Diamondbacks and Rockies rained out, doubleheader Wednesday


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DENVER (AP) — Arizona catcher Jordan Pacheco saw the spin on the breaking pitch and drove it to the deepest part of the hallway. He roared at his long home run.

Only, this was bottle-cap baseball in the area leading up to the dugout. It was the closest thing to real baseball being played at Coors Field on Tuesday.

And it might be the closest thing to any sort of baseball for a while in the Mile High City.

The Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies were postponed by rain for a second straight night. A traditional doubleheader was set for Wednesday — weather permitting, of course. Rain is in the forecast all week.

It's making everyone antsy.

"I don't mind one day off," Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado said. "Two, though, is frustrating."

This was the third straight home game washed away by soggy conditions for the Rockies. Colorado had its game against San Francisco postponed on April 26 before taking off on a road swing. The rain was waiting for the Rockies when they returned.

The last time Colorado was rained out in three straight at home was April 2005, according to information provided by the team from the Elias Sports Bureau.

"It messes with the routine a little bit," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "But the other team has to deal with it, too. It's not like there's a competitive advantage. You try to get your swings in and stick to your routine the best you can."

Or improvise.

Pacheco and some of his teammates had a little fun as the rain fell. A teammate was flipping the tops off water bottles at Pacheco, who was making solid contact with a makeshift bat.

Anything to pass the time.

On Monday, the teams waited around for 2 hours, 30 minutes, before the game was postponed. There was some debate that maybe the Rockies were tipped off long before the game was officially called. Arizona manager Chip Hale downplayed the situation.

"I don't think it was that long," Hale said. "It was probably 20 or 30 minutes. Wasn't that big of a deal."

This time, the game was called about 1 hour, 40 minutes, before the first pitch.

"It's hard (to stay loose)," Hale said. "The one thing that's good about today's game, the cages, weight rooms and training rooms are bigger. You can do a lot more warming up indoors."

The waiting might be hardest on the starting pitchers. Arizona right-hander Josh Collmenter (2-3) has been the scheduled starter since Monday. Same with Rockies left-hander Tyler Matzek (2-0).

Both will start the first game Wednesday.

"It's got to be hard. It's not easy," Hale said. "(Collmenter) is one guy we feel comfortable with being able to handle it the best. He's so easygoing and can make adjustments on the fly. We think he's OK doing this."

Weiss felt the same way about Matzek, even if he hasn't pitched since leaving his start April 27 at Arizona with a cramp in his left hamstring.

"Seven or eight days off between starts, probably not ideal," Weiss said. "I'm not too worried about it."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Diamondbacks: LHP Patrick Corbin (elbow) threw three innings and gave up two hits in an extended spring training game. He was throwing 92-95 mph. "Very encouraging," Hale said. "Very, very good." Hale said Corbin remains on track for a return in early June. ... Hale anticipates RHP Archie Bradley (fractured sinus) being ready by May 15. Bradley was placed on the disabled list April 29 after getting hit in the face with a line drive off the bat of Colorado slugger Carlos Gonzalez.

Rockies: With closer Adam Ottavino (elbow) possibly done for the season, Weiss said he's comfortable giving the job to John Axford. "He's got a slow heartbeat in the ninth inning," Weiss said. "He's got the weapons to get three of the toughest outs in the game."

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: LHP Robbie Ray will be called up from Triple-A Reno to start the second game of the doubleheader. Because he's not on the roster yet, Ray couldn't throw at Coors Field on Tuesday. Hale said Ray "went to a park or maybe out in the street" to get in some throwing.

Rockies: Game 2 starter Jordan Lyles (2-2, 4.25 ERA) took the loss when the Rockies played in Arizona last Wednesday. The right-hander is 1-3 with a 7.07 ERA in seven starts against Arizona.

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