Great at-bats earn Colvin start against Nats

DENVER -- Strong at-bats in late-game situations in his first two games since being called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs earned Tyler Colvin a start in right field Tuesday night against the Nationals.

Colvin went 0-for-2 with an RBI groundout and a hard line-drive out with the potential tying run on base Saturday against the Padres, and his ninth-inning RBI single was part of a three-run inning that sent the game into extra innings on Sunday. The Rockies won, 8-7, in 10 innings.

With Michael Cuddyer nursing bruised ribs, Eric Young Jr. started the games against the Padres. Colvin got the nod Tuesday.

"Every hitter in this clubhouse wants to be the guy up in those spots, and I'm fortunate enough to have all four at-bats with men in scoring position," Colvin said. "Just to know they have the confidence to put me in those at-bats is huge, and I'm happy I'm able to be here and help out in those times.

"We haven't gotten into a big discussion about it, but I would imagine it's the same role I was in last year. With Cuddy a little banged up, I could start against the righties [like the Nationals' Dan Haren on Tuesday], and against lefties [the Padres started Eric Stults on Saturday and Clayton Richard on Sunday], they'll get 'E.Y.' in there and let him do his thing."

With Cuddyer figuring to get regular starts when healthy, Colvin and Young can help the Rockies' bench. Colvin provides power and solid hitting. Young can be used as a pinch-hitter or pinch-runner. Colvin can play all three outfield spots, as well as first base.

"Tyler has done great in the short time he's been here," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "He's squared up some balls that didn't get through and drove in a run with another single. He's taken some very good at-bats.

"It was a tough situation. I'd have been upset, too [at being demoted]. He's a big league player that just got caught in a tough situation."