The Colorado Rockies are dealing with an epidemic of walks, which, not surprisingly, has been very costly in two recent losses and has contributed to some very shoddy work recently by the bullpen. The Rockies issued 10 walks, one intentional, Sunday at Los Angeles and lost 11-5. Seven of those 10 walks were issued by relievers and five ended up scoring. On Tuesday at San Francisco, the Rockies managed to blow a save and win 5-4, despite issuing another 10 walks (one intentional). The bullpen was responsible for six walks, although just one of the 10 scored. Seeking a sweep of their two-game series with the Diamondbacks, the Rockies lost 9-7 on Thursday when closer Rafael Betancourt yielded a two-run homer with two out in the ninth. Rockies pitchers issued nine walks (one intentional), and four ended up scoring. Starter Juan Nicasio walked five and threw two wild pitches in 4 2/3 innings, departing after throwing 106 pitches, with just 57 strikes. He took a line drive on the right hip — a ball hit by Willie Bloomquist, the game’s second batter — and had trouble pushing off after that. Nicasio said he couldn’t help but think of Aug. 5 at Coors Field when he was struck on the right temple with a line drive and suffered a fractured skull and a broken C1 vertebrae. “You throw 100-something pitches in four innings, it’s bad,” Nicasio said. With Nicasio unable to make it through the five innings necessary to qualify for a win and leaving the game with a 3-1 lead, manager Jim Tracy had to go to the bullpen. He ended up using six relievers in a game the Rockies led 3-0 and 4-1 before giving up eight runs in the final four innings. After Betancourt gave up Upton’s homer, the Rockies loaded the bases with no outs against closer J.J. Putz but didn’t score when pitcher Alex White, forced to pinch hit, struck out and Ramon Hernandez grounded into a double play. After Nicasio left, Josh Outman struck out three in his one inning, but not before giving up a hit and a walk. Matt Belisle gave up four hits, a walk and a run in one inning. Josh Roenicke retired the one batter he faced, but Rex Brothers allowed two hits, two walks (one intentional) and four runs while retiring just two of the six batters he faced. Esmil Rogers, coming off a perfect 11-pitch, 11-strike inning Wednesday, gave up two run-scoring singles before putting an end to a four-run eighth. “We can’t pitch any worse than that,” Tracy said. In particular, Outman, Belisle and Brothers are struggling — and Rogers may be beyond that point. Outman, activated Saturday after beginning the season on the disabled list with a right oblique strain, has allowed three hits, three walks and five runs in two innings over three appearances. In Belisle’s past three appearances, he has a blown save and has yielded eight hits and two runs in 2 2/3 innings, with one walk and one strikeout. In those games, Belisle has inherited four runners and three have scored. Brothers seemed to turn the corner Monday at San Francisco when he walked the bases loaded in the eighth but escaped by striking out the next batter he faced. Brothers really hasn’t been right since he made a scoreless appearance with two strikeouts in the season opener April 6. In his past nine games, Brothers has pitched 5 1/3 innings with a blown save while allowing nine hits, seven runs and seven walks with seven strikeouts. Then there’s Rogers, who made a deceptive second straight scoreless appearance. In his past six games, Rogers has a loss, a blown save and has allowed nine hits and nine runs in 5 1/3 innings with four strikeouts. During that span, three of his five inherited runners have scored.

By PAT GRAHAM
AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP) – Justin Upton hit a two-out, two-run homer off closer Rafael Betancourt in the ninth inning to help the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies 9-7 on Thursday in a game that was briefly delayed by a swarm of bees.

Upton sent a 93-mph fastball from Betancourt (1-1) over the right field fence for his first homer in two weeks.

Willie Bloomquist and Ryan Roberts also drove in two runs apiece as the Diamondbacks won for the third time in 12 contests.

J.J. Putz escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth by getting Ramon Hernandez to hit into a game-ending 5-4-3 double play for his seventh save in nine chances.

The buzz surrounding this game, though, centered on the bees that invaded the stadium, taking over a camera bay next to the Rockies’ dugout in the fifth inning. They remained stuck to a railing until a beekeeper arrived an inning later to vacuum up the bees and relocate them.

Lately, Coors Field has resembled “Wild Kingdom,” with a squirrel scampering into the outfield grass the night before.

Troy Tulowitzki hit a two-run homer off starter Trevor Cahill and Jordan Pacheco added a solo shot to help stake the Rockies to an early 4-1 lead.

But it wouldn’t last. Bloomquist ignited a four-run eighth with an RBI single off Rex Brothers. Jason Kubel, Paul Goldschmidt and Roberts also added run-scoring singles.

The three-run cushion wouldn’t be enough as David Hernandez was roughed up in the eighth. He loaded the bases and then walked Dexter Fowler to bring in a run. Michael Cuddyer sent a chopper to Roberts, who booted the grounder to allow another run to score.

With the bases still full, Marco Scutaro drew another walk to tie the game at 7.

Brad Ziegler (2-1) relieved Hernandez and promptly gave up a sinking liner to pinch-hitter Wilin Rosario. But Upton made a sliding catch in right to quell the threat.

Gerardo Parra had a one-out double in the ninth and stole third. After Betancourt struck out Bloomquist, Upton drilled his fourth homer of the season.

Putz started out the ninth in rocky fashion, giving up singles to Carlos Gonzalez, Tulowitzki and Todd Helton. The Rockies sent pitcher Alex White to the plate to pinch hit for Betancourt and he took a called third strike on a 3-2 count.

Then, Hernandez hit a weak grounder to Roberts to end the threat.

Rockies starter Juan Nicasio had a scare in the first inning when Bloomquist sent a liner straight at him. Nicasio turned his back just in time and was struck on the right thigh.

The play was eerily reminiscent of the line drive that hit Nicasio in the right temple last August, when he suffered a fractured skull along with a neck injury. Doctors had to perform emergency surgery to insert pins into the cracked C-1 vertebra and attach a small metal plate to the back of his neck.

Nicasio made a remarkable recovery to become one of the Rockies’ most reliable pitchers this season.

Soon after being hit, manager Jim Tracy and trainer Keith Dugger popped out of the dugout to check on him. Nicasio threw a few warmup pitches to test the leg, before motioning he was all right.

But he appeared rattled and walked the next two batters. Nicasio worked his way out of the jam without any damage.

The Rockies got off to a quick start in the first as Tulowitzki lined a two-run shot to left. It was his first homer since April 27.

Relying on a 95-mph four-seam fastball, Nicasio retired nine straight at one point, before running out of steam and allowing a walk to Aaron Hill to start the fifth.

This may have played a role: Shortly after Nicasio took the mound for the fifth, the game was momentarily halted by bees that just appeared out of nowhere.

Nicasio gave up one run in 4 2-3 innings. He also struck out seven, but was wild as well, walking five.

NOTES: Cahill surrendered four runs and five hits in five innings. … Diamondbacks OF Chris Young (shoulder) hit a grand slam for Class A Visalia on Wednesday. He will now move on to Triple-A Reno for his rehab assignment. … The Diamondbacks kick off interleague play with a visit to Kansas City on Friday night. They are 9-3 at Kauffman Stadium. … Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa (shoulder) was scheduled to start for Double-A Tulsa on Thursday night. … The Rockies host the Seattle Mariners on Friday night, with White (0-2) facing RHP Kevin Millwood (1-4), who spent last season with Colorado. … The Rockies issued nine walks against Arizona on Thursday.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Jordan Pacheco is going to get more playing time at third base and maybe a chance to solidify a position that has been an offensive black hole for the Colorado Rockies. Chris Nelson, who has made 20 starts at third base, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with left wrist inflammation, retroactive to Tuesday. Jonathan Herrera has made nine starts at third base but is viewed as more of a utility type — he also has made seven starts at second base. Pacheco made his seventh start at third base Wednesday and went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI as the Rockies beat the Diamondbacks 6-1. Pacheco began the year on the Rockies’ bench but was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs on April 15 so he could play third base regularly and become more instinctive at the position. He was recalled May 5 and, after starting May 7-8, didn’t start again until Tuesday at San Francisco. The Rockies could use a lift at third base. They entered Wednesday with their third basemen hitting .222, which is 12th in the National League, with one homer (tied for 14th) and 10 RBI (tied for 14th). Rockies third basemen had a .298 on-base percentage (10th), a .333 slugging percentage (14th) and a .631 OPS (13th). Pacheco began his career as a second baseman in 2007 and was moved to catcher after spring training 2008. The Rockies thought his leadership skills would play well at catcher and didn’t think he profiled power-wise to play third base. He began playing the position in late August at Triple-A Colorado Springs, where he had spent most of the season catching. The Rockies called him up in September. Herrera figures to get some time at third base, too. But Pacheco has started the past two games at the position and has hit the ball well (3-for-7). He has a chance to earn the bulk of the playing time. He doesn’t figure to hit for a lot of power, but Pacheco has shown he can make steady contact and be a gap-to-gap hitter who rarely strikes out. If Pacheco can be average at third base, he should give the Rockies some much-needed offense at the position.

The way Drew Pomeranz sees it, he was essentially a one-pitch pitcher when he made his big-league debut last season.

He’s exaggerating, of course, but he’s confident that he has evolved from the fastball-dependent kid who went 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA in his first four major-league starts.

“I was throwing fastballs, basically,” Pomeranz, 23, said Saturday. “Now there’s more life to the fastball and a click more velocity. Now I have a better curve, and I’m working on that changeup.”

Pomeranz, the centerpiece of last summer’s trade that sent Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland, is scheduled to make his 2012 debut against the Diamondbacks today at Coors Field. Last week, the 6-foot-5 lefty pitched four scoreless innings for

Double-A Tulsa in a tuneup game at Corpus Christi, Texas. He allowed four hits and struck out four on 77 pitches (48 were strikes).

Last season, Pomeranz made his big-league debut only three weeks after having his appendix removed. He was never quite at full strength when he reported to the Rockies late last season.

“He’s definitely healthier than when he showed up to us last year in September,” manager Jim Tracy said. “I think with his fastball and his curveball, there is evidence of that. There is more life to his pitches. And there is no getting around the fact that he had a tremendous spring training.”

The Rockies started Pomeranz in the minors this spring because they plan to limit his innings as they ease him into his major-league role. He pitched only 119 innings last year (minors and majors combined), so the Rockies are pointing to 160 to 170 innings this season.

There is a lot riding on Pomeranz’s wide shoulders. It’s not just the fact that he was traded for Jimenez, a former Rockies ace. The Rockies need Pomeranz to develop into a keystone of their rotation, and the sooner the better.

After his big-league debut against Cincinnati last season — five scoreless innings, only two

hits allowed — outfielder Carlos Gonzalez said: “He looked great. That’s our future right there.”

Pomeranz is his own toughest critic, and he is constantly scrutinizing his pitches. But he has impressed his teammates.

“I’ve seen a guy with tremendous potential,” shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said during spring training. “He’s someone who has gotten away with being really, really good, but now can take it to the next level. That’s where work ethic comes into play. But we’re talking about a top-of-the- rotation pitcher.”

For now, Pomeranz just wants get back on a major-league mound.

“I’m excited to get out there and actually play in a game,” he said. “I’m tired of sitting around the dugout.”

Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1720 or psaunders@denverpost.com

The Colorado Rockies came through tonight very late to defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-6 on a chilly Friday the 13th evening in Denver. The bats were awakened once more as the Rockies scored runs in five different innings to come from behind late to seal the win.

Nicasio’s Rough Night

I wasn’t planning on going to tonight’s game until around 2 p.m. Fortunately, I was able to grab a decent ticket online and hopped on the light rail to the park after work. The big draw for me tonight was seeing Juan Nicasio’s return to the mound in Denver. The last time he pitched for the Rockies was August 5, 2011, when he was hit by a line drive and broke a cervical vertebrae when he fell to the mound.

While I may have hustled to the ballpark to see Nicasio throw the first pitch, it was certainly not the case for most of the fans. Despite an announced attendance of 30,642 fans, I’d estimate perhaps only a third of them were in their seats by the time Nicasio took the mound. Whether from nerves or just an off night, Nicasio struggled with his control throughout the game. It was easy to tell it was going to be a short outing for Nicasio when he threw 44 pitches in the first inning alone. By the time he was finally pulled from the game in the third inning, he had thrown 91 pitches (42 balls, 49 strikes).

The Rockies Finally Come Together

Fortunately for Nicasio, the rest of the team came together after his exit. I’ve criticized the middle relief pitchers earlier in the season, but the trio of Esmil Rogers, Matt Belisle, and Rex Brothers came in and held the Diamondbacks to just three hits over a span of five innings and allowed the Rockies a chance to rally their bats and come from behind to win the game.

While the Rockies had each positional starting player get at least one hit tonight, the real hero was Todd Helton. Helton had some big hits, but the biggest was in the bottom of the eighth inning when he came to bat with Carlos Gonzalez on third base and two outs. Helton smashed the ball down the line in left field to give the Rockies their first lead of the game at 7-6. From there, Rafael Betancourt came in to collect the save and bring the Rockies up to a record of 3-4.

Things To Ponder

Prior to the start of this game, I had been wondering if Manager Jim Tracy should switch the batting positions of Todd Helton (fifth) and Michael Cuddyer (sixth). Cuddyer has had a faster start than Helton, but the first baseman came through tonight in a huge way. Obviously Tracy won’t be making any changes here soon, but keep an eye on this as the season progresses.

Dexter Fowler continues to have fielding issues in center field. He bobbled and dropped a routine bouncing ball hit out to him, but fortunately it didn’t result in additional bases because the runner himself was lollygagging a bit.

If you think it’s cool to catch a home run ball hit by the opposing team at Coors Field and then throw it back like they do at Wrigley Field, think again. Tonight one poor hapless fan played the hero for a few seconds when he caught a home run ball hit by the Diamondbacks in the third inning. I could hear, even way far out in my left field seat, the fans in the right field seats chanting and egging the poor guy to throw the ball back. He did to exuberant cheers which then turned to boos when ushers came to collect and escort the guy to the exit.

Julie has been a fan of baseball her entire life. While growing up in Atlanta watching the Braves and being born into a family of Los Angeles Dodger fans, she became a Colorado Rockies fan when she moved to Denver in 2001. She has two goals this year. One is to watch (either in person or on tv) 100 Rockies games this season (she’s seen six). The second goal is to become a proficient scorecard keeper.

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — It was a fleeting moment in a spring training game, forgotten the moment it was over, but for Rockies manager Jim Tracy, it was huge. In the first inning of Monday’s Rockies-Diamondbacks game, Carlos Gonzalez morphed from slugger into professional hitter. With no outs, two strikes against him and the Diamondbacks’ infield playing deep, Gonzalez slapped a groundball to second, easily scoring Eric Young from third base.

“Carlos did some great situational hitting,” Tracy said. “To muffle down and recognize that the infield was playing back, then hit that hard grounder and score the run, that was great to see. That was an area we failed in last year.”

The Rockies will need that type of approach

up and down their lineup to improve offensively over their dreadful 2011 performance, when they routinely failed to bring home runners from third with less than two outs, and hit just .245 with runners in scoring position, 11th in the National League.

This season, with a young pitching staff expected to struggle, the offense must display a more sound approach at the plate to give the Rockies a shot in the NL West.

That’s partially why the Rockies brought in the gray-hair brigade featuring outfielder Michael Cuddyer, second baseman Marco Scutaro and third baseman Casey Blake. All are veterans with reputations for being smart situational hitters. All have been asked to pass on their knowledge to the kids on the club.

“We

acquired guys that know how to put together a quality at-bat,” said Cuddyer, a former Twins outfielder. “A veteran understands the situation at all times. They understand that with a man on third and less than two outs, you don’t have to get a base hit to score a run. As a young player, it’s hard to understand that you can just hit a little groundball and still score the run. That’s a win right there.”

Cuddyer, who hit .284 for Minnesota last season, said he has told younger hitters to work

on understanding a pitcher’s thought process.

“You have to understand what the pitcher is trying to do to you in certain situations. That’s half the battle,” Cuddyer said. “If you are trying to hit a ball to the outfield and drive in a run, but he’s throwing power sinkers in the dirt, why are you still trying to hit it high and deep? So you have to adjust to him, or you have to wait for a mistake and don’t miss on that mistake.”

Jamie Moyer, the 49-year-old lefty trying to prolong his career, is convinced that smart, unselfish at-bats breed winning baseball.

“On the winning teams I have played on, guys embrace those at-bats,” Moyer said. “It becomes contagious.”

Rockies hitting coach Carney Lansford is convinced

that quality at-bats are the direct result of how well a hitter works on situational hitting before a game. He has no patience for hitters who put on a pre-game show during BP.

“It’s not just a home run derby,” he said. “Anybody can get in the cage and do that. Yeah, the fans go ‘ooh’ and ‘ah,’ but then the game comes and the guys goes 0-for-4 because he’s pulling off the ball.”

Todd Helton, a .323 career hitter, puts in the type of work Lansford wants. During a recent practice, Helton drove five pitches to right field. Satisfied, he switched up, trying to take the ball the other way. He fouled off two pitches, chastising himself for his failure before finding his stroke and smoking two balls down the third-base

line.

“When I think ‘professional hitter,’ I think of Todd,” Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. “He works the count, he fouls off a pitcher’s best pitches, he has a plan. Every at-bat, whether he gets a hit or not, he never looks overmatched and he’ll wear the pitcher down to get a walk.”

Tulowitzki, an aggressive hitter, is never going to be as patient as Helton, but he’s working to become a more well-rounded hitter.

“The next step for me is hitting in situations with two outs and a man on second,” Tulowitzki said. “I want to drive in that runner so bad that I tend to open up my strike zone. Sometimes I would rather get an out and get my swings in rather than take a walk. That’s something I have to grow up about and

get better at. Becoming a professional hitter is a long process.”

Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1720 or psaunders@denverpost.com

SCOTTSDALE, ariz. — The idea of a Phillie helping a Rockie seemed blasphemous a few years ago. The clubs were in the throes of a mushrooming rivalry. The Rockies knocked the Phillies out of the 2007 playoffs, and Philadelphia returned the favor in 2009. An ex-Rockie, tired of hearing how great the Phillies were, bought a Philly Phanatic for his dog to use as a chew toy.

Tension cooled when the Rockies missed the playoffs the last two years. This past winter Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee provided assistance to Rockies prospect Christian Friedrich, which, if it takes, could be a huge boost for a franchise in need of impact draft picks.

Friedrich and Lee have the same agents. So Friedrich, a lefty who has had an

uneven minor-league career, trained with Lee in Arkansas for 10 days. Friedrich absorbed information through instruction and observation.

“Everything he does, he throws with a downhill plane. And he really gets that front arm out,” Friedrich said. “I started doing it and it immediately clicked. I felt like I could spot the ball and repeat my delivery a lot better.”

Friedrich, 24, has been among the pleasant surprises early in Rockies camp. After a disappointing 6-10 season with a 5.00 ERA in Double-A, he dropped 30 pounds and appears more committed. If he’s able to start well in Triple-A, that would provide the Rockies with depth and options.

“He has a different body and a different mind,” pitching coach Bob Apodaca

said.

Friedrich learned about pace and purpose from Lee. Monday against the Diamondbacks, Friedrich pitched two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. After Friedrich struck out all-star Justin Upton looking, catcher Jordan Pacheco fired the ball back to the pitcher. No time for around the horn.

“That was actually a mistake. We didn’t know it was strike three,” Friedrich said. “I want to work fast, but not that fast.”

Footnotes. Alex White allowed one run in two

innings Tuesday against the Cubs, with only one ball hit hard, in his first outing since he was arrested Saturday on suspicion of DUI. … Third baseman Casey Blake (neck) played for the first time since Aug. 31. He went 0-for-2 and scored a run.

Read more: Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks, Trevor Bauer, Bauer Vs Rockies, Rockies Tie with Diamondbacks, D’backs and Rockies Tie, Pro, MLB

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. (AP) — Top prospect Trevor Bauer retired all six batters he faced in his spring training debut Saturday and an Arizona Diamondbacks split-squad and the Colorado Rockies tied 1-1 in 10 innings.

Bauer, the third overall pick in last year’s draft out of UCLA, struck out two. He threw seven pitches in the first inning, striking out Dexter Fowler looking and getting Marco Scutaro and Carlos Gonzalez to ground out. Troy Tulowitzki and Michael Cuddyer grounded out and Tyler Colvin struck out in the second inning against the 21-year-old right-hander.

Rockies left-hander Drew Pomeranz struck out two, walked one and allowed a hit in two scoreless innings.

Colorado catcher Ramon Hernandez had two singles in two at-bats.

His second single tied the score 1-all in the fourth inning.

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Jhoulys Chacin’s spring training debut was all about the fastball.

In the first two innings of the Rockies’ 6-5 win over the Diamondbacks on Monday Chacin consistently threw strikes (21 in 29 pitches), and for the most part, he commanded that fastball, consistently hitting 92-93 mph. He threw just one slider and two curveballs.

The Rockies won the game in the ninth inning on a walk-off, solo home run by Ben Paulson. He crushed a pitch by Jonathan Albaladejo beyond the right-field wall.

Chacin, projected as either the No. 1 or No. 2 starter, was pleased with his first Cactus League outing.

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — During the Rockies’ Cactus League opener Saturday, veteran catcher Ramon Hernandez made it clear he’s a take-charge guy.

In front of a record crowd of 12,528 at Salt River Fields, Hernandez, who prides himself on situational hitting, went 2-for-2 and drove in the Rockies’ only run in a 1-1, 10-inning tie with the Diamondbacks.

But it was the 36-year-old’s command behind the plate — accentuated by two, laser-like snap throws that nearly picked runners off first and second — that was one of the day’s highlights.

“If guys were getting a little too far off base, I make the throw,” said Hernandez, a free-agent pick-up over the winter. “That way, you let the teams know that you like to throw it around. So maybe

if the guys get on base, they don’t get as much of a lead.”

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