May 16, 2008 5:35 PM

Chaz Roe and others

Chaz Roe threw a 96-pitch complete game Thursday in extended spring training and is scheduled to start Wednesday for high Single-A Modesto. Roe, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee at the outset of minor league spring training, is scheduled to make two starts for Modesto, where he pitched last year, and then join Double-A Tulsa's rotation.

Tulsa second baseman Eric Young Jr. is expected to spend about two more weeks in extended spring training as he recovers from surgery to remove a broken hamate bone in his left hand.

Reliever Darren Clarke, who made two appearances for the Rockies last year and had his season cut short with Tulsa by shoulder problems, is about 10 days away from leaving extended spring training, where he is recovering from a shoulder impingement.

Returns aren't imminent for Modesto shortstop Hector Gomez and Tulsa reliever Pedro Strop, both in extended spring training. Strop has a stress fracture in his right elbow is still shut down. Gomez, who in the first game of the season fouled a ball off his left shin, which caused a stress fracture, has been running and is starting to swing a bat.

Right-handed pitcher Sean Smith is on the disabled list at Triple-A Colorado Springs with a strained muscle in his left rib cage. He has made three appearances and one start for the Sky Sox, the last on May 1. The Rockies acquired Smith on April 24 to complete the Dec. 8 deal that sent infielder Jamey Carroll.

Shane Lowe is playing center field in extended spring training, making the conversion from third base and playing a good deal more relaxed. Lowe, who turns 21 in August, is expected to return to Rookie Casper in his new position after a trying year there in 2007 when he hit .170 with one homer and five RBI in 40 games with 79 strikeouts in 135 at-bats. He also made 19 errors in 30 games at third base that left him with an .810 fielding percentage.

--Jack Etkin

Posted by Jack Etkin at 5:35 PM | Comments (4)