Tulowitzki, Gonzalez show off power as Rockies beat Rangers

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) Troy Tulowitzki homered twice and Carlos Gonzalez added his first spring home run for the Colorado Rockies in a 10-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday.

Both sluggers have impressed in their return from season-ending injuries. Tulowitzki's two-run homer in the first traveled 436 feet and his solo shot in the third 441 feet. He went 3 for 5 and is hitting .385 with five home runs.

Gonzalez hit a solo homer to center in the third and later had an RBI double. All three homers came off Rangers starter Colby Lewis.

''It's fun to watch those guys hit, I know that,'' Rockies right-hander Kyle Kendrick said.

Kendrick, who will start Colorado's opener in Milwaukee, allowed four runs and five hits in five innings.

Yovani Gallardo, set to start the Rangers' opener in Oakland on Monday, followed Lewis and gave up two runs and four hits in three innings.

Nomar Mazara homered for Texas in its Cactus League finale.

Both sluggers have impressed in their return from season-ending injuries. Tulowitzki's two-run homer in the first traveled 436 feet and his solo shot in the third 441 feet. He went 3 for 5 and is hitting .385 with five home runs.

STARTING TIME

Rangers: Lewis, scheduled to the start the second game in Oakland, gave up four runs and seven hits in three innings.

''A couple pitches got away from him location-wise,'' manager Jeff Banister said. ''This ballpark can make you pay.''

Rockies: Kendrick threw 90 pitches.

''Results-wise, I hit a guy 1-2 and gave up some hits, but we swung it well,'' Kendrick said. ''I'm ready for opening day.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rangers: RHP Kyuji Fujisawa reported groin tightness after his outing Tuesday, making it possible he'll start the season on the disabled list. ... An MRI on RHP Tanner Scheppers' sore right ankle revealed no structural damage. He's scheduled for a bullpen session Friday. ... RHP Shawn Tolleson (right forearm) pitched in the minors Tuesday without difficulty.

Rockies: OF Corey Dickerson (back) was a late scratch for a second straight day.

ROTATION ISSUES

Rockies manager Walt Weiss answered one of many rotation questions, announcing right-hander Jordan Lyles will start the second regular-season game Tuesday in Milwaukee.

Weiss strongly hinted Eddie Butler would start the final game of the series April 8 - if he's recovered from shoulder pain that caused him to leave his last start in the first inning.

''And that's a really big if,'' Weiss said.

ORDER SET

Banister announced his rotation order.

After Gallardo and Lewis, Ross Detwiler starts the third game, followed by Nick Martinez and Derek Holland.

Texas opens with 10 straight games, so they'll go through the rotation twice.

DESHIELDS SHINES

It appears Delino DeShields, Jr. is in good shape to make the Rangers' opening-day roster. The 22-year-old outfielder led off and had an RBI double off Kendrick in the second.

The eighth pick of the 2010 draft, DeShields was taken by Texas from Houston in last winter's December draft. That means DeShields must stay on the Rangers' big league roster or be offered back to the Astros.

GRAY SEEKS ANSWERS

Rockies top prospect Jon Gray will pitch in a minor league game Thursday, his first start since he couldn't get out of the first inning last week against the Chicago Cubs.

The right-hander reported a sore groin the next day, but said he's recovered and was happy with Tuesday's bullpen session.

''My biggest problem is slowing the game down when it speeds up,'' the 23-year-old Gray said. ''I've done well at that, but I also had a very poor outing for the same reason.''

Gray is uncertain whether he'll start the season in the rotation or the minors. He was pitching well prior to allowing six runs while getting two outs against the Cubs.

''They think I'm getting better and can get big league guys out,'' Gray said. ''But they want to see me improve in other areas as well. There's no telling what kind of decisions they're going to make.''

UP NEXT

Rangers: They were flying home after the game and will have Thursday off. They host the New York Mets in home exhibitions Friday and Saturday.

Rockies: Lyles returns after an off day to start Friday against Seattle.