Lineup Card: Rockies @ Reds

Let's hope the Rockies got all the sleepiness out of their eyes and are ready to go from pitch 1 tonight.

Rockies Lineup (49-40)

• CF  Fowler
• 2B  Herrera
• RF  Gonzalez
• 1B  Hawpe
• LF  Smith
• C    Olivo
• 3B  Stewart
• SS  Barmes
• P    De La Rosa

And so officially begins the Brad Hawpe experiment at 1B.  Remember folks, he started out as a 1B in the minors before changing positions due to Todd Helton's lockdown on the position.

Don't expect Gold Glove caliber work out there from Brad, but do at least hope he's about 5 notches ahead of Mora and Giambi and maybe 2 notches above Elded.

De La Rosa with start #2 off the DL.  I expect much better things tonight.  

Reds Lineup (50-41)

• 2B  Phillips
• SS  Cabrera
• 1B  Votto
• LF  Gomes
• 3B  Cairo
• RF  Bruce
• CF  Stubbs
• C    Hanigan
• P    Volquez

This is a big night for the Reds and their fans.  The return of Edinson Volquez.  Volqurez was on the fast track to superstardom when he tore a ligament in his pitching elbow in early 2009.  14 or so months later, Volquez is back and he's back right in the thick of a pennant race.  

I don't know how effective he'll be -- he's made 5-6 rehab starts -- but I know he'll be motivated.

Simulation

Rockies 7, Reds 2

WP: Jorge De La Rosa -- 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
LP:  Edinson Volquez -- 5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

Home Runs

Col: Ian Stewart
Cin: Scott Rolen

Player of the Game -- Brad Hawpe