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Weiss cautious about Belisle's heavy workload

TORONTO -- Rockies right-handed reliever Matt Belisle has appeared in more games (264) than any other Major League pitcher since 2010, and manager Walt Weiss wants to make sure he doesn't overuse him.

Belisle took the loss in Tuesday's 2-0 decision against the Jays, and in three of his last four appearances the opponent has scored two runs. Belisle, one of the Rockies' most reliable players and leaders, actually accounted well for himself overall, but said he simply didn't execute a pitch to eighth-inning leadoff man Rajai Davis and that led to the runs.

The Rockies have leaned on Belisle lately, especially since closer Rafael Betancourt (right groin) and Edgmer Escalona (right elbow) are on the 15-day disabled list. But Weiss had given Belisle two days off before using him Monday, and will continue to monitor the workload.

"He's taken the brunt of it, with the injuries we have," Weiss said. "But we gave him two days off before last night. I've got to be careful with Matt. He's a warrior and he wants the ball all the time. He'll never turn it down. I've got to be careful of running him out there too much, not put him out there three consecutive days.

"I always feel good about Matt being in the game because of the way he competes. It was just a tough outing last night."

Thomas Harding is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Hardball in the Rockies, and follow him on Twitter @harding_at_mlb.
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