Diamondbacks-Rockies game rained out

DENVER (AP) Arizona manager Chip Hale gave his team a pep talk about its recent hitting woes. He'll have to wait a day to see if it did any good.

Maybe even a couple of days.

The scheduled game between the Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies on Monday night was postponed because of rain.

The game was called 2 hours, 30 minutes after it was supposed to begin, and no makeup date was immediately announced. Rain was in the forecast for Tuesday as well, when the teams again are scheduled to play at Coors Field.

A day off might just do the Diamondbacks some good after they were swept in Los Angeles by the Dodgers. During the three-game series, the Diamondbacks hit .211 and scored four runs. What's more, they were 2 for 17 with runners in scoring position.

So, during a hitting meeting the team usually has before the start of a new series, Hale stepped in and said his peace.

''I told them flat out what we expect and how good we think they are,'' Hale said. ''And how good they are going to be. They know. Baseball is a tough deal, especially in a series when you face a team like the Dodgers, with a really good bullpen.

''I know they are better.''

Hale was careful not to call it a team meeting, though. Just a spirited chat.

''I interjected at the end,'' he explained. ''There are days I will not even be there (in the hitters' meeting), days I will contribute. There are days like (Monday) where I'll make a statement at the end and that is the end of it.''

The Rockies are scuffling these days, too, dropping five straight. Manager Walt Weiss doesn't sense any panic.

''I check in with the players routinely - individually, as a team, just to make sure our heads are in the right place and that we continue to compete,'' he said. ''They do that well. If we continue to do that, we'll have success.''

This is the second straight home game the Rockies have had postponed by rain. Their scheduled game against San Francisco on April 26 was called before they headed out on a 1-5 road trip. The Giants-Rockies game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on May 23.

Colorado is hoping to gain some traction on its six-game homestand, even if the weather is supposed to be a little sketchy.

''Hopefully, fans come out and support us and we can play good baseball at home,'' shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Diamondbacks: INF Jake Lamb (left foot stress reaction) will be out of his boot Tuesday and cleared to walk on a treadmill. ... RHP Archie Bradley (fractured sinus) threw a side session, Hale said. Bradley was placed on the disabled list April 29 after getting hit in the face with a line drive off the bat of Colorado slugger Carlos Gonzalez. ... LHP Patrick Corbin (elbow) had his extended spring training start rained out. ''Tough for him, wanted to get that start in, but good for the city of Phoenix,'' Hale said. ''We need the rain.'' Corbin will pitch Tuesday.

Rockies: Colorado closer Adam Ottavino is concerned he will need Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Ottavino said a recent MRI revealed a partial ulnar collateral ligament tear. He will visit Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday for an evaluation. ''If he agrees, I'll get the surgery right then and there,'' Ottavino said.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: RHP Josh Collmenter (2-3) is scheduled to start Tuesday. The Diamondbacks are 9-0 in the last nine games he's pitched against Colorado.

Rockies: LHP Tyler Matzek (2-0) takes the mound for the first time since April 27, when he left his start at Arizona with a cramp in his left hamstring.