ATLANTA — Colorado Rockies manager Jim Tracy said outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is close to returning to the lineup but was held out Thursday for a fourth straight day with a right wrist contusion.

Tracy had no update on All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who has been out since Monday with a tight hamstring.

Gonzalez is available to pinch-hit, pinch-run or play in the field if necessary, but Tracy wants him to rest in hopes that he will be ready Friday when the Rockies visit Washington.

Gonzalez is hitting .345 with nine homers and 31 RBI since May 16. He took batting practice Wednesday but not Thursday because of soreness.

DENVER – A 27-year-old man who fell about 20 feet and struck his head on concrete during the seventh inning of a Colorado Rockies game has been declared dead, authorities said Thursday.

Witnesses told police that the man had been trying to slide down a staircase railing at Coors Field and lost his balance during Tuesday afternoon’s game between the Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks, Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said.

The Denver coroner’s office identified the man Thursday as Robert Seamans of Pueblo, Colo. The father of Seamans’ girlfriend, Larry Elliott, told The Denver Post that Seamans was declared brain dead on Wednesday, about 12 hours after the incident. A transplant team was called in to harvest his organs, Elliott said.

“You definitely don’t want somebody’s experience at the ballpark to be something like that,” Rockies first baseman Jason Giambi said before heading to batting practice before Thursday’s game against Arizona. “It’s supposed to be uplifting and an enjoyment for the fans. That’s a terrible thing to hear.”

Seamans worked as a waiter at Cactus Flower Mexican Restaurant in Pueblo for at least the past four years, restaurant general manager Kim Harding said. She described Seamans as playful and a favorite of customers who often asked for him by name.

Seamans had plans to attend the April 3 game between the Rockies and Diamondbacks, but that game was postponed because of rain.

Harding said Seamans was very excited about attending Tuesday’s makeup game, the first of a doubleheader.

“He was like a kid on Christmas,” she said. “I’m not sure if this was his first baseball game.”

Seamans’ family declined to comment when reached by telephone at their Pueblo home on Thursday.

The Rockies said in a statement Thursday that they were deeply saddened to learn of Seamans’ death.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family and friends of this young man as we all grieve for his loss,” the club said.

Denver Chief Deputy Coroner Michelle Weiss-Samaras said an autopsy was planned Thursday, but results weren’t immediately available. Toxicology tests could take weeks, she said.

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Associated Press Sports Writer Pat Graham contributed to this report.

Read more: Colorado Rockies, New York Mets, Mets Rockiers Postponed, Rockies Game Postponed, Rockies Rained out, Rockies make up, Rockies Mets on Thursday, Pro, MLB

DENVER (AP) — The New York Mets and Colorado Rockies will wrap up their three-game series Thursday afternoon after rain and snow in the Denver area forced the postponement of Wednesday’s finale.

The game scheduled for 1:10 p.m. MDT Wednesday will be played Thursday at 1:10 p.m. MDT.

Ubaldo Jimenez (0-2) was scheduled to start for Colorado and Jonathon Niese (1-4) was expected to pitch for the Mets on Wednesday.

They will start Thursday instead.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Published: May 11, 2011 at 1:20 PM

© 2011 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI’s prior written consent.

Read More: Chris Iannetta (C – COL), Jhoulys Chacin (P – COL), Colorado Rockies, Chicago Cubs

The Colorado Rockies aren’t experiencing any letdown in Friday’s game with the Cubs following their Thursday doubleheader sweep of the Mets. The Rockies lead, 4-0, after three innings of ball.

In the second inning, the Rockies struck for the first runs of the game when Chris Iannetta cleared the bases with a three-run triple and then scored on the same play after a throwing error by Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro. All of that started with a Troy Tulowitzki leadoff single, followed by a Todd Helton single and a Seth Smith walk. Jose Lopez, who had two career grand slams in his career, struck out swinging before Iannetta showed the big stick. Dexter Fowler doubled and Jonathan Herrera walked, but they were left stranded after Carlos Gonzalez hit into the inning-ending ground out to second.

Jhoulys Chacin worked quickly through the first three innings. He used 31 pitches to get nine outs, striking out three batters. He allowed two hits in the second inning, both singles, but a double play ended that threat.

Read More: Colorado Rockies, New York Mets

In the first game of their Thursday doubleheader, the Colorado Rockies beat the New York Mets thanks, in part, to a Troy Tulowitzki homer. In the second game of their Thursday doubleheader, the Colorado Rockies beat the New York Mets thanks, in part, to a Troy Tulowitzki homer.

In the nightcap, Tulo went deep off Chris Capuano in a six-run sixth inning, and the Rockies downed the Mets 9-4 to sweep the doubleheader and the four-game series.

The Mets got on the board first against Jorge de la Rosa, scoring two in the second on a Mike Nickeas double. The Rockies tied things in the third, but the Mets restored their two-run lead in the fourth on Jose Reyes’ two-run single.

It remained 4-2 into the top of the sixth, when the Rockies unloaded. Tulowitzki led off with his seventh home run of the young season, cutting the deficit in half. Three singles, a walk, and a Jonathan Herrera home run later, it was suddenly 8-4 Colorado, as Capuano and reliever Taylor Buchholz ran into all kinds of trouble.

The Mets were unable to fight back after the onslaught, and the Rockies added another run for in the ninth. It ended 9-4, which happens to be the exact opposite of the Mets’ current record. The Rockies, meanwhile, improved to 10-2.

The Rockies will now fly home to host the Cubs, while the Mets are off to Atlanta, searching for better luck against the Braves.

For more on the Rockies and Mets, please check out team blogs Purple Row and Amazin’ Avenue.