Chris Nelson wanted to show his toughness for the Rockies. He wanted to prove he could play through pain. He didn’t want to see Colorado Springs again. Then reality took over.

“I wasn’t helping the team out at all,” Nelson said. “And I wasn’t helping myself.”

The Rockies placed Nelson on the 15-day disabled list last week because of inflammation in his left wrist, and the struggling third baseman started a rehabilitation stint Monday for the Sky Sox, who lost to the Oklahoma City RedHawks 5-3 at Security Service Field.

MAY 21 SKY SOX REPORT: OKLAHOMA CITY 5, SKY SOX 3

Nelson went hitless in three at-bats in five innings, and after Wil Nieves brought the Sky Sox (23-21) even at 3-3 with a home run in the seventh, Mike Hessman lofted a two-run single off Zach Putnam (1-2) in the ninth. Rob Scahill had 10 strikeouts in a no-decision, allowing Oklahoma City (25-19) to take a 3-0 lead in the third. Adalberto Flores (3-0) got the win, and Jose Valdez got his 10th save after the Sky Sox loaded the bases in the ninth.

A first-round pick in the 2004 draft, Nelson, 26, was injury-prone in the minors before he broke into the majors in 2010, and he hurt his wrist April 25 while diving to field a ball at Pittsburgh. With Jonathan Herrera and Jordan Pacheco the only other options in what’s a revolving door at third, Nelson attempted to go as long as he could, and despite his seven RBIs and five doubles, his average sunk to .219, including a 2-for-32 effort on the road.

Sending Nelson to the Springs (he expects he’ll play for the Sky Sox until the end of the month after a team-high 21 games at third with the Rockies) makes the most sense. After all, Nelson needs to get some confidence, and he’s a .319 career hitter in Triple-A, having batted .329 last season with the Sky Sox, with 65 RBIs, 11 homers and 20 doubles.

“It’s the same approach. That’s the only way you can do it,” Nelson said, adding that his mentality “doesn’t change” with the Sky Sox. “I come out here and play ball,” he said.

How much Nelson plays with the Sky Sox will be largely determined by the Rockies, and in addition to wearing a small brace on his wrist, he’ll continue receiving treatment, with lots of ice after games. “We’re going to get him out there and play him, and hopefully he can get healthy and get back up there” with the Rockies, Sky Sox manager Stu Cole said.

Nelson insists his wrist injury isn’t something that will linger all season. “It feels good,” he said. About the pain, “It’s over with,” he said. “It’s behind me. I’m moving forward.”

Contact Brian Gomez: 719-636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazettedev.gazette.com. Facebook: Brian Gomez. Twitter: @gazetteskysox. Google+: Brian Gomez. For the Sky Sox homepage, visit http://www.gazettedev.gazette.com/sections/roxsox. For the Sky Sox blog, visit http://skysox.freedomblogging.com.

Third baseman Chris Nelson went hitless in three at-bats Monday in his first game of a rehabilitation stint, as the Sky Sox lost to the Oklahoma City RedHawks 5-3 at Security Service Field. The Rockies placed Nelson on the disabled list last week because of his injured left wrist, and Nelson expects to spend the rest of the month with the Sky Sox. Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Barry Gutierrez