Colorado Rockies Team Report

INSIDE PITCH The Rockies are hopeful shortstop Troy Tulowitzki will be ready to play Tuesday when they open a series with the visiting Astros. He didn't seem worried about leaving Sunday's game with an injury that brought back bad memories. Tulowitzki left the game with the Marlins in the top of the ninth with a left quadriceps injury. He pulled his quadriceps in the sixth inning when he attempted to field pitcher Aaron Cook's errant throw after Cook fielded a comebacker. Tulowitzki said he felt his quadriceps "tweak" when he made a sudden movement on Cook's throw to second base. "It happened when I was going full speed to the bag and had to stop and go the other direction," Tulowitzki said, "and I kind of tweaked it a little bit." Tulowitzki missed 47 games early last season when he tore his quadriceps tendon from the bone, an injury that hampered him the rest of the season. He said this latest injury is not nearly as severe as the one he suffered last year. "My (left) leg, obviously, is weaker than my other one," Tulowitzki said after the game. "So it's expected a little bit. But at the same time, it's sorer than normal. ... It doesn't do any good for me to try and go back out there and blow it out again, then miss two months." Tulowitzki has started to emerge from his early season slump, having raised his average from .198 after play Thursday to .237. He has three straight multi-hit games, along with seven RBI in his past seven games after none in his previous 17 games.NOTES, QUOTESRHP Taylor Buchholz, who is on the 60-day disabled list with a strained ligament in his right elbow he injured in spring training, rejoined the Rockies Sunday. He had been rehabilitating at the extended spring camp in Tucson, where he has thrown three bullpen sessions of 30-35 pitches, limited only to fastballs. Buchholz said he has thrown his curveball while playing catch. He hasn't thrown it hard but has made good progress. Buchholz, who was one of the best set-up men in the N.L. last year, might begin throwing simulated games by the end of the month but was unsure of any timeline for when he might rejoin the Rockies.The Rockies have used 27 different lineups in 30 games.The Rockies have not gone more than one game without a home run. They have played 29 games and are tied for second in the National League with 40 homers.1B Todd Helton's triple in his first at-bat Sunday was his first triple since June 5, 2007, when he tripled twice against the Astros. Helton, who is seven hits shy of 2,000, had his 11-game hitting streak end May 9. But in his past seven games, Helton is 11-for-27 with three doubles, a triple and a home run.When the Rockies took a 2-0 lead in the first inning Sunday, it was their first lead since May 6, when they beat the Giants 11-1 and ended a stretch of 27 innings without a lead.The Rockies could benefit from Dodgers LF Manny Ramirez's 50-game suspension for violating MLB's drug program, but manager Clint Hurdle didn't see it as a happy event. "The sad part is that for whatever reason, there are individuals who don't get it," Hurdle said. "It's sad to me as an ex-player and coach and now as a manager, there are so many guys who are clean and they are thrown under a black cloud. It's even sadder to me as a parent who has a daughter who relies on human growth hormones to have people not understand the impact and value." Hurdle's daughter, Madison, who turns 7 in August, was born with Prader-Willi Syndrome, a genetic disorder that can create low muscle tone, developmental delays, morbid obesity, cognitive disabilities and behavior problems. BY THE NUMBERS: 54 Career wins for RHP Aaron Cook, who had been tied for second place in franchise history with Pedro Astacio and now needs four victories to reach 58 and tie Jason Jennings for the most Rockies wins all-time.QUOTE TO NOTE: "I sleep in it a lot. Until I have to (use the bathroom). And then I get up. It definitely takes away from of the soreness. It definitely doesn't hurt. And I do anything I can to help." 1B Todd Helton, 35, on the hyperbaric chamber he has been using since his back surgery in late September.ROSTER REPORTRHP Huston Street earned his fourth save and the 98th of his career Sunday. He has made seven consecutive scoreless appearances dating to April 26, a span of six innings in which Street has allowed three hits and one walk with six strikeouts.RHP Matt Daley, 26, an undrafted player out of Bucknell who made his major league debut April 25, has not been scored upon in six of his seven outings. He has allowed three hits and one run in seven innings overall for a 1.29 ERA, and no runs and one hit in four scoreless innings at Coors Field. Daley pitches from a crouch and steps toward third base, giving him something of a crossfire approach to right-handed batters. "The one thing he's showed us is guts," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's not short there. He throws strikes and pounds the zone. He's handled left-handers well (they're 1-for-12 and right-handed hitters are 1-for-10). He's become a piece out there late to put into a game when we have a lead."IF Ian Stewart is hitting .194 with four homers, 13 RBI and 22 strikeouts in 67 at-bats. Stewart took three called third strikes Saturday and then pinch hit Sunday and was called out on strikes. "It's been an ongoing conversation with Stew about swinging the bat and staying on the fastball," said manager Clint Hurdle, adding the topic was discussed last year and that he and hitting coach Don Baylor individually and jointly have discussed the matter with Stewart this season. "Strikeouts are part of the game. They're easier to live with when you're swinging; you're swinging at strikes and you're firing the barrel. The bat's in his hands." MEDICAL WATCH: INF Jeff Baker (sprained left wrist) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 27. LHP Franklin Morales (strained left shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list April 22. He threw a bullpen session May 9. RHP Ryan Speier (strained left hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 19. He threw a bullpen session April 27. RHP Taylor Buchholz (partial tear in right ulnar collateral ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 22. The Rockies are being very cautious with Buchholz, trying to make sure the partial tear doesn't become a full-blown one and require Tommy John surgery that would sideline Buchholz for about a year. LHP Jeff Francis (left shoulder surgery in February 2009) went on the 60-day disabled list April 5. He likely will miss the entire season. Recovery time ranges from six to 12 months, meaning it's possible Francis could pitch in September but not very likely. ROTATION: RHP Aaron Cook RHP Ubaldo Jimenez RHP Jason Marquis LHP Jorge De La Rosa RHP Jason Hammel BULLPEN: RHP Huston Street (closer) RHP Manuel Corpas LHP Alan Embree LHP Glendon Rusch RHP Jason Grilli RHP Matt Belisle RHP Matt Daley CATCHERS: Chris Iannetta Yorvit Torrealba INFIELDERS: 1B Todd Helton 2B Clint Barmes SS Troy Tulowitzki 3B Garrett Atkins INF Omar Quintanilla INF/OF Ian Stewart OUTFIELDERS: LF Seth Smith CF Ryan Spilborghs RF Brad Hawpe OF Dexter Fowler OF Matt Murton