TUCSON - Jason Hirsh's biggest battle to make the Rockies rotation is with himself.

So far, he is winning.

"There is nothing more for him he can do at Triple-A," Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca said. "That's why, to me, he'd have to pitch himself off the team."

No official announcement on the final two spots in the rotation has been made. The Rockies have two more weeks in Arizona before heading north, so things can change.

And Hirsh isn't taking anything for granted.

"I'm trying to make the team, and I might put a little pressure on myself," he said.

Hirsh, though, answered plenty of questions about his resiliency in the Rockies' 5-2 victory against Oakland on Thursday afternoon at Hi Corbett Field.

It wasn't a masterpiece, but it was impressive.

He gave up one run in five innings, and he did it the hard way.

Hirsh walked the first three batters he faced. He fell behind 3-1 in the count to Eric Chavez, the fourth batter of the game, before getting Chavez to foul off a changeup and ground a curveball into a double play, which scored a run. Hirsh then struck out Nick Swisher, and he shut out the Athletics the next four innings.

Hirsh pitched out of a first-and- third, one-out jam in the second inning and stranded Shannon Stewart after a leadoff double in the third.

"It wasn't all that pretty, but you can get more out of being tested and executing than you can (from) an easy day," Apodaca said. "This was encouraging, that he would throw those pitches in that situation."

As encouraging as anything is the fact Hirsh faced legitimate major league hitters in those clutch situations.

He got Chavez and Swisher in the first. He got Jason Kendall to pop up, ending the second. After Stewart's double in the third, Hirsh faced the 3-4-5 of the Athletics lineup, Milton Bradley (groundball to first), Chavez (strike out) and Swisher (bouncer back to the mound).

"He was able to stay away from the big inning," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He kept his composure. He did not rattle. He got stronger as the game went on."

Hirsh retired 11 of the last 12 and each of the last nine batters he faced. He didn't get to a three- ball count after the first inning.

"I went out (Thursday) and showed Clint and the staff that I could have a rough start and I can put it together and minimize the damage," Hirsh said. "I showed how I react to adversity."

Making his escape from the first-inning jam even more impressive is the fact he had given up seven runs in his previous start, Saturday against the Chicago White Sox, and was pulled with two out in the fourth when he issued back-to-back walks, loading the bases.

This time, he regrouped and got the job done.

"The first inning (Thursday) was a fluke thing," Hirsh said. "I just needed to calm down. I could feel the tension in my shoulders. I just needed to take a deep breath and pitch. I had to stop being so mechanical."

Lesson learned, Apodaca said. In watching Hirsh's bullpen session between starts, Apodaca discussed the issue.

"When we are in side sessions, we talk about mechanical issues and work on them, but when you go between the lines, you just have to pitch," Apodaca said. "You concentrate on them in the bullpen so that reaction is natural when you get in the game."

His ability is noted.

He was the Double-A Texas League Pitcher of the Year two years ago.

He was the Triple-A Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year last year.

His career path has him in the majors this year.

"I'm not sure he needs more seasoning," Hurdle said.

What he needs to do is relax.

"You can't ask him to go to Triple-A," Apodaca said. "Now he has to make it over a legitimate hurdle, into the big leagues. . . . He has the abilities to do that, but he's dealing with a lot of newness right now. He is in a new organization, with a new coaching staff, with a new catcher. Sometimes you try to make too good of an impression.

"He doesn't have to be any better than he is. He's already good enough."

Today's game

Rockies (Byung-Hyun Kim) vs. Giants (Matt Cain), 2:05 p.m. MDT, Scottsdale (Ariz.) Stadium (No television or radio).

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