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John Axford has closer job, will watch toddler son throw first pitch Friday

MLB, Colorado Rockies

With closer Adam Ottavino possibly done for the season with a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament, Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss said he's comfortable giving the job to John Axford. 

"He's got a slow heartbeat in the ninth inning,'' Weiss said Tuesday of Axford. "He's got the weapons to get three of the toughest outs in the game.''

Axford missed time last month to be with his 2-year-old son, Jameson, who was bitten twice on a foot by a rattlesnake. He was reinstated April 22 after his son returned from the hospital and has been stellar in his brief body of work so far in 2015, saving three games with five scoreless innings pitched, giving up three hits while striking out six and walking two batters.

Jameson Axford will throw out the first pitch at the Rockies' game at Coors Field on Friday.

"It'll put a smile on my face, for sure," Axford said, according to MLB.com. "Maybe tears in my eyes, too."

As for the closer's role, Axford said he's capable of doing the job for the Rockies.

"I will do what needs to be done, and that's to get outs when we need them and hopefully save some ballgames," Axford said, according to the Denver Post. "It's so unfortunate with what happened to 'Otto,' and you don't want to fall into a job in that light, but I'm going to do the best I can."

Axford, 32, led the National League with 46 saves in 2011 for the Milwaukee Brewers before losing the job each of the next two seasons. He was removed as closer in July 2012 but asked to be reinstated as closer in August and converted 17 of his final 18 save opportunities, finishing with 35. He lost the job for good in 2013 and eventually was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals.

He pitched for the Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates last season before signing as a free agent with the Rockies this offseason.

Ottavino said Monday a recent MRI revealed a partial UCL tear in his right elbow, which could mean he needs Tommy John surgery. He will visit Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday for an evaluation and could have the operation "right then and there," the pitcher said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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