No pain is a big gain for Tulowitzki

By NICK GIANNANDREA
THE FRESNO BEE

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VISALIA — Troy Tulowitzki didn't beat the Visalia Oaks on Wednesday night.

But the rehabilitating shortstop who was instrumental in the Colorado Rockies' improbable run to the World Series last season didn't do anything to prevent the Modesto Nuts from topping the Oaks, either.

Showing no noticeable problems from the torn left quadriceps tendon injury he suffered April 29, Tulowitzki went hitless in three plate appearances and fielded his only ball at shortstop cleanly during Modesto's 5-2 win over Visalia in a California League game before an announced crowd of 656 at Recreation Park.

It was Tulowitzki's first game action since injuring his quad while charging a ground ball against San Francisco on April 29.

"I felt real good; no pain," said Tulowitzki, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since April 30. "It was nice to be in the batter's box and play some defense in a real game."

Tulowitzki didn't reach base, but he did hit the ball hard three times before leaving to receive ice treatment after the fifth inning. He hit a sharp grounder to shortstop in the first, sent a sacrifice fly to the warning track in straightaway center in the third and hit a rocket right at the third baseman in the fifth to finish 0 for 2 with an RBI.

Defensively, Tulowitzki turned the only ball hit to him into a 6-4-3 double play.

"I hit the ball hard, and I got a double-play ball," said Tulowitzki, who sent five balls out of Recreation Park during a pregame batting practice session that seemed to get better with every turn he took. "I'm happy with where I'm at."

Originally thought to be sidelined until around the All-Star break, Tulowitzki was to continue his rehab Thursday night by playing seven innings for the Nuts in their series finale at Visalia. He'll remain with Modesto for a three-game series at Rancho Cucamonga, where he's expected to test the injury thoroughly by playing nine innings.

Tulowitzki will return to Denver on Monday to be evaluated.

If everything checks out, he'll continue his rehab with a stint at Triple-A Colorado Springs. Tulowitzki is tentatively targeting a return to the Rockies for a June 20-22 series at home against the New York Mets.

Tulowitzki was hitting .152 with one home run and 11 RBIs before his injury. Last season, he hit .291 with 24 homers and 99 RBIs for the National League-champion Rockies, finishing second to Milwaukee's Ryan Braun in NL Rookie of the Year voting.