Rockies’ lefty Ben Bowden making a solid pitch for bullpen spot

MESA, Ariz. — Lefty Ben Bowden is having an excellent camp and he might be pitching his way onto the Rockies roster.

He tossed another scoreless inning of relief Tuesday against Oakland, notching two strikeouts. In eight Cactus League appearances, Bowden has posted a 1.35 ERA (one earned run over 6 1/3 innings) with 11 strikeouts and just two walks.

Manager Bud Black would like to have a left-hander in his bullpen but has said he won’t force the issue if he doesn’t think a pitcher is up to the task. Bowden, apparently over the back issues that have hampered his development, is doing everything he can to make the roster.

“The key for Ben is to stay healthy,” Black said earlier in camp. “If he does that, he’ll continue to build arm strength, he’ll get more repetitions. His pitching will become more polished. He really has conviction in his stuff. He’s on the attack.”

Oberg update. Right-hander Scott Oberg, returning from surgery to prevent reoccurring blood clots in his right arm, continues making progress. He threw another scoreless outing on Monday vs. Texas and has not allowed a run in four appearances.

“Yesterday, it was clean, maybe not as crisp as he was the previous couple (of appearances) to our critical eye, yet he put up a scoreless inning in a Cactus League game,” Black said. “We like where he is physically and mentally.”

Honoring Boulder victims. Flags flew at half-staff at Hohokam Stadium and the Athletics arranged for a moment of silence before Tuesday’s game to honor the victims of the shootings in Boulder.

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