, who got out of the inning with some nifty defence. With

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said Saturday it would be "hard pressed" for either Hisashi Iwakuma or Taijuan Walker to be in the Mariners rotation on opening day because of their injury setbacks during spring training. McClendon said the injuries to Iwakuma (finger) and Walker (shoulder) will open up chances for others in camp, but also leave a rotation that had questions entering spring training even more uncertain. "I always plan for the worst and our contingency plan has been that," McClendon said. "So like I said before this gives other guys opportunities to go out and see what they can do. Well see what happens." Iwakuma will have his right middle finger in a splint for another three weeks before throwing, while Walker is being shut down for a week because of inflammation in his right shoulder. By the time the duo make up for missed time on the mound it will be early- to mid-April before either is expected in a game. While Seattle is understandably cautious with the sore shoulder of the 21-year-old Walker because of his age, the finger injury has become frustrating for Iwakuma. When he went to see Dr. Don Sheridan on Friday, Iwakuma had the expectation that he could start throwing on Saturday. Instead, he was told to avoid throwing for three more weeks. The earliest Iwakuma is expected to pick up a ball is March 21. By the time he gets caught up on bullpen sessions and simulated games to get the needed innings to be ready for the season, itll likely be mid-April before he could join the Mariners rotation. "I was honestly disappointed and frustrated too at the same time, but you have to respect what the doctor says," Iwakuma said through an interpreter Saturday morning. "I was ready to play catch today so it is what it is and I have to wait three more weeks." Iwakuma went 14-6 with a 2.66 ERA in 33 starts last season and was a finalist for the AL Cy Young Award. Iwakuma reported for spring training wearing the splint and said his finger got caught as he tried to retrieve a ball in some netting while working out in Southern California on Jan. 20. McClendon also confirmed -- not surprisingly -- that Felix Hernandez is expected to be Seattles opening day starter when the Mariners open the season on March 31 against the Angels. "Unless youve got somebody else," McClendon joked. "Ill try and see if he can go opening day, the second day and the third day." Adidas NMD Clearance . The young man, never lacking confidence, thought he could be really good. NMD R1 Mens Sale . -- Oakland Athletics starting pitchers Jarrod Parker and A. http://www.nmdaustraliasale.com/nmd-racer-shoes-australia.html .com) - Coming off a pair of tough losses last week, the Syracuse Orange will try to put an end to their first losing skid of the season when they pay a visit to the Maryland Terrapins at the Comcast Center on Monday night in Atlantic Coast Conference action. NMD Online Australia .Y. - Lou Williams scored 21 points and the Toronto Raptors beat New York 81-76 on Monday night in the Knicks preseason home opener. NMD R1 Womens Sale . Although the deal cannot be made official until the free agent moratorium period is lifted on July 10, Patterson has agreed to a three-year, $18 million extension to remain in Toronto, sources confirm to TSN.DENVER -- Todd Helton has spent much of his career sending balls down the left-field line at spacious Coors Field. It was only fitting, then, that he reached a major milestone the same way. Helton doubled for his 2,500th career hit, Michael Cuddyer homered among his four hits and the Colorado Rockies overcame the loss of starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood to beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-4 on Sunday. Helton became the 96th player in major league history to reach 2,500 hits, and it came after a tough couple of days. Helton homered twice Friday to move within one hit of the milestone but went 0 for 4 on Saturday. He flied out, struck out and walked Sunday before facing reliever Curtis Partch in the seventh inning. "Every at-bat felt like it was getting longer and longer," Helton said. "I was getting a little concerned because I definitely wanted to get 2,500 here at home in front of the home crowd." Helton worked the count full against Partch before lacing a 96 mph fastball down the left-field line. He just beat the throw to second for his 584th career double. "A line-hugger that barely stayed fair, on a 3-2 count. Thats whats kept me in the league this long," Helton said. "Thats my bread and butter, to go the other way, especially with two strikes. To do it on the 2,500th is very fitting." It also was fitting he was called safe on a close play at second. "Ill probably remember the umpire yelling safe because he could have very easily yelled out," Helton said. He received a standing ovation from the crowd of 30,594 and tipped his helmet to the cheering fans. After the inning ended, the scoreboard showed a short highlight video of Heltons career. "As hes been closing in on it theres been a lot of excitement in the clubhouse," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "Its great to be a part of it. I got to see Todd in his very first game and to be here for his 2,500th hit, its a great experience for me. He showed up with a lot of hype and hes lived up to that hype. Every bit of it, and then some. Its been an amazing career." The Rockies had the game in hand before Heltons big moment after breaking it open in the fifth against Reds starter Mike Leake. DJ LeMahieus two-run double snapped a 2-all tie, Troy Tulowitzki walked and Cuddyer doubled to make it 5-2. Cuddyer finished 4 for 4 with three RBIs. Nolan Arenado, who homered earlier, added a sacrifice fly off reliever Alfredo Simon. Leake (11-6) allowed six runs on eight hits and struck out four in 4 1-3 innings. "It was a little frustratinng just because I wasnt throwing the ball exactly where I wanted today," Leake said.dddddddddddd. Cuddyers 18th home run leading off the seventh gave the Rockies a 7-2 cushion. "We couldnt get Cuddyer out," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. Cincinnati scored single runs in the eighth and ninth to get within three before Rex Brothers got the final out. Shin-Soo Choo homered and had three hits for the Reds. Chris Heisey was 4 for 4. Chatwood, activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game, left in the third with a bruised right thumb after he tried to catch Leakes line drive up the middle with his bare hand. He was checked by a team trainer and initially stayed in the game. The right-hander allowed a two-run homer to Choo, his 18th, and walked the next two batters before leaving. "It started swelling up a little bit and I kind of lost a little bit of feeling in it," Chatwood said. "Its frustrating. You wait a month to start and that happens. I had no feeling in my thumb." He was replaced by righty Adam Ottavino, who got out of the inning with some nifty defence. With runners on first and second and two outs, Heisey reached on an infield single up the middle. Joey Votto tried to score from second but Helton, who took a relay from Tulowitzki, wheeled and threw out Votto standing up. Ottavino (1-2) tossed three scoreless innings to get the win. The Rockies staked Chatwood to an early 2-0 lead on an RBI double by Cuddyer in the first and a leadoff homer by Arenado in the second. That helped Helton celebrate his milestone with a victory. The lifetime Rockie, who is strongly contemplating retirement at the end of this season, his 17th, wanted to reach 2,500 hits quickly so he could enjoy the final month of the year. "It took me three days to get it, so I had a lot of time to think about it," he said. "I was pretty grouchy last night and this morning. I started feeling a little bit of the pressure, so its a relief. I can go out and play and relax and finish this year with a bang." NOTES: Helton moved past Robin Yount into 17th place on the career doubles list. ... Plate umpire Brian ONora left abruptly in the top of the eighth due to illness. The game continued with three umps. ... The Rockies recalled INF Josh Rutledge from Triple-A before the game. ... The Reds recalled Partch, INF Henry Rodriguez and OF Derrick Robinson. ... Rockies RHP Chad Bettis (0-3) will open a three-game series against the Dodgers on Monday. ... Reds RHP Mat Latos (13-5) starts Monday against St. Louis. ' ' '