Wolters: 'I want to be a hard out'
Catcher delivers pair of RBI singles in win over Giants
DENVER -- The Rockies have cause to be excited about offense from the catching spot, no matter who is playing.
Tony Wolters twice delivered RBI singles with two out in the Rockies' 5-1 victory over the Giants on Saturday afternoon.
This week, the Rockies called up Tom Murphy, a power hitter whose arrival many observers have been anticipating. Wolters doesn't hit for power, but Saturday improved his batting average to .301, and his .381 on-base percentage from the No. 8 spot in the order is a key reason regular leadoff man Charlie Blackmon (who didn't play Saturday) has 54 RBIs.
Wolters arrived in the Majors last year and lived up to a reputation as an elite receiver in 59 games at catcher (58 starts). This year, he has played in 44 games overall and 42 at catcher. He has continued his defense while making major strides offensively and showing he can handle heavy playing time.
"I'm trying to do my job, trying to be a good bat-to-ball hitter," Wolters said. "I want to at least hit the ball. I don't want to strike out. I want to be a hard out."
With two down in the first, Carlos Gonzalez and Trevor Story singled to set up Wolters for a single into unoccupied right-center off Giants starter Player Page for Matt Cain. In the seventh with two down, he bounced one through the right side against reliever Bryan Morris.
"Today, two RBIs, two clutch hits that found holes," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "He's doing his job. From the bottom of the order, that's huge."