Howard continues impressive spring training with Colorado

Fourth year pro and Cartersville native, Sam Howard, tossed another pair of shutout innings Saturday for the MLB Colorado Rockies in a Cactus League, spring training, 4-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners.

Howard, a non-roster invitee to the major league Rockies spring training camp, made his second appearance in relief for Colorado this spring. He had a previous two inning outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Saturday, Howard pitched the 5th and 6th innings against the Mariners.

In the fifth, he got a fly out from Tyler O’Neil, a line out to left field from Tyler Smith, and struck out Leonys Martin.

In the sixth inning, Howard got Jean Segura to ground out to third. Robinson Cano popped up to the shortstop, and he struck out Nelson Cruz.

In the two appearances combined this spring, the former Cartersville Hurricane has pitched four innings, allowed only one hit, no walks, and has struck out three. Opponents have a batting average against him of .077.

Colorado is 5-4 in Cactus League games this spring. Seattle improved to 6-2.

Howard spent the second half of the 2016 season with the Hartford Yard Goats in the Class AA Eastern League.