CarGo optimistic he'll play Tuesday
OF has mild hand sprain, says X-rays showed no bone damage
DENVER -- Carlos Gonzalez is optimistic the mild hand sprain that forced him to leave Sunday's 10-4 victory over Milwaukee will not keep him out of the lineup when the Rockies return to action Tuesday.
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Gonzalez said he felt soreness in the top of his left hand on the swing when he flied out in the third. He stayed in the game and said the hand was sore when he subsequently took some dry swings before coming out in the fifth.
An X-ray showed no bone damage, said Gonzalez, adding that he had never felt soreness in this spot in his hand.
"Hopefully, it's nothing bad," Gonzalez said. "We have a day off tomorrow, which is nice. We'll see how it is when I come back on Tuesday."
Gonzalez is coming off a 2014 season badly marred by injuries that limited him to a career-low 70 games, the last on Aug. 8, and 260 at-bats. He hit just .238 with 11 homers and 38 RBIs as he dealt with a benign tumor in his left index finger -- head trainer Keith Dugger memorably called it "a fatty mass with tentacles" -- and a left knee patella tear that resulted in season-ending surgery.
Gonzalez has hit safely in 14 of 19 games this month, going 20-for-72 (.278) with six homers and 14 RBIs, bringing his overall totals to .237 in 64 games with 10 homers and 27 RBIs.
He said he wasn't worried that this latest injury could result in another trip to the 15-day disabled list.
"Just got to do treatment and see how it feels tomorrow," he said, "because you never know with these things. But I don't think it should be a problem. [Dugger] told me these things happen, they go away fast."