972 to allow no earned runs in his first two starts with the team. Anderson joined the Brewers from the D-

backs in a trade.

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• In the first two games of the series with the Brewers, the Rockies' Greg Holland became the first closer in club history to

convert saves in each of a season's first two games.

• The homer the Brewers' Eric Thames hit off Rockies righty Tyler Chatwood in the fourth inning Wednesday was his first

Major League homer since Sept. 23, 2012 -- for the Mariners off the Rangers' Ryan Dempster. Thames spent three

seasons in Korea.

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Rockies’ fireballer Antonio Senzatela, 22, “excited, not nervous” for MLB debut Senzatela went 4-1 with a 1.82 ERA over seven starts last season at Double-A Hartford By Patrick Saunders / Denver Post | April 5th, 2017

MILWAUKEE — Bud Black is not going to lie. When he made his big-league pitching debut with Seattle on Sept. 5, 1981

at Boston’s Fenway Park, at age 24, it was a really big deal.

“My knees were shaking,” the Rockies manager recalled with a laugh.

When Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela, 22, makes his major league debut Thursday afternoon at Miller Park

against the Brewers he doesn’t foresee a battle of nerves.

“I’m not nervous, I’m excited,” he said Wednesday. “Maybe tomorrow, but I think I’m going to sleep good.”

Senzatela is embracing the moment he’s been chasing since he was a kid growing up Valencia, Venezuela. He started

playing baseball at age 4 as a third baseman and became a pitcher when he was 15.

“When I was 15, I thought I could do this,” he said. “I would watch games on TV and said, ‘I want to be there. I can do

this.’ ”

It helped the dream that he could throw 86 miles per hour at age 15 and 92 by age 16.

Senzatela, now armed with a 95-96 mph fastball that he throws with an easy motion, as well as a razor-sharp slider, has

never pitched above Double-A, and even that experience is limited. He went 4-1 with a 1.82 ERA over seven starts last

season at Double-A Hartford, but missed time because of a shoulder strain.

Fellow Venezuelan Carlos Gonzalez believes Senzatela can be better than Jhoulys Chacin, who made his debut at age

21 and ranks eighth in Rockies history with 38 victories.

“Antonio reminds me a lot of Chacin when he was coming up,” Gonzalez said. “He knows how to pitch, and he has a

great fastball. I think he’s got a better fastball even than Chacin had. Now the thing is, Senzatela has to make sure and

learn how to take care of his body and his arm to be a successful pitcher for a long time. Chacin was a kid who came up

with a big arm and a bright future, but he battled some injuries and it cost him some time.”

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Bullpen plan. At some point this season, Black will call on closer Greg Holland, or another reliever, to pitch in three

consecutive games, but that’s not going to happen early in the season. Holland pitched in both of the Rockies’ first two

games, recording a save in each.

“A reliever’s mentality is to be ready every night,” Black said before Wednesday night’s game. “So often guys pride

themselves in that aspect, to be able to pitch three in a row, or even four in a row. But early in the year it doesn’t make

sense for that to happen.”

Injury updates. Lefty Chris Rusin (strained oblique) is scheduled to throw a rehab game on Thursday for Triple-A

Albuquerque. He won’t start, but the Rockies hope he will throw about 45 pitches…Veteran right-hander Chad

Qualls (right forearm strain) threw a bullpen in Arizona on Wednesday and will rejoin the team Saturday in Denver and will

then throw another bullpen. After that, he could begin a rehab assignment….Right-hander Jairo Diaz, returning from

Tommy John surgery, is throwing bullpens at extended spring but is closing in on a minor-league rehab assignment.

Looking ahead …

Rockies RHP Antonio Senzaleta, making his major league debut, at Brewers RHP Chase Anderson (9-11, 4.39 ERA in

2016), 11:40 a.m. Thursday, ROOT; 850 AM

Senzatela is not the youngest pitcher in Rockies history, but at age 22 he certainly qualifies as a “Kid Rock.” But the thing

is, Senzatela doesn’t act young or pitch young. His mid- to upper-90s fastball gives him plenty of confidence. Still, it will be

interesting to see how he reacts in his first big-league game. He spent the 2016 season with Double-A Hartford, going 4-1

with a 1.82 ERA in seven starts. A shoulder injury limited his workload. Anderson peaked at the end of last season for

Milwaukee, finishing 5-1 with a 2.56 ERA over his last 12 starts. He is 3-3 with a 5.30 ERA in 10 career starts against

Colorado.

Friday: Dodgers LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-1, 11.57 ERA in 2016) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (MLB debut), 2:10 p.m., ROOT Saturday: Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 1.29 in 2017) at Rockies RHP Jon Gray (0-0, 11.25 in 2017), 6:10 p.m., ROOT Sunday: Dodgers RHP Kenta Maeda (0-1, 5.40 in 2017) at Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (1-0, 7.94 ERA in 2017), 1:10 p.m., ROOT

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Rockies’ Tyler Chatwood finds rough road in Milwaukee as Brewers romp A double by Trevor Story followed by Mark Reynolds’ RBI single in the ninth prevented the shutout By Patrick Saunders / Denver Post | April 5th, 2017

MILWAUKEE — Tyler Chatwood felt perfectly at home on the road last season, sporting a big-league best 1.69 ERA.

But Wednesday night at Miller Park, Milwaukee made Chatwood feel like a most unwelcome guest, beating the Rockies 6-

1, dropping them to 2-1 on the young season.

Not that Chatwood pitched terribly — he gave up four runs on seven hits and struck out five in six innings — but three big

swings put him on the canvas.

“There were a couple of balls that he got up in the zone, over the plate. And in this park, if you hit the ball in the air

squarely, it has a chance to go out. And that’s what happened,” manager Bud Black said.

It didn’t help Colorado’s cause that it was unable to generate any offense against Brewers flame-throwing starter Wily

Peralta. Indeed, the Rockies managed only five hits all night and never seriously threatened until the ninth.

“He was pumped, the first game of the season,” Carlos Gonzalez said of Peralta. “He was throwing 99, 98 consistent, and

he was hitting spots. Normally he’s a guy who makes a lot of mistakes, (but) today he was on a roll.”

A double by Trevor Story followed by Mark Reynolds’ RBI single in the ninth prevented the shutout, and the Rockies

loaded the bases on a walk and a hit batter, but closer Neftali Feliz struck out Charlie Blackmon to end it.

Chatwood was cruising along until the fourth inning when Eric Thames launched a one-out, 415-foot solo homer to right-

center field to break a 0-0 tie. Then Ryan Braun reached on a swinging bunt single down the third-base line and Travis

Shaw took Chatwood’s 1-0 pitch deep to right for a two-run homer.

Milwaukee extended its lead to 4-0 in the sixth, combing a walk by Braun, a balk by Chatwood and an RBI double by

Hernan Perez. Milwaukee iced the game with a two-run homer by Jonathan Villar off reliever Jordan Lyles in the eighth.

Boxscore: Milwaukee 6, Colorado 1

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“The only thing I’m mad about is that balk that led to that last run,” Chatwood said. “The (first) homer was up and in, where

I wanted it, and then Shaw was up and in and he just beat me. … He caught it out front.”

Chatwood, charged with four earned runs, gave up that many on the road only once last season, in a 7-6 loss at

Philadelphia on Aug. 14. He was forced to leave that game in the fourth inning because of mid-back spasms that landed

him on the disabled list.

Peralta mastered the Rockies for five scoreless innings, striking out five and walking only one. He was lifted because his

pitch count hit 90.

Colorado got as far as second base only once off Peralta, on Reynolds’ leadoff double in the third. But Reynolds was

erased at third base, making a baserunning error by trying to advance on a ball hit to Orlando Arcia at short.

Colorado started a mini-rally in the sixth against reliever Carlos Torres when Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu drew back-to-

back walks to open the inning. The rally fizzled when Gonzalez grounded into a fielder’s choice to first and Nolan Arenado

grounded into a double play.

The Rockies did have something to add to their 2017 highlight reel. In the third, Gonzalez sprinted in on Peralta’s sinking

liner to right, made a shoe-top catch and came up throwing. Arcia, tagging up from third, was thrown out at plate. Arcia

made a nice slide, but his hand missed the plate by inches. Catcher Tony Wolters, after some on-field instructions from

Chatwood, scrambled back to make the tag on Arcia.

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Rockies prospect Antonio Senzatela makes major league debut in series finale vs. Brewers Senzatela has made just seven starts above A-ball; he’ll face major league hitters on Thursday By Adam Peterson / Purple Row | @playerTBNL | Apr 6, 2017

One of the big surprises to come out of spring training for the Rockies was the rise of Antonio Senzatela. The right

handed pitching prospect quickly ascended from being just another prospect in major league camp to potential rotation

candidate, to, with the absence of Chad Bettis, Colorado Rockies fourth starter. He’ll be making his major league debut

today. Here’s how the 22-year-old from Venezuela has made his way to the majors.

Antonio Senzatela (No. 10 PuRP) was signed by the Rockies as an international free agent in 2011 for $250,000. That’s

not exactly a huge price tag in the international market, but when a 16-year-old is throwing 92 mph, you try to make

room for him. He made his first PuRPs list in the fall of 2012 at age of 17 after posting a 0.72 ERA in 622⁄3 innings in the

Dominican Summer League. He continued to climb the rankings and has been a top ten PuRP since our midsummer

2015 list. That year, while being three years younger than league average, he posted a 3.10 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP, and

143 strikeouts against just 33 walks in 154 innings. Heading into 2016 expectations were high for Senzatela, and

many expected to see him rise quickly through Double-A.

Unfortunately, 2016 did not go quite according to plan for him. After a strong first game (6 IP, 1 R/ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 6 K, 89

pitches, 56 strikes), he had to leave his next start early due to shoulder tightness. He returned to the mound six weeks

later and made five starts between May 23 and June 15 and posted a 1.01 ERA and allowed four runs (three earned) on

20 hits and six walks with 21 strikeouts in 262⁄3 innings. He didn’t pitch again in 2016. At first it was due to a resurgence of

his shoulder injury, then it was due to bereavement leave, as he lost his mother to stomach cancer (Nick Groke has the

whole story here; take a few moments to read it for yourself).

Prospect evaluators are divided on Senzatela. Baseball Prospectus ranks him seventh in the system,

while FanGraphs left him off their top 24 Rockies prospects. Everyone agrees that the fastball is top notch, topping out

at 97 mph with a lot of lateral movement. His mid-80s slider “flashes plus,” according to BP, which means it’s there but

inconsistent, and his change-up and curveball are about average, though he rarely throws the curve.

But the Rockies certainly are high on him after an impressive spring training. He made eight appearances in Arizona,

though his last five were all starts, as the team tried to match him up against full major league lineups as he competed for

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the rotation. He allowed 16 runs (14 earned) in 271⁄3 innings, which is a little more than you’d like, but his 21:6 strikeout-to-

walk ratio was a good indicator. Beyond the results, the team liked what they saw. From Groke’s aforementioned profile:

“He’s definitely in the running,” said Mark Wiley, the Rockies’ director of pitching operations. “He’s very under control. He

doesn’t get frustrated. He understands going pitch by pitch. If he throws a couple scuds, he can get himself back under

control.”

Clearly that emotional maturity made a big difference with the team. Couple that with his performance throughout the

minors and this spring, and we have a good idea of why the Rockies are going to trust the rookie with the ball today in

Milwaukee.

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How the Rockies’ rotation stacks up in the NL West How does the Rockies rotation compare to the rest of the division? By Eric Garcia McKinley / Purple Row | @garcia_mckinley | Apr 6, 2017

The Rockies’ hopes of contention could ultimately rely mostly on how well the team stacks up against their NL West

opponents. And those fights might come down to quality of starting pitching. At FiveThirtyEight, Chadwick Matlin and

Gus Wezerek measured the quality of each expected starting rotation for each division. The Rockies fall about where we

might expect: the middle. They’re rated better than the Padres and Diamondbacks but worse than

the Giants and Dodgers.

They used Pitcher Score to rate each member of the 30 league rotations. Pitcher Score is essentially a running

average of each player’s Game Score. Overall, the division average rates out 51 ( lowest team average is about 47 and

the highest about 56). By this measure, the NL West has the worst overall starting pitching in the majors. The AL East has

the best.

While the Rockies’ rotation rates third out of five, the team’s overall rotation is better than the divisional average. Not only

that, but three out of the Rockies’ five starters have Pitcher Scores on the right side of the division’s average. In other

words, this view of how the Rockies’ rotation stacks up is that it’s in the middle, but still better than average.

The NL West is a distinct division when it comes to starting rotations. While the Cubs have the best mark overall, the

Dodgers are just a smidge behind. The Padres are easily projected to be the worst rotation in baseball. The NL West has

the largest gap between the best and worst rotations, according to this analysis. The Rockies will face a wide range of

quality pitching in the 76 games against the NL West this season.

FiveThirtyEight.com

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One thing to keep in mind about this analysis is that it’s not clear how FiveThirtyEight calculated the Pitcher Scores for

rookie pitchers. Neither Antonio Senzatela nor Kyle Freeland has a single major league Game Score yet, so their Pitcher

Scores either come from projections or minor league starts. Either way, it doesn’t align with the way other pitchers receive

their scores.

But it also means that the Rockies rate out at above average almost solely on the strength of Jon Gray, Tyler Anderson,

and Tyler Chatwood (there’s no need to worry about any of them yet). Ultimately, they’ll be the most critical parts of

the rotation. Freeland and Senzatela have a chance to give them a boost with quality rookie seasons, but even if they

disappoint, it doesn’t seem like they risk sinking the team. It’s dicey to have a rotation full of so many young arms, but

there might be less pressure on the two most inexperienced parts of it than at first blush.

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Rockies prospect Riley Pint brings his 100 mph fastball to Asheville The Asheville Tourists begin their season in the SAL on Thursday, featuring interviews with Riley Pint, Tyler Nevin and pitching coach Ryan Kibler. By Charlie Drysdale / Purple Row | Apr 6, 2017

The Rockies Single-A team is loaded with young pitching prospects this season, and one in particular is turning heads.

Phenom Riley Pint (No. 3 PuRP) was clocked at 102 mph this spring and showing why Colorado chose him No. 4 overall

in the 2016 draft.

It actually wasn’t in the plans for 19-year-old Pint to begin the season in Asheville as the organization didn’t want to rush

him. Pitching coach Ryan Kibler admitted though that Riley forced their hand in speeding up his development.

“He came to spring training almost as a new guy,” shared Kibler. “Big misses were gone, he was throwing more strikes,

still keeping the same big stuff. To watch his progression and to watch him grow, and watch him get better, it’s happened

really fast. Seems like he pretty much pitched his way onto this team in spring training. So that tells you exactly what kind

spring and what kind of development this kid has been through in a short amount of time.”

The righthander has ‘big-big stuff’ as Kibler puts it, with a fastball that sits at 100 mph and possibly more. The rumor going

through the team was that he’s capable of more and touched 104 during the spring, but speed isn’t what the Kansas

native cares about.

“To me it doesn’t even matter how hard I throw,” said Pint. “If I’m getting people out, then I’m doing alright.”

I asked Pint if he ever thinks about hitting Aroldis Chapman-like numbers on his fastball and he replied, “I don’t really

focus on trying to hit as hard as everybody says. I’m just working on being a better pitcher.”

Pint complements his fastball with a developing arsenal of pitches which includes a very good changeup, a solid curve

and a slider that’s still a work in progress.

The rotation for Asheville has the potential to be special. In addition to Pint, they have two young Dominican league

players in Erick Julio and Antonio Santos to keep an eye on. Ryan Kibler was gushing about Santos in particular, “He’s

the best pitcher in this league and nobody knows about him yet. Throws 95 consistently with a good-good curve and an

excellent change. Keep an eye on him, because he’s going to be special.”

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Both Pint and Santos are big guys at 6-foot-3 or taller and filled out, weighing in well above 200 lbs. Erick Julio is another

pitcher with potential, while he doesn’t have the size of the other two, he’s listed generously at 6-foot-2 and weighing in at

190 lbs. Julio has a complete arsenal of pitches and is a joy to watch as he throws a bullpen session with incredible

movement and control.

Signed for $700,000 out of Colombia back in 2013, Julio had a solid in Boise last season carving out a 4.05 ERA after

recovering from a shoulder injury which caused him to miss all of 2015. While Julio’s peripheral numbers don’t necessarily

jump off the page, he has a career strikeout rate of just 6.1 K/9, he has the stuff to watch.

“Julio is the No. 1 based on the season he put up last year,” said Kibler about his ace starter. “Opening night on the road

is not going to wow him. (He’s a) confident kid who knows how to slow the game down. He’s the guy you want as your

opening day starter.”

The lineup is headlined by third baseman Tyler Nevin (No. 23 PuRP), selected by the Rockies in the first round of the

2015 draft. Nevin missed most of 2016 with a hamstring injury that occurred early in the year. After rehabbing most of the

summer, he was assigned to Short-season Boise only to re-injure the same muscle after just one game. The injury wasn’t

as severe the second time, but the Rockies chose to err on the side of caution and shut him down for the season.

Nevin is a big bat in the lineup and will split time between third and first base. If his name sounds familiar that’s because

he’s the son of former Padre Phil Nevin. I asked Tyler what it was like playing baseball under the shadow of a player with

credentials like his dad.

“To be honest it’s not really too much of a shadow and it’s not because his accomplishments weren’t great, because they

were, he was a great player,” explained Tyler. “He’s the person I look up to the most in this world. But it’s because he

never gave me that sense that I needed to be good at baseball.”

“I never felt like I needed to live up to what he did because he was so supportive in anything I wanted and he was never

hard on us (including Tyler’s brother and sister) for not doing well. He just wanted us to have fun. As long as what we

were doing made us happy, he was more than happy to let us do it. There’s never really been much of a shadow. I just

enjoy playing baseball, it just happens to be the sport that he played.”

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Tyler’s background gives him an advantage as he often has the opportunity to work out with his Dad, who is also a coach

for the San Francisco Giants. He spent this past offseason living with his dad in Scottsdale and used every opportunity

to tap into his knowledge.

The California native had a league average 100 wRC+ in the Pioneer league a couple of years ago, even though he was

nearly three years younger than the average hitter. During that time, Tyler showed a strong awareness of the strike zone,

posting an on-base percentage 100 points higher than his average. His power has yet to develop, but he’s also put on 20

lbs since I last saw him play in rookie Short-season ball, something which should translate into more home runs.

Third base will be an especially hot corner for the Tourists with Nevin switching off with Colton Welker (No. 19 PuRP), the

Rockies 4th round selection in last year’s draft. Welker had a breakout season in Grand Junction batting .329 with 22

XBH’s and will be at least two years younger than the average hitter in the South Atlantic League.

Baseball in Asheville is always an exciting time, as players begin to establish themselves in the lower minors as solid

prospects and begin to move up in the organization. Asheville’s season starts in on Thursday, April 6 at 6:05 PM eastern

time against the Hagerstown Suns.

Additional media: To hear more from the interviews, listen below and yes I do call Nolan Arenado one of the best ‘third

basemans’ in baseball. Feel free to laugh at my expense. Photo gallery below as well.

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The 100 Greatest Colorado Rockies: No. 41 Brian Bohanon By Ben Macaluso / Rox Pile | Apr 6, 2017

We continue our look at the top 100 Colorado Rockies of all time in this article. Here, we look at No. 41 on our list, Brian

Bohanon.

Brian Bohanon may look like what Babe Ruth would have looked like if he continued to pitch his entire career but he

actually has more in common with the Rockies best, Todd Helton.

Bohanon is an avid hunter. He described patience as a similarity between pitching and hunting. In an interview with

ESPN, he said if you have a bad day, ‘you go back and get him the next day.’ Bohanon made a career out of this

mentality.

He was drafted in the first round of the 1987 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers. He debuted in 1990 and played five years

in Arlington. He had an ERA more than 6.00 twice, near 5.00 twice, and a 7.23 ERA his last year for the Rangers. The

sailing didn’t get easier when he moved to Detroit (5.54 ERA) and Toronto (7.77 ERA).

Things started to trend in the right direction when he moved to the Mets (average 3.49 ERA) and the Dodgers (2.40 ERA).

This upward trend bought Bohanon time as one of the Rockies starters. The most games Bohanon ever started was 18

before he got to Colorado. His first year with the Rockies he started a career high 33 games.

The growing pains showed. Bohanon had a 6.20 ERA his first year in Colorado in 1999. He did have a 12-12 record

though and he pitched 197.1 innings. His 3.1 WAR was very telling of Rockies pitching at the time. He matched the same

WAR value the next year.

Bohanon played his last season in 2001 after a down year with the Rockies, but his career arc was complete. He only got

better with time. He learned from his mistakes and got back at them the next day. Advice we can all implement in our own

lives.

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Colorado Rockies: Two 2016 Negatives Suddenly Positives in 2017 By Ben Macaluso / Rox Pile | Apr 6, 2017

Two games into the season may not be the greatest sample size, but there seems to be something magical happening

under Bud Black’s watch as the leader of the Colorado Rockies.

After back-to-back wins in Milwaukee to open the campaign, the Rockies are the only 2-0 team in the National League

and sit atop the division standings. All four of the other NL West squads are at 1-1.

It’s just the fifth time in Colorado’s 25-year history that the team has started off 2-0. That, in itself, is pretty cool if you’re in

the Mountain time zone. However, it’s how the team has won both of their games in Milwaukee that has Colorado fans

waking up a little more giddy than usual on Wednesday.

Two of the team’s biggest weaknesses from last season, the bullpen and Gerardo Parra, have actually become strengths

and paced the Rockies to their back-to-back victories.

Parra, who served as a piñata for us and plenty of other members of the Rockies media last season with his less-than-

spectacular statistics, is showing that a renewed attitude and good health that we saw in spring training wasn’t just an

illusion.

The 29-year-old Parra, manning left field with David Dahl sidelined with an injury, is 5-for-9 with four RBI through the

season’s first two games. He had just 39 RBI in 368 at-bats last season.

While the seemingly rejuvenated Parra is pacing the Colorado offense, the revamped bullpen has been nothing short of

spectacular against the Brewers.

Six different Colorado relievers have combined to allow just two hits and no runs in 8.1 innings of work spanning the first

two games of the season. Mike Dunn, acquired from Miami in the offseason, has struck out five in two innings. Greg

Holland, the former All-Star closer coming off Tommy John surgery, has gotten the first two saves of the season with

consecutive scoreless ninth innings.

They pace a bullpen that is not only renewed but seemingly confident in their abilities. After Colorado relievers were at the

bottom of Major League Baseball last season with a 5.13 ERA, it appears to be a new era in the pen.

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Sure, critics will say it’s just two games. However, there’s an energy coming from this team that hasn’t been felt in LoDo in

years. It’s also a team that is not only missing Dahl, but also offensive weapons in Ian Desmond and Tom Murphy. The

Colorado squad taking the field tonight at Miller Park could look completely different by the time the end of the April

arrives.

There is a lot to be excited about with this year’s Colorado Rockies. Watching two of 2016’s negatives turn into positives

in 2017 only adds to that excitement.

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The youngest of the Rockies’ starters, Senzatela set for MLB debut By MHS Staff / Mile High Sports | April 6, 2017

When it comes to their starting rotation, the Colorado Rockies are going with a full-on youth movement. The average age

of their starters is only 24.8. The baby of the group is 22-year-old Antonio Senzatela.

On Thursday, Senzatela will make his MLB debut when he takes the mound against the Milwaukee Brewers. Not only has

he never pitched in the majors, he has never pitched above Double-A. Still, the young flamethrower is unfazed.

“I’m not nervous, I’m excited,” Senzatela said (via the Denver Post).

After impressing in Spring Training, Senzatela found a spot in the Rockies’ rotation. His start was moved up a day,

allowing fellow rookie Kyle Freeland to make his MLB debut in his hometown when he takes the mound at Coors Field on

Friday.

Last season, Senzatela made his Double-A debut. He was sensational in a limited sample size, starting seven games and

posting an ERA of 1.82, while striking out 27 in 34.2 innings. He missed the majority of the campaign due to a shoulder

injury and a stint on the bereavement list after the death of his mother.

Senzatela boasts a strong fastball that tops out at 97 mph with movement, and an improving slider.

First pitch on Thursday is scheduled for 11:40 a.m. MT. The game can be seen on ROOT SPORTS.

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Colorado Rockies release veteran relief pitcher Jason Motte By MHS Staff / Mile High Sports | April 5, 2017 The Colorado Rockies have unconditionally released right-handed relief pitcher Jason Motte, the team announced on

Wednesday.

Motte, who is still owed $5 million, had a forgettable Spring Training with the Rockies. He posted an 8.31 ERA in nine

appearances in the Cactus League this year. He was designated for assignment on March 31. Last season, the 34-year-

old appeared in 30 games for the Rockies and had a 4.94 ERA.

Prior to the move, the Rockies had a surplus of right-handers in the bullpen. The only two lefties they have are Jake

McGee and Mike Dunn, the remaining six are righties, paving the way for the Motte’s release.

Motte, a nine-year pro, is now free to sign with any team. In addition to the Rockies, he played one year with the Chicago

Cubs and seven in St. Louis with the Cardinals.

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Kyle Freeland ready for ‘exciting’ Major League debut in hometown By Aniello Piro / Mile High Sports | April 5, 2017 Colorado Rockies prospect Kyle Freeland received the joyful news that he would be starting the club’s home opener in his

home state, making for a dream come true for the 23-year-old Thomas Jefferson High school alumnus.

Freeland will start the Rockies’ first home game of the season Friday afternoon against the division rival Los Angeles

Dodgers.

“It’s an honor to be able to be called upon to play for your hometown team,” Freeland said via conference call. “It’s been

[a] really exciting few days.”

Freeland bounced around between the Rockies minor league affiliates last season; however, a strong spring was enough

to give Rockies manager Bud Black the confidence to make the decision to roll the Denver native out for the first

appearance at Coors Field of the young campaign. Emotions will surely be boiling as Freeland takes the mound for the

first time in his professional career.

“It’s going to be really exciting,” Freeland said. “Emotions are definitely going to be running high, but for me it’s just going

to be [about] staying focused on my task at hand, not letting any outside factors affect me, control my breathing and take

my breaths when I need them…It’s going to be very exciting and a lot of fun.”

Like every pitcher, there is a natural jitter before throwing in a game at elevation. That said, regardless of where he’s

pitching, Freeland understands that in order to be successful at the Major League level he will need to execute his pitched

accordingly.

“I’ve actually had the same thought with it [altitude] growing up in Colorado,” Freeland said. “You still have to execute

pitches. You still have to get the ball on the ground and get outs. I think if you have that mentality [while] pitching at Coors

Field, you’re going to have success, but I think people get away from it where sometimes they get a little scared or timid in

the fact that the ball flies a little bit there. You still have to go out there every day and execute pitches down in the zone.”

Pitching in the big leagues takes both mental and physical toughness. A pitcher’s best friend is the ability to have a clear

mind, something that will be essential for Freeland if he wants to continuously have success at the Major League level.

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“Doesn’t matter if it’s Double-A, rookie ball, Single-A, or your debut,” Freeland said. “You got to go out there and think it’s

just another game and execute your pitches.”

Freeland will join fellow rookie Antonio Senzatela in the backend of the Rockies’ rotation. With the addition of Freeland

and Senzatela, the rotation has morphed from old and sputtering too young and promising. With an average age of 24.8,

the Rockies have one of the youngest starting rotation in baseball.

The wait for Freeland is over, as his debut marks the beginning of what the Rockies are hopeful will be a long and

illustrious career.

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Gerardo Parra is off to a hot start for the Colorado Rockies By Aniello Piro / Mile High Sports | April 5, 2017 Colorado Rockies outfielder Gerardo Parra is off to a blazing start in 2017. Coming off of a down 2016 campaign in which

he hit .253 with just 39 RBIs, Parra vowed to return to form and help contribute more to the Rockies in 2017.

“I’m not thinking about that at all,” Parra said of last season, according to Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post “That was

last year. I have to move forward. I needed to lose the weight because I wasn’t running as well last year. Now, I’m starting

my baseball season with more agility and more flexibility. I’m excited.”

When the Rockies signed Parra to a three-year, $27.5 million contract prior to last season they knew they were getting

two things: A steady bat and defensive versatility. Parra, a career .275 hitter, struggled last season due to injuries and the

surge of rookie David Dahl. Now with the tables flipped and Dahl hurt, Parra is taking advantage of the bump in playing

time.

Already in the club’s first two games, Parra has five hits in his first nine at-bats, driving in four runs in the process. While

the sample size is extremely small, it does give hope that Parra can return to form and contribute regularly this season

which would only better the Rockies.

That said, manager Bud Black expects Parra to bounce back this season.

“My visual of Gerardo is of a guy who can play all three outfield positions, and we can move him to first base,” Black told

Saunders back at Spring Training. “At points in his career, he’s been a formidable offensive performer. He was able to

pop the ball out of the ballpark, hit for power, hit for average and make plays in the outfield. He had a good arm. He was a

good all-around player. So my expectation is to see that come back.”

A baseball season is a marathon. Over the course of 162 games, players go through slumps and streaks. The early

season tear Parra is on may certainly just be a fad; however, if he continues to stay hot at the plate it may force the hand

of Black to play him more often than expected when Dahl returns.

All in all, this is the exact start Parra needed to help reinforce his case to be an everyday starter for the Rockies.

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Antonio Senzatela thinking of mom on day of MLB debut By Drew Creasman / BSN Denver | April 6, 2017 When we met Antonio Senzatela at spring training a few weeks ago, he told us about two items he carries with him when

he pitches; his wedding ring, and a gold rosary for his mother who died last year of stomach cancer.

But momma Nidya Senzatela will be looking down on Miller Park today when her son makes his MLB debut at the ripe

age of 22-years-old. He faces the Brewers in an attempt to give the Colorado Rockies a 3-1 series win.

Of course, his mind may be on bigger things when he takes the mound this afternoon; he says he was very close with his

mother. “We always said I love you,” he recalls.

Senzatela is one of many members of the Rockies family who have been affected by cancer. There are others but those

that have been in the news include, of course, Chad Bettis and long-time radio broadcaster Jack Corrigan.

The team has been placing Bettis’ glove on the dugout during games, and the hashtag #TogetherForBettis should be

used with reckless abandon. But it’s also important to remember and honor those who lost their fight with this ugly demon.

Senzatela will have his rosary with him today, a very special day.

There are baseball implications about what is going to happen this afternoon. With other players in the mix, did the

Rockies really need to rush a kid who has only pitched 34.2 innings at the Double-A level and a big fat goose egg at

Triple-A? Is this the Eddie Butler situation or the Juan Nicasio fiasco (fiascio?) all over again? (Both of those players were

skipped straight from Double-A to MLB to let’s say … mixed … results.)

On the flip side, can he carry over his confidence which was practically oozing out of his pores at spring training? Can his

wicked fastball/curveball combo already play at this level? Will he be … dare we say it? … Senzational? Are we all going

to have to teach our phones that word?

All those questions are for another day. Today is a celebration. It’s a celebration of a young man’s triumphant return from

a tragic loss to fulfill his dream knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that no matter what happens from here on out,

momma is damn proud.

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From Fan to Fifth Starter: Freeland’s emotions running high heading into Rockies debut By Jake Shapiro / BSN Denver | April 5, 2017 “Coming into the stadium, the sights, the smells, the sounds and everything, I mean I can remember it like it was

yesterday.”

It’s one thing for a diehard Rockies fan to echo the sentiment of being blown away by a ballpark in all its beauty, it’s

another for your team’s fifth starter to be shouting the nostalgia to the media.

For good reason, Kyle Freeland is in a space emotionality right now that most of us only dreamt about being in when we

were 12-years-old. Coors Field, the Colorado Rockies, the Los Angeles Dodgers, you’re stepping out of the first-base

dugout just a few miles from your high school dugout. It’s the big stage, yet it’s occupied by the same audience who saw

you toe the rubber at Cornerstone Park off Bellevue in Littleton.

Freeland, the 2011 Thomas Jefferson High School graduate and 2014 Rockies first-round pick, will make his MLB debut

on Friday in his hometown of Denver, at the same ballpark that he can ‘remember coming to like yesterday.’ The lefty

grew up a Rockies fan, he’s never rooted for any other big league team. He may never have to.

“It’s going to be really exciting,” Freeland said over the phone from Milwaukee. “It’s an honor to be able to be called upon

to play for your hometown team. It’s been (a) really exciting few days.”

Many baseball fans just dream about going to Opening Day—heck I’ve been a fan for decades and last year was my

first—Freeland has never been himself. His first Opening Day cheering on his team, he’ll get to experience that as his

favorite team’s starting pitcher.

“I just kind of smiled and was extremely happy,” Freeland recalled first hearing the news. “It doesn’t happen too often, I

had a ton of emotions hearing that’d I’d be pitching in the home opener in my hometown. I didn’t have words for it.”

Freeland will become just the fifth Coloradan to wear the purple pinstripes.

“My emotions are going to be running high,” the rookie said. “But for me, it’s going to be staying focused on the task at

hand. I’m not letting any outside factors affect me. Control my breathing and take my breaths when I need them.”

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Once an admirer of Todd Helton, Larry Walker, The Blake Street Bombers, Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook, he’ll be

getting his name announced by Reed Saunders as he walks out of the dugout—the same person who announced

the Rocktober club, who Freeland watched play as a freshman in high school—alongside Carlos Gonzalez, Nolan

Arenado and others that Freeland once had to pay to see.

“It’s a rare opportunity to have and I’m very grateful for it,” the former TJ Spartan said. “The emotions on Friday I’m sure

they’ll hit hard, it’s such a cool thing to be able to do, it really is.”

Freeland isn’t just stepping to the mound from a clubhouse that he always wanted to be in, he’s essentially going from

catching batting practice homers in the left field pavilion bleachers to throwing the first pitch of 2017 at 20th and Blake.

“The concourse you walk out and see the field and you think it’s the biggest thing you’ve seen in your life,” Freeland said

remembering his days as a fan.

Picture how Coors Field will look to him as he climbs the five steps up from the Rockies dugout to the dirt, paces from the

warning track onto the grass, hops over the foul line and sets foot onto the infield grass then mound and subsequent

rubber. How big will the ballpark on Blake look to Freeland on Friday in that moment, in front of 50,000?

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Poor fundamentals on bases, at plate doom Rockies in first loss of 2017 By Drew Creasman / BSN Denver | April 5, 2017 A bad inning got to the Colorado Rockies starter for the third game in a row, but this time it cost them. Tyler

Chatwood looked mostly pretty good, but ended up getting tagged for four runs in an eery imitation of what Jon

Gray and Tyler Anderson had done the days prior. But this time, the offense wouldn’t bail the starter out and the bullpen

finally gave up some runs in a 6-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Brewers almost took an early lead in the bottom of the third but Orlando Arcia was gunned down at the home

by Carlos Gonzalez after he made a fantastic shoetop catch and fired a strike to the plate. Apparently, Arcia forgot the

main reason CarGo was nominated for a Gold Glove a year ago.

But the Rockies weren’t so fortunate in the fourth as Chatwood gave up a pair of no-doubt home runs to Eric

Thames and Travis Shaw who has been a thorn in Colorado’s side all series. The homers were sandwiched around

a Ryan Braun infield single and the Brewers to a 3-0 lead. The latter blast included Shaw’s fourth and fifth RBI of the early

season.

The Brew Crew tacked on a fourth run in the sixth with a little help from some poor fundamental play by the Rockies. First,

Chatwood walked Ryan Braun then balked him over to second which put him in a position to score on a Hernan

Perez double that would have been a single had anyone been covering second base.

Jordan Lyles worked easily through the seventh inning but gave up a two-run shot to Jonathan Villar who was trying to

atone for his negative play so far this series. That broke the Rockies bullpen’s scoreless streak and gave the Brewers a 6-

0 lead in the eighth.

Wily Peralta kept the Rockies off balance pretty effectively through his five innings. He allowed just three hits and one

walk while striking out five. His ability to locate the slider in the strike zone buckled the Rockies ability to sit on the fastball

which touched up to 98 mph.

But still, the Rockies beat themselves at the plate plenty in this game with over-aggressive swings and poor pitch

recognition. They tallied just five hits. Two for extra bases. One of those two extra-base hits was a ninth-inning double off

the bat of Trevor Story who came around to score on a two-out, two-strike single from Mark Reynolds who continues his

fantastic early-season play.

The Rox made it interesting in the final frame, loading Stephen Cardullo was hit by a pitch and Dustin Garneau walked.

Most notably, this forced Milwaukee to bring their closer, Neftali Feliz into the game with one more slated to play

32

tomorrow. They also took another reliever, Taylor Jungmann out of consideration for the final contest of the series by

forcing him to throw over 30 pitches. So there are your silver linings if you were looking for some.

All told, the Rockies really only had two offensive rallies in this game and failed to follow through on either. Milwaukee will

aim for a series split and Colorado will send 22-year-old Antonio Senzatela to the mound to make his MLB debut before

he ever even threw a pitch at the Triple-A level. First pitch at 11:40.

It could be a wild ride this season, but the fascinating stories are unlikely to see an end anytime soon.

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Kyle Freeland shares his favorite Rockies of all time By Drew Creasman / BSN Denver | April 5, 2017

If you grew up in Colorado — and if you haven’t heard, the Rockies starter for Friday’s home opener did — then you

probably have a favorite ballplayer who donned the purple pinstripes.

Some of these familiar faces have returned over the years. You could find Eric Young Sr. and Vinny Castilla at the

ballpark on any given day in 2016, and Ellis Burks returned to the team in an advisory role.

Depending on your age, the original Blake Street Bombers might be the the first group of guys that pops into your mind

when getting a bit nostalgic about baseball in Denver. Castilla and Burks and Andres Galarraga, and Dante Bichette.

But if you are a little on the young side, like 23-year-old Kyle Freeland who will be making his MLB debut in addition to

opening the season of baseball in Colorado, you might look a little later in Rockies history when walking down memory

lane.

“You can go down the list: [Todd] Helton. [Larry] Walker,” Freeland told the press on a conference call this afternoon. “[I

was a fan of] The Blake Street Bombers … to name a handful of them.’’ Weren’t we all?

But as Freeland grew up, and grew into his position, and starting watching the Rockies put together some successful

seasons in his Thomas Jefferson High School days, his fandom turned toward the mound.

“Loved watching Jeff Francis pitch, [Aaron] Cook pitch,” he said. And we seriously doubt it is a coincidence that those two

pitchers happened to toe the rubber for a team that went all the way to the World Series.

We have been fortunate enough to have a number of conversations with Freeland since he was drafted in 2014 and look

forward to continuing to cover his development as he hopes to add his name to the lists that Colorado kids, just like

himself, keep of their favorite Colorado Rockies players.

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Peralta, 3 HRs lift Brewers past Rockies 6-1 By Associated Press / ESPN.com | April 6, 2016 MILWAUKEE -- Colorado manager Bud Black gave Wily Peralta all the credit for the Milwaukee Brewers' latest win over

the Rockies.

Peralta pitched five effective innings, and Eric Thames, Travis Shaw and Jonathan Villar each homered to help the

Brewers beat the Rockies 6-1 Wednesday night.

"I think it was more him," Black said of Peralta. "You saw his fastball velocity and enough breaking pitches to keep us off

balance. As the game went on, he mixed in a changeup to our left-handed hitters."

Peralta threw 90 pitches, 56 for strikes.

"It was about velocity to pretty good spots at the top of the zone and breaking balls to disrupt our timing," Black said. "I

think it was more about him for five."

Peralta (1-0) allowed three hits, struck out five and walked one. He's already off to a better start than a year ago when he

lost his first three outings and struggled through 10 more before being demoted to Triple-A Colorado Springs. He pitched

effectively in his final 10 starts after being recalled, posting a 3-4 record with a 2.92 ERA.

"It feels good being able to have my velocity back, especially locating it," Peralta said. "Since coming back from Triple-A,

I've been able to define my mechanics and other stuff, and since then it's been good."

Thames hit a 3-1 pitch 450 feet to deep center and Shaw teed off on a 1-0 pitch for a two-run homer job off Tyler

Chatwood (0-1) in the bottom of the fourth. The Brewers added the left-handed hitting tandem to rebalance last season's

predominantly right-handed lineup.

Villar ended the Colorado bullpen's scoreless streak at 9 1/3 innings this season with a two-run shot in the eighth.

Neftali Feliz came on with two outs and the bases loaded and struck out Charlie Blackmon for his first save of the season

and the 100th of his career.

Carlos Torres pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh, working his way around three walks. Corey Knebel handled the

eighth.

Mark Reynolds had a run-scoring single off Taylor Jungmann in the ninth.

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"It was more about their pitching," Black said. "We just couldn't solve it."

Chatwood, who was 8-1 away from Coors Field and had a franchise-record 1.69 road ERA last season, allowed four runs

on seven hits over six innings. He walked one and struck out five in his first appearance at Miller Park.

Hernan Perez doubled home a run in the sixth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rockies: LHP Chris Rusin (right oblique strain) throws Thursday at Triple-A Albuquerque. "Hopefully, he'll get to 45

pitches," manager Bud Black said. The plan is to lengthen him out to three innings or the pitch count. ... RHP Chad

Qualls (right forearm tightness) threw a bullpen session in Arizona. He is scheduled to throw another one Saturday at

Coors Field with a rehab assignment to follow. ... RHP Jairo Diaz (recovering from Tommy John surgery) threw

Wednesday and briefly remains in an extended spring-training routine before his rehab assignment.

Brewers: INF/OF Nick Franklin was claimed off waivers Wednesday from Tampa Bay and takes the roster spot of

RHP Michael Blazek, who was designated for assignment. . Thames played for the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball

Organization the past three seasons and led the league with 40 home runs in 2016.

WHERE'S HOME?

Orlando Arcia's base-running blunder possibly cost the Brewers a run.

Arcia tripled and tried to score on Peralta's soft fly to right. Right fielder Carlos Gonzalez's throw home was late, but Arcia

slid past home. Chatwood, backing up the play, yelled at catcher Tony Walters to tag Arcia when he made no effort to

come back and touch the base.

"It was a good defensive play right there," Gonzalez said. "That's what you want to do when you're on the field. You want

to play for your teammates. You want to play for your pitchers. In the first three games, we've shown some good defense

in the infield and the outfield, too."

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP Antonio Senzatela makes his major-league debut. He spent the 2016 season with Double-A Hartford where

he went 4-1 with a 1.82 ERA in seven starts. This spring, he was 0-4 with a 4.61 ERA in eight games (five starts).

Brewers: RHP Chase Anderson makes his first start of the season. He went 9-11 (ERA 4.39) in 31 games (30 starts) last

season. He is 3-3 with a 5.30 ERA in 10 career starts against the Rockies.