GAME DAY

Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba suffered a first- degree sprain to his right ankle trying to beat out a groundball in the fifth inning of a 6-3 loss to Oakland at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Torrealba is expected to be recovered by the weekend. . . . Brad Hawpe lined a home run over the right-field fence on an 0-2 pitch from Jay Marshall, a left- handed pitcher with a sidearm motion. . . . Former Rockies left-hander Joe Kennedy remains the Athletics' likely fifth starter despite having allowed 31 hits, six walks and 22 runs in 9 2/3 innings of four appearances. That's a reason Oakland has have some interest in Rockies right-hander Byung-Hyun Kim.

NUMBERS GAME

3 home runs allowed by right-hander Jason Hirsh in five innings. He gave up only six hits, but they turned into six runs on home runs by Eric Chavez, Milton Bradley and Steve Swisher, who all batted left-handed.

GET USED TO IT

Kim might not like pitching in relief, but if he's going to be with the Rockies, that's where he fits and that's where he will be pitching.

He made his first relief appearance in a morning "B" game Sunday, will work one inning today and is scheduled to work an inning apiece Thursday and Friday.

Hurdle spoke with Kim about complaints he didn't get a fair chance to earn a rotation spot.

"I tried to explain the importance of some things to him, and he was professional about it," Hurdle said.

HE SAID IT

"I liked the efficiency."

Clint Hurdle, Rockies manager, on right-handed reliever Ramon Ramirez facing two batters and getting two outs with two pitches.