LOS ANGELES -- Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau said he hoped the neck stiffness he suffered a couple of games ago would subside well enough for him to be available off the bench Friday night and return to the starting lineup Saturday.
Chances were the left-handed hitting Morneau would not have started Friday, even if healthy, because the Dodgers started lefty ace Clayton Kershaw. But Morneau suffered neck stiffness after diving for a grounder in Wednesday night's loss to the Angels and was not well enough to play Thursday. Rosario started Thursday, and homered and singled off Dodgers lefty starter Brett Anderson.