6B
---
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2008
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Colorado Rockies' Joe Koshansky, left, is congratulated by teammate Dexter Fowler, right, after hitting a solo home run against the San Diego Padres in the fourth inning of the Rockies' 1-0 victory in a baseball game on Wednesday in Denver.
Koshansky comes up from Triple-A to beat San Diego
Colorado Rockies pitchers shut out Padres as rarely-used first baseman hits home run in first start this season
DENVER — Joe Koshansky made the most of some rare playing time Wednesday.
Koshansky homered and five Colorado Rockies pitcher combined for a five-hitter in a 1-0 win over the San Diego Padres.
Koshansky, who clubbed 31 homers in Triple-A this season, has backed up Garret Atkins at first base since being called up on Sept. 2. Wednesday was his first start, and he responded with a 2-for-4 day at the plate.
Koshansky played seven games for the Rockies in July before heading back to Triple-A. He entered with only five pinch-hit at-bats since being recalled two weeks ago, but he looked sharp when he sent Josh Geer's 3-2 fastball over the center-field wall with two out in the fourth.
"He got it up, and I figured he was going to throw a fastball," Koshansky said.
Koshansky said he has stayed sharp by taking extra batting practice and swinging in the tunnel during games.
"I've actually taken a lot of swings," he said. "It's a matter of remembering what it feels like. It's the same game I've played for 20-plus years."
Koshansky's 435-foot drive was enough for Colorado's pitching staff. Starter Livan Hernandez and Glendon Rusch, Ryan Speier, Manny Corpas and Brian Fuentes shut down the Padres' offense.
Hernandez (2-3) was named the starter late Tuesday after the Rockies decided to shelve left-hander Jeff Francis for the season. On short notice, Hernandez went five innings, struck out two and walked two in his sixth start since joining the Rockies on Aug. 10.
Hernandez hadn't pitched in a week and said he had nothing to prove despite going 1-3 with a 9.85 ERA in his first five starts with Colorado.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
(Above) San Diego Padres starting pitcher Josh Geer reacts after giving up a solo home run to Colorado Rockies' Joe Koshansky, background, in the fourth inning of the Rockies' 1-0 victory in a baseball game on Wednesday in Denver. Geer was tagged with the loss, which dropped his season mark to two wins against one defeat.
(Right) Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Livan Hernandez works against the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a baseball game on Wednesday in Denver.
games."
Geer (2-1) scattered five hits over five innings, struck out five and walked three. His only mistake was the pitch to Koshansky.
"He was battling up there," Geer said. "I threw a fastball, and he was able to flip it up there, just over the center-field fence."
Chris Iannetta and Ian Stewart had two hits apiece for the Rockies, who won the last two games of the three-game series.
The Padres struggled to score after getting 10 runs and 18 hits Monday night.
"Yeah, we're fatigued, but pitchers are fatigued this time of year, too," Padres left fielder Chase Headley said. "Good pitching beats good hitting every time."
Corpas pitched a perfect eighth inning and Fuentes struck out two in the ninth for his 28th save in 32 chances.
The Padres' best threat came in the seventh. Sean Kazmar reached on a one-out single to third and advanced on a throwing error by Stewart. Pinch-hitter Drew Macias walked, and the runners moved up on Will Venable's groundout. But Speier got out of the jam when Edgar Gonzalez grounded out to third.
second in four days. The Rockies beat the Dodgers 1-0 on Sunday.
Notes: This was seventh 1-0 game in Coors Field history and the
San Diego OF Brian Giles has reached base in 26 of his last 27 games.
The Rockies extended their affiliation with Casper, Wyo., the site of the team's Rookie League ballclub, through 2010.
MLB
MLB Guillen back in lineup; Hillman backs up claim
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jose Guillen said he was sick. Despite some cryptic comments the night before, his manager corroborated his account.
Guillen was back in Kansas City's lineup Wednesday against Seattle, a day after being a late scratch against the Mariners. Royals manager Trey Hillman corroborated his account after causing confusion the night before by saying the mercurial outfielder had been scratched based on a managerial decision.
Guillen was initially in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Seattle Mariners, batting third and playing right field. Less than a half-hour before the game, the Royals announced he had been scratched.
Hillman said after the game that he had made a late managerial decision to scratch him from the lineup, that the rest of the story should be kept in-house.
wouldn't raise an eyebrow. With Guillen, the initial thought was that he did something wrong — again.
The highest-paid player in franchise history, Guillen has been on a disruption-a-month plan almost since the day he signed a three-year, $36 million contract.
"Last night he was a late scratch simply because I didn't feel it was in our best interest and his best interest for him to be in the lineup," Hillman said. "He didn't feel well."
After a relatively quiet first month of the season, Guillen called his teammates "babies" during a 12-game losing streak in May. June brought a profane tirade about how he "could care less" about the home fans who were booing him.
Associated Press
With any other player on Kansas City's roster, maybe, that
. Is your tuition too high?
. Should 21 still be the drinking age?
. Do you really think State Senate doesn't matter?
Think for yourself.
If you're voting in Lawrence this fall, look into your choices.
Informed voting is a good thing.
www.ScottMorganForSenate.com\KUStudents.htm
01
Bl is ou again
Paid for by Scott Morgan for Senate Committee, Brad Finkeldei, Treasurer