Colorado closer Huston Street started out slow this spring, but he’s expected to be the bullpen finisher the Rockies need.
The right-hander was named the closer before Colorado’s 7-4 victory over Arizona on Thursday at Tucson Electric Park wrapped up spring training in the area.
“This is what I came to camp to accomplish and it’s a role I feel comfortable with,” Street said. “There is a lot of responsibility that goes along with it. My teammates should expect me to not only get the job done but be prepared to get the job done.”
Street struggled with a minor injury and mechanical flaws after arriving in camp following his November trade with Oakland involving outfielder Matt Holliday.
The kinks have been worked out, as Street allowed five hits and one run over his last eight appearances.
“Every time I’ve stayed healthy I’ve been fine,” he said. “It’s those times when I go out there and push it, or those times when I’ve tried to be too much of a hero (that there has been a problem).”
Street concluded spring work with a 5.23 ERA, allowing six earned runs in 10 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking a pair.
Street beat out Manuel Corpas, who had better numbers. Corpas, who was the team’s closer at the beginning of last year, has a 0.90 ERA this spring.
The two are coming off seasons in which they lost their closer roles. Street suffered through a hip flexor to lose his spot to Brad Ziegler in Oakland.
Street, with 94 career saves, is using last year’s failure as motivation.
“There is no worse feeling in the world than having that taken away from you,” he said.