Bergman heads back to majors

For the third time this season, former St. Francis High pitching star Christian Bergman is heading back up to the big leagues.

Bergman’s parent club, the Colorado Rockies, called up the 28-year-old right-handed reliever on Wednesday, the day before Major League rosters expanded from 25 players to 40.

The Glendale native had been pitching with the Rockies’ triple-A affiliate Albuquerque Isotopes and made his last appearance with the team Sunday.

Bergman began the season with the big club and made nine appearances that produced a 1-3 record and 5.89 earned-run average in 18 1/3 innings with 25 hits allowed and 19 strikeouts versus four walks.

Bergman injured his ribs in a contest in St. Louis on May 19 and did not return to the majors until Aug. 17, when he tossed one inning of relief and allowed two runs on a Bryce Harper home run.

Four days later, Bergman was sent back down to the minors.

At the triple-A level, Bergman is 3-3 with a 3.66 ERA in 10 starts and 51 2/3 innings pitched. He’s fanned 33, walked 12 and has allowed 52 hits.

With the Rockies, Bergman is 1-3 with a 6.52 ERA in 10 games (one start) and 19 1/3 innings pitched. He’s struck out 19 and walked four, but has allowed 27 hits and four homers.

Colorado just finished taking two of three games from the National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers and will open a home stand Friday versus the Arizona Diamondbacks.