Rockies Replenish Bullpen; Pounders Up, Oberg Down

Scott Oberg became the odd man out on Tuesday.

The Rockies needed a fresh arm for their bullpen after a 208-pitch effort by the Rockies staff in Monday's 13-5 loss to the Padres at Coors Field.

Oberg had an option.

So Oberg was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs to make room for right-hander Brooks Pounders, 27, who will be making his Rockies debut when he gets the call from the bullpen. Pounders had a 3.60 ERA in even appearances, 10 innings, at Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Oberg threw 30 pitches in Monday's game -- and retired one batter. In fact, Jake McGee (17 pitches, one out), Oberg and Antonio Senzatela (19 pigches, one out) combined to throw 66 pitches in the nine-run seventh inning.

The Rockies staff threw a combined total of 208 pitches.

Colorado Rockies IP H R ER BB K HR BFP Pit B-S
Chad Bettis 5 5 4 4 2 5 1 22 94 34 - 60
Harrison Musgrave (Hold 1) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 10 2 - 8
Jake McGee (L 0-1, BS 1) 0.1 3 4 4 1 1 1 5 17 10 - 7
Scott Oberg 0.1 3 5 5 2 0 0 6 30 13 - 17
Antonio Senzatela 2.1 5 0 0 1 2 0 13 57 23 - 34
9 16 13 13 6 9 2 49 208 82 - 126

There were four innings in which the Rockies pitchers threw at least 20 pitches.

Inning Pitcher Pitches Total
1st Bettis 34 34
2nd Bettis 9 43
3rd Bettis 20 59
4th Bettis 7 66
5th Bettis 24 94
6th Musgrave 10 104
7th McGee 17 121
Oberg 30 151
Senzatela 19 170
8th Senzatela 15 185
9th Senzatela 23 208

Enter the 27-year-old Pounders.

He was signed to a minor-league contract by the Rockies in the off-season, and appeared in eight games during spring training, walking one batter, striking out eight and giving up four runs in nine innings. A second-round draft choice of the Pirates in 2009, Pounders made his major-league debut with the Royals on July 5, 2016. The Royals traded him to the Angels the ensuing off-season, and he appeared in 11 games with the Angels last season, going 1-0 with a 10.45 ERA, walking five and striking out 12 in 10 1/3 innings.

Oberg was sent down to open up a spot on the 25-man roster, and Zach Jemiola was designated for assignment to open a slot on the Rockies 40-man roster. Jemiola was a ninth-round draft choice of the Rockies in 2012, who has made 119 appearances, 11 starts, in his minor-leauge career, compiling a 4.88 ERA.