PHOENIX - Because of a sudden rainstorm, no statistical record will exist of the three innings the Rockies played or the progress Byung-Hyun Kim made Thursday.

Kim needed to pitch well and did, albeit in an outing limited to about half its scheduled length.

Pitching coach Bob Apodaca said the plan was for Kim to throw 100 pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers. He threw his 52nd pitch and 27th strike to Prince Fielder, jamming Fielder with a fastball and getting him to ground out to second base.

Fielder was the only batter Kim faced with a runner on second base.

"We've seen him good, and that was a three-inning shot of it right there," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He kept the ball down. He went up when he wanted to, spun the ball a couple times really well trying to get the ball in on some left-handers."

The Rockies took the field for the top of the fourth. The heavens opened as rain and hail pelted Maryvale Baseball Park. And in short order, the game was called.

After 21 Cactus League games, weather finally intruded upon the Rockies, who led 2-0 on John Mabry's two-run home run in the first when play ended.

Facing a lineup in which three of the eight position players were left-handed hitters, Kim allowed one hit - J.J. Hardy's one-out single in the first - in three innings with two walks and three strikeouts. He got five outs on flyballs to the outfield and Fielder's grounder plus the three strikeouts.

Corey Hart took a third strike in the second while No. 8 hitter Tony Graffanino in the second and pitcher Carlos Villanueva in the third went down swinging.

The Rockies are seeking to trade Kim, whose $2.5 million guaranteed salary and reluctance to pitch in relief muddles any deal. He has fallen behind Josh Fogg in the competition to be the fifth starter but after the shortened outing, when asked whether he wanted to stay with the Rockies, Kim said, "Yes, because this team gave me a chance to start. Hopefully, I'll be able to start here."

Against the Brewers, Kim issued two-out, bases-empty walks to Gabe Gross in the second and Hardy in the third. Other than those pitching sins, Apodaca said he was pleased with the way Kim went inside on right- and left-handed hitters, showing marked improvement from his last outing March 16 against the San Francisco Giants, when Kim surrendered eight hits, including two home runs, and eight runs in 4 2/3 innings.

"It may not have been an out, but he pitched a couple right- handers where he got really funny swings, checked swings," Apodaca said "Hart, he came in there and jammed him (1-0) and struck him out (two pitches later) on something away.

"The last batter, the left-hander Fielder, he really tied him up with a fastball in tight. (He did) things that he's been working real hard on - even sliders in on the left-handers."

Apodaca said Kim has had trouble throwing a two-seam, sinking fastball in on right-handers, so Apodaca suggested an alternative way to attack them inside.

"He just doesn't have the feel for that pitch yet," Apodaca said. "I said, 'Throw the four-seamer in there. That's got movement.' "

Kim had just started his third trip through the Brewers order when the outing ended. Would he have waded into trouble? Better yet, would he have minimized it? Or would he have kept along the same steady course?

Who knows? Kim threw 15 pitches in the first, 16 in the second and 21 in the third, making a shortened start and making notable progress.

In the strike zone, his misses were down. When he was coming inside, he missed inside. When he was going away, he missed away. He didn't miss out over the plate.

"(He was) down in the strike zone," Apodaca said.

"His misses were down. When he was coming inside, he missed inside. When he was going away, he missed away. He didn't miss out over the plate.

"And he worked quick. Two games ago, he worked exceptionally quick, pitched four great innings. (Against) San Francisco (on March 16), I thought it really slowed down to a four-corner delay. Then (Thursday) was very upbeat again."

Today's game

Rockies (Aaron Cook) vs. Chicago White Sox (Gavin Floyd) at 2:05 p.m. MDT, Hi Corbett Field, Tucson (FSN Rocky Mountain; no radio).

etkinj@RockyMountainNews.com

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