PITTSBURGH -- It was almost as hard for Rockies pitcher Jordan Lyles to discuss hitting Pirates pitcher Ryan Vogelsong in the helmet and face with a 92-mph fastball as the incident was to watch.
The incident forced across a second-inning run and was one of the six (four earned) charged to Lyles, who made a spot start after being called up from Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday. But Lyles, hung with the decision in the 6-3 loss at PNC Park, was more bothered by the pitch that left Vogelsong with what the Pirates called a left eye injury.
"It's tough getting hit up there," said Lyles, who lasted just 2 1/3 innings. "That's tough to see. Hopefully, nothing serious comes out of it and he's able to get back to his teammates shortly.
"But 0-2, I tried to climb the ladder, tried to avoid him putting it in play. I felt maybe he was looking for something away. It just ran in too much, too high."
Lyles began the season in the Rockies' rotation, but he was sent down in April after going 1-1 with a 7.64 ERA in four starts. Colorado recalled him Friday to fill in for righty long reliever Christian Bergman, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain.
Lyles was forced into the start because righty Chad Bettis, who has pitched increasingly well, was unavailable after Sunday's game was rained out following one inning and a lengthy rain delay.
Now Lyles (1-2, 8.55 ERA) will likely be sent out Tuesday when Jorge De La Rosa is activated from the disabled list (left groin strain) to start at Boston. If so, he will leave the Rockies with an unfortunate impression of a struggling pitcher. In the second, before he hit Vogelsong, Lyles gave up two hits and walked two while allowing two stolen bases.
"It's tough, especially the other pitcher," Lyles said. "You just try to make some more pitches after that.
"I've got to do a better job of finding my target and locking in on that, not worrying about contact and worrying about outcomes. I've got to worry about making the pitch I want to make, and the rest is out of my control."