Chad Bettis took another step forward in his return to the Rockies on Friday, making his fourth rehab appearance in the Minor Leagues.
Bettis went 5 1/3 innings and 71 pitches for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes in their Pacific Coast League matchup against the Omaha Storm Chasers. He allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and a pair of walks in the 5-4 defeat.
"I think he did a good job," Albuquerque manager Glenallen Hill told purplerow.com. "I think he did a good job. He definitely shows you why he is who he is. He can absolutely command the ball."
Hill is expected to pitch once more for the Isotopes with the goal of reaching 90 pitches. The 28-year-old right-hander is working his way back from testicular cancer, with which he was diagnosed in November. He left the Rockies in Spring Training to undergo chemotherapy when he learned the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes.
This was Bettis' fourth Minor League outing and his second start with the Isotopes. He has posted a 6.75 ERA with five walks and 10 strikeouts through 12 2/3 innings with Albuquerque and Double-A Hartford.
"Let me tell you, man, he's a competitor. He is a bulldog," Hill said. "Right now he is competing, so I don't think there are going to be very many days he's going to feel bad about how he's doing. That doesn't compute with him. He's an absolute bulldog."