1 Big blasts power Marquez to first career win By Ben Weinrib and Owen Perkins / MLB.com | 1:19 AM ET DENVER -- German Marquez was exceptional in his first Major League start, and Nolan Arenado's grand slam powered the Rockies past the Cardinals, 11-1, at Coors Field on Wednesday. The loss kept the Cardinals tied with the Giants and Mets for the two National League Wild Card spots. Marquez baffled the Cardinals over five frames, allowing one run on four hits. He struck out three and walked one, with the only damage coming on Kolten Wong's second-inning sacrifice fly. Marquez was especially effective when he kept the ball low; he recorded six groundouts and two flyouts. I was mixing my fastball in and outside," Marquez said. "I was getting down my curveball for strikeouts and [putting] the hitters away. I was very confident. I need to work on my changeup. I need to throw it like a fastball." Most of the Rockies' offense came early, as they chased Cardinals starter Luke Weaver after two innings. DJ LeMahieu drove in Charlie Blackmon on a first-inning sacrifice fly, and Arenado broke open the game with his first slam of the season one frame later. "It was a fastball in," Weaver said. "A lot of the fastballs were moving. I definitely needed that two-seam to move in, and it was the only fastball that stayed straight. It's very frustrating, because I'm trying to throw a pitch to get in there, and for it to flatten out at such a big moment is disappointing." Reliever Jaime Garcia stymied the Rockies for four innings, but Colorado added five more runs upon his exit on LeMahieu's double, Gerardo Parra's single and Tom Murphy's three-run homer in the seventh. MEDIA CLIPS – September 22, 2016
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1
Big blasts power Marquez to first career win
By Ben Weinrib and Owen Perkins / MLB.com | 1:19 AM ET
DENVER -- German Marquez was exceptional in his first Major League start, and Nolan Arenado's grand slam powered
the Rockies past the Cardinals, 11-1, at Coors Field on Wednesday. The loss kept the Cardinals tied with the Giants and
Mets for the two National League Wild Card spots.
Marquez baffled the Cardinals over five frames, allowing one run on four hits. He struck out three and walked one, with
the only damage coming on Kolten Wong's second-inning sacrifice fly. Marquez was especially effective when he kept
the ball low; he recorded six groundouts and two flyouts.
I was mixing my fastball in and outside," Marquez said. "I was getting down my curveball for strikeouts and [putting] the
hitters away. I was very confident. I need to work on my changeup. I need to throw it like a fastball."
Most of the Rockies' offense came early, as they chased Cardinals starter Luke Weaver after two innings. DJ
LeMahieu drove in Charlie Blackmon on a first-inning sacrifice fly, and Arenado broke open the game with his first slam
of the season one frame later.
"It was a fastball in," Weaver said. "A lot of the fastballs were moving. I definitely needed that two-seam to move in, and it
was the only fastball that stayed straight. It's very frustrating, because I'm trying to throw a pitch to get in there, and for it
to flatten out at such a big moment is disappointing."
Reliever Jaime Garcia stymied the Rockies for four innings, but Colorado added five more runs upon his exit on
LeMahieu's double, Gerardo Parra's single and Tom Murphy's three-run homer in the seventh.
RBI-leader Arenado's slam catalyzes Rockies Third baseman needs two runs batted in to match career high from 2015 By Ben Weinrib / MLB.com | September 21st, 2016
DENVER -- Even if his name doesn't appear high on voters' lists for the National League Most Valuable Player Award,
Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is happy to just keep contributing for his team.
Wednesday was no exception, as he led the way offensively in the Rockies' 11-1 win over the Cardinals with a grand
slam in a 2-for-3 afternoon at Coors Field.
Arenado's Statcast-projected 424-foot shot in the second was key for the Rockies, as it gave them the lead after the
Cardinals tied the game in the top of the inning.
"It felt good," Arenado said. "You walk [Carlos Gonzalez] on four pitches, and I was just ready to hit. I was like, 'First
pitch, he might throw a fastball to try to get ahead here.' I was just ready to hit. He threw it middle-in, and I just put a good
swing on it. I think he missed his spot, and I was able to take advantage of it."
Those four RBIs bring Arenado's season total to 128, which leads the Majors. Last season he led the National League
with 130 RBIs -- 20 more than second-place Paul Goldschmidt drove in -- yet Arenado was eighth in NL MVP voting with
no first- or second-place votes.
"At the end of the day, it feels like the MVP every year is on a winning team," said Arenado, whose Rockies finished last in
their division at 68-94. "You've got to win ballgames, I feel like, to get that trophy, unless you have a spectacular year like
Bryce Harper last year, which is a unique year. I'm just happy I'm staying consistent.
"My thing is after last year, a lot of people were questioning if I could do it again. I'm happy I'm able to put those questions
to rest by having another good year. I'm just focused on helping the team win, and good things are happening."
Arenado is three homers shy of his career high of 42 with 10 games to go, but he already set a career high with 111 runs,
and his .294 average is seven points higher than his previous best.
"The home runs would be great to eclipse, but that's hard to do, so I'm not too worried about the home runs, but the RBIs
is something I really want to beat," Arenado said. "I know I'm pretty close, but either way, it's hard. Whatever I do the rest
of the year, I'll be happy. I definitely want to drive in more runs."
Brett Anderson and the Dodgers look to inch closer to a fourth straight National League West title as they take on Tyler
Chatwood and the Rockies on Thursday.
Anderson will be making his third start of the season and his second since Aug. 20, after which he spent time of the 15-
day disabled list with a left index finger blister. He only lasted a combined four innings in his two starts, giving up 11 runs
on 14 hits with one strikeout, three walks, and three homers.
Chatwood has been excellent on the road this season -- his 1.77 road ERA paces qualifying Major League pitchers by
more than 30 points. He had one of his best starts of the season at Dodger Stadium on June 6, when he limited Los
Angeles to one run over eight one-hit innings. However, Chatwood has struggled of late, with at least six runs given up in
three of his past four starts.
Entering Wednesday, the Dodgers have a five-game lead over the Giants in the NL West with 10 games remaining in the
regular season. Los Angeles' last three games are in San Francisco.
Three things to know about this game
• Second baseman Chase Utley (3-for-12) and third baseman Justin Turner (2-for-10) have struggled against Chatwood,
but no Dodgers batter has faced him more than Adrian Gonzalez, who is 6-for-22 (.273) with a homer and three walks.
• Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu extended his franchise record on-base streak to 37 games on Wednesday. The
streak has helped raise his batting average to a Major League-leading .351.
• Colorado center fielder Charlie Blackmon extended his hitting streak to 10 games on Wednesday. He joins Houston's
Jose Altuve (five) and the Boston's Dustin Pedroia (six) as the only players in the Majors to have five or more hitting
streaks of 10 or more games.
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Cardinals, Rockies battle it out in the form of a pregame standoff By Gemma Kaneko, Ben Weinrib and Owen Perkins / MLB.com | September 21st, 2016 Before Wednesday's Cardinals-Rockies game had even begun, St. Louis had already tallied a win. Well, when it comes to
anthem standoffs, anyway. Perhaps inspired by the Brewers and Reds last week, or, you know, any anthem standoff in
the past decade, the Rockies' Carlos Estevez and the Cardinals' Jose Martinez heard the song end … and then they just
kept standing there.
Estevez had plenty of support from his teammates. Boone Logan even fitted him with a catcher's mask, probably so he'd
be protected from stray balls in case he was still on the field when the game started. Or maybe there was another reason.
"I was laughing, so it was a good thing I had the mask," said Estevez. "Because I was supposed to stay serious about it."
Don't worry, the rest of the Cardinals weren't about to leave Martinez out to dry -- they did quite literally the opposite:
The standoff went on so long that umpire Jim Joyce even tried to get Walt Weiss and Mike Matheny to intervene. But
there was no need -- eventually Martinez was victorious:
"The umpire asked my why I did that," Martinez said. "Pena said stand out there and don't move. He's a veteran, and
when a veteran tells you what to do, as a rookie, you have to listen to him. I was acting like I wasn't listening [to the
umpire]. It's a game. The most important thing is to have fun. And to win. It's a win for us."
But there was a little strategy behind Estevez's concession. He lost the battle, you might say, only to win the war. Turns
out, the Rockies defeated the Cardinals, 11-1.
"Walt told me they were going they were going to kick me out of the game," Estevez said. "We'd have one less bullpen
guy, and they only got a pinch hitter. If they kick him out, they'll have some more, but this [was] not the case [for us]."
German Marquez picks up victory in first start as Rockies down Cardinals Marquez flashed the talent that made him Eastern League pitcher of the year this season By Nick Kosmider / The Denver Post | September 21st, 2016
German Marquez’s first taste of the major leagues came two weeks ago on a cool day in San Diego, when he entered the
game on the wrong end of a blowout and was promptly shelled.
The Rockies, however, knew their first true look at the 21-year-old right-hander wouldn’t come until they plugged him into
his natural spot as a starter. They did so Wednesday afternoon at Coors Field against the playoff-chasing St. Louis
Cardinals.
Colorado discovered it just might have another promising rotation candidate for 2017.
Marquez flashed the talent that made him the Eastern League pitcher of the year this season in an 11-1 victory. He
received all the support he needed from Nolan Arenado’s grand slam.
Marquez used a diverse array of pitches that included a four-seam fastball, a cutter, a curveball and a changeup. He
effectively mixed speed and location and worked with good pace. He surrendered only one run on four hits in five innings,
striking out three, walking one and hitting two batters.
“He was really impressive,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. “It was easy velocity, very effortless. He commanded the
ball and had a very good curveball and great poise.”
Marquez’s four-seam fastball hovered from 94-96 mph, and he found success with a looping curveball that bottomed out
around 76 mph. Throw in an 83 mph changeup, and Marquez gave the Cardinals plenty to think about.
The only damage against Marquez came in the second inning, on a sacrifice fly from Kolten Wong that scored Jeremy
Hazelbaker, who had doubled. Marquez didn’t allow any runner past second base after that.
“I was mixing my fastball and getting my curveball down for strikes,” Marquez said. “I was putting hitters away. It felt
wonderful, man. I was excited.”
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The Rockies gave their young starter plenty of cushion. DJ LeMahieu drove in Charlie Blackmon with a sacrifice fly in the
first inning. In the second, after Blackmon singled in Daniel Descalso, Gonzalez drew a two-out walk to load the bases.
Arenado crushed a first-pitch fastball from Luke Weaver 424 feet into the left-field bleachers.
The grand slam, the fourth of his career, extended Arenado’s National League leads in home runs (39) and RBIs (128).
Arenado heads into the Rockies’ final road trip with a chance to eclipse his career-high totals of 42 home runs and 130
RBIs, which he set last season.
“I’m just happy that I’m staying consistent,” Arenado said. “After last year, a lot of people were questioning if I could do it
again. I’m happy I’m able to put those questions to rest by having another good year. I’m just focused on helping the team
win and good things are happening.”
LeMahieu went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, extending his career-best on-base streak to 37 consecutive games.
He also raised his NL-leading batting average to .351, four points ahead of the Washington Nationals’ Daniel Murphy,
whose team played Wednesday night. Blackmon had three hits and scored three runs.
Rockies catcher Tom Murphy hit a three-run homer in the seventh, his fifth since being called up by the Rockies on Sept.
2.
Chris Rusin, who has been the Rockies’ best reliever over the past month, struck out five during two scoreless innings of
relief. The left-hander has not surrendered a run since Aug. 24.
The loss was a damaging one for the Cardinals, who entered the day in a three-way tie for the top NL wild-card spot with
the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets.
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Carlos Estevez, Jose Martinez start Rockies game with classic standoff By Jeff Bailey / The Denver Post | September 22nd, 2016
We have more national anthem controversy on our hands, this time it was lighthearted. This controversy involved Rockies
right-hander Carlos Estevez and St. Louis Cardinals starter Jose Martinez who competed in a post anthem standoff. After
the anthem was finished playing, both men stayed out standing on their respective baselines in a game of chicken. Who’s
going to leave first.
Martinez got an assist from catcher Yadier Molina who came out to wipe the sweat off his forehead and fanned him down
with a towel. Cardinals shortstop Aledmys Diaz also came to the rescue of Martinez and dusted off his spikes during the
ordeal.
The Rockies wouldn’t be outdone and safety first was their motto. Estevez was given a catchers mask to wear so he
would be protected from foul balls near the first base coaching box. Rockies shortstop Cristhian Adames also assisted
Esteves and sprayed him down with sunscreen, indicating he was in for the long haul.
Home plate umpire Chad Fairchild was taken back after indicating to both players it was time to play ball. Umpire crew
chief Jim Joyce ended up stepping in before a pitch was thrown and ordered both managers to have the players return to
their respective dugouts so the game could start. The Rockies ended up dropping another one as the Cardinals won the
national anthem standoff.
This isn’t the first time a post national anthem standoff has happened. Most famously was the standoff between former
Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly, and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Scott Val Slyke. This was an epic standoff that occurred
during the 2013 National League Championship Series.
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Tom Murphy slugging homers for Rockies, but also maturing behind the plate By Patrick Saunders / The Denver Post | September 22nd, 2016 Catcher Tom Murphy’s raw power is impossible to ignore, but it’s his more subtle skills behind the plate that have caught
the Rockies’ attention.
The rookie shined Saturday night when rookie right-hander Jon Gray struck out a franchise-record 16 batters in a
complete-game, four-hit shutout. Wednesday afternoon, Murphy called the game for right-hander German Marquez, who
was making his first major-league start. Marquez, 21, allowed one run on four hits over five innings to notch his first win as
Colorado routed St. Louis 11-1.
“The last two games behind the plate have been very, very good for Murph,” manager Walt Weiss said. “We’ve seen
some good things from him. Not only in catching a very good pitching performance, but thinking along with the pitcher,
receiving the ball and blocking the ball. He’s an impressive kid, and physically, he certainly passes the eye test back
there.”
In 29 at-bat since his call-up from Triple-A on Sept. 2, Murphy has slugged five home runs, including a three-run homer in
the seventh inning Wednesday. He hit three homers in 35 at-bats in his September cameo a year ago.
But it’s his work behind the plate, and his connection to the pitchers that has been Murphy’s primary focus. He said he’s
making strides.
“Without a doubt,” Murphy said. “Just having one more year of experience with these guys goes a long ways. I feel more
confident.”
Standoff. The game’s first pitch was delayed a few minutes by a good-natured standoff following the national anthem. As
players filed into their respective dugouts or to their positions in the field, Rockies rookie reliever Carlos Estevez and
Cardinals outfielder Jose Martinez were left to a game of “Who would blink first.”
“It was taking a little longer and I said, ‘OK, this is it. I’ve got to stay now,’ ” said Estevez, who credited the catcher’s mask
he wore for disguising his laughter during the standoff.
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Ultimately, Weiss called Estevez off after a warning of ejections from home-plate umpire Chad Fairchild. That left Martinez
strutting back into the Cardinals’ dugout to much celebration.
“It was fun,” Estevez said. “I was laughing. Good thing I had the mask because I was supposed to stay serious.”
Footnotes. Nolan Arenado’s grand slam in the second inning was the Rockies’ seventh of the season, one shy of the
franchise record set in 2007 and 2012. Their seven slams are tied for the most in the majors this season. … Marquez
became the second-youngest player (21 years, 212 days) in Rockies history to record his first win. The youngest was
Jamey Wright (21 years, 206 days) on July 17, 1996 vs. San Francisco. … Left fielder Jordan Patterson got his first start
and his first hit with a single to center in the second inning. He became the ninth Rockies player this season to record a
first hit, which is tied for the franchise record.
Looking ahead
Rockies RHP Tyler Chatwood (11-9, 4.13 ERA) at Dodgers LHP Brett Anderson (0-2, 24.75), 8:10 p.m. Thursday, ROOT,
850 AM.
Anderson, who made eight starts for the Rockies in 2014 before he was injured, has been hurt for most of his two
seasons with the Dodgers. He missed four months this season after undergoing back surgery, then came off the disabled
list for two starts, then went back on the DL because of a blister on a finger of his left hand. It’s an important start for
Anderson, who’s out to prove he can be part of Los Angeles’ postseason rotation. In his two starts this season, he has
been charged with 11 runs across four innings, hence the 24.75 ERA. Chatwood hopes to rebound from a bad outing at
Coors Field. He’s likely to do so, considering that he’s 7-1 with a 1.77 ERA in 11 road starts this season. The right-hander
is 3-2 with a 1.36 ERA in six career starts at Dodger Stadium.
Friday: Rockies RHP Jon Gray (10-8, 4.42 ERA) at Dodgers RHP Jose De Leon (2-0, 5.52), 8:10 p.m. ROOT
Saturday: Rockies RHP Chad Bettis (13-7, 4.79) at Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (11-3, 1.73), 7:10 p.m., ROOT
Sunday: Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (5-6, 3.58) at Dodgers LHP Rich Hill (12-5, 2.05), 2:10 p.m., ROOT
Monday: Off
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Colorado Rockies blow out St. Louis Cardinals in Marquez’s first major-league start The Rockies’ offense exploded early and late. By Ryan Schoppe / Purple Row | September 21, 2016
The Colorado Rockies avoided a sweep at the hand of the St. Louis Cardinals behind two five-run innings and a strong
Germán Márquez start.
Márquez continued the season-long year of the rookie for the Rockies in his first major-league start. Working with a
reduced pitch count, since it had been 18 days since his last start, Marquez still pitched five solid innings, throwing 82
pitches and 50 strikes. Márquez was as promised, showing a dancing fastball that varied between the low and mid 90s,
and a strong curveball that devastated the Cardinals hitters when he was able to set it up with his fastball command.
Márquez will still be a rookie next year, along with Jeff Hoffman and Raimel Tapia. An “year of the rookie encore” might be
in order.
Two hit by pitches were the biggest blemish on Márquez’s line, as he allowed only four hits, a walk, and one earned run.
Both hit by pitches were on curveballs that appeared to have slipped from his grip.
The Rockies scored a run in the first inning due to a two-base error by Luke Weaver, who tried to pick Charlie Blackmon
off first base. The Cardinals tied it up in the top of the second after a lead-off bloop double down the left-field line.
In the bottom of the second, the Rockies gave the pitching staff all the support they would need. With one run already
scored on a Blackmon RBI single, the Cardinals pitched around Carlos González to load the bases for Nolan Arenado,
who hit the first pitch he saw over the left field wall for a grand slam and a 6-1 Rockies lead. It was the seventh Rockies
grand slam of the season.
The Rockies scored five runs in the eighth inning as well, with the highlight being a three-run Tom Murphy homer. Murphy
has kept his hot streak going since his September call-up
Chris Rusin and Jordan Lyles combined to strike out eight batters in three innings of scoreless relief before Matt Carasiti
pitched a scoreless ninth and ended the game with a nice defensive play of his own.
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Notes:
The Hartford Yard Goats had six players named to the Easter League All-Star game this year. Five of those players,
Ramiel Tapia, David Dahl, Carasiti, Marquez and Pat Valaika all made appearances for the Rockies today. Dillon
Thomas, who is not on the Rockies 40-man roster, was the only Yard Goat All-Star missing.
At 21 years 212 days, Germán Márquez was the third youngest Rockies pitcher to make a start in franchise history.
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One last ‘Hip, Hip Jorge’ for Rockies’ De La Rosa Jorge De La Rosa may have ended his Rockies career last night and finished his story as the most underappreciated player this team has ever had. By Connor Farrell / Purple Row | September 21, 2016
Last night, in front of 28,665 people, Jorge De La Rosa appeared to close the book on his Rockies career. The lefty
struggled in the game, going only 4.2 innings and giving up seven earned runs in an unfitting end to the man they’ve
called The King of Coors.
De La Rosa was never a star. He was never the guy you tell your friends about when they ask about the Rockies; he was
never the draw when you turned on the game. But, he never had to be. He was never supposed to be.
Through 9 seasons, Jorge started 200 games for the Rockies, logging more than 1,100 innings and striking out nearly
1,000 batters. Jorge was never flashy nor was he ever an All-Star, but he was consistent. In nearly every single Rockies
season that he pitched in, he was exactly what the club needed.
What Jorge means to the Rockies, and what Jorge means to the fans that have watched the majority of those 1,100
innings and 985 strikeouts, is likely to be understated by just about everyone now that he’s gone. The 35-year-old left-
hander quietly became the greatest starting pitcher in team history with his consistency and his outstanding ability to
manage Coors through even the warmest, rowdiest, run explosion games. Now, that’s just a memory, it’s past tense.
Consistency becomes the totem of life. People complain about the monotony of traffic, the drone of their desk job, the
home life that never changes. But without it, we collapse. People are not meant to live with the stress of new, changing
adventures every day. We are creatures of habit, and we need these things to survive so that when things get tough, we
know there’s something to hold onto—something that will remain the same.
My friend once told me a story about how he deals with life when it becomes too much. He goes to Wendy’s, he orders
one cheeseburger, and he eats it. It doesn’t matter if he’s hungry; he’s not eating the burger to get a meal. It’s because he
knows that no matter what life throws at him, no matter how weird and unpredictable it can be sometimes, that Wendy’s
cheeseburger is going to taste the same. The lettuce, the mayonnaise, the grease from the fryer, it’s always the same.
The cheeseburger is stability and knowledge in the face of chaos.
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Perhaps that was Jorge’s greatest legacy. Apart from some bad Aprils and the eventual decline with age, Jorge offered
this team and the fans a Wendy’s cheeseburger. In those moments where the season started to unravel, when injuries
and inconsistent play doomed yet another Rockies season, Jorge offered sanity. He offered six innings, two runs, and five
strikeouts. He offered a chance for a happy night when nobody else would. Now, those are memories; they are past
tense.
He had to go, that’s not the debate. The Rockies are building a new, younger, higher-powered rotation, and Jorge doesn’t
fit anymore. He’s 35, he’s declining, and it’s time to move on.
But that doesn’t make this easier. We can pretend like this doesn’t bother us emotionally, the same way we pretend a girl
not texting us back after a few dates isn’t a big deal or how we pretend we don’t think about our worst fights with our
parents for years as we try to sleep. For nine years, we knew we had Jorge and now we don’t anymore. That means
something.
In 2009, with arguably the greatest team in franchise history, Jorge turned in one of the best years of his career: a 16-9
season with 193 strikeouts in 185 innings. One year after being acquired from the Kansas City Royals for Ramon
Ramirez, De La Rosa was a rock in the middle of a very good rotation on a very good team. Only Ubaldo Jimenez had a
better FIP but not even the flame thrower himself had a better K/9. De La Rosa’s impact on the last good Rockies team
was never as high as Troy Tulowitzki’s or CarGo’s but it was important nonetheless.
2013 may be even more important, though the Rockies were terrible as the season caved to injuries and lack of
consistency behind the top two starters in the rotation, Jorge was again the totem. De La Rosa was the consistency in one
of the wildest, most up and down seasons in team history. He turned in his best season just two years after Tommy John.
A 3.49 ERA, a 128 ERA+, only 170 hits in 714 batters faced. If fortunes had turned and the Rockies had constructed more
depth on their roster, maybe that 2013 team would’ve made the playoffs. Maybe we’d be talking about Jorge more
glowingly.
But baseball isn’t fair, life isn’t fair, and Jorge probably knows that more than anyone. The Rockies should’ve won more
with Jorge—they should’ve won more with a lot of their players—but the fact they didn’t win more is maybe why Jorge’s
time isn’t as well regarded in some circles as it is in this post.
18
But we can’t throw out Jorge’s legacy, and we can’t throw out what he really meant to us because of our frustrations with
rosters that didn’t live up to their billing. Some will celebrate his departure. Some will feel nothing if they see him wear
another team’s cap.
To them, Jorge’s just another player. Another pitcher in a long line that they saw struggle at least once from their seats on
a Sunday. But to some of us—to me—Jorge’s a lighthouse in a monsoon. When I was fed up with the Rockies and vowed
to never watch them again, Jorge reminded me why I still tuned in. Jorge reminded me that through all of the complaints
and the heartbreak, Ilike this team.
Barring an unlikely chain of events, Jorge’s done with the Rockies now; he’s past tense. But we shouldn’t forget what he
did for us. Our totem, our morning drive, our fast food hamburger. Jorge was consistency, something we all wish to
represent.
19
German Marquez Makes Big Impact in First Colorado Start By Kevin Henry / Rox Pile | September 21, 2016
The Colorado Rockies finally figured out how to beat the St. Louis Cardinals in Denver. It just took giving a rookie pitcher
his first Major League start.
German Marquez spun five masterful innings in his first outing as a Rockies starter as Colorado avoided a sweep at the
hands of the Cardinals with an 11-1 decision. The win gave Colorado two wins in six outings against the Redbirds this
season and snapped a four-game skid against St. Louis.
For the 21-year-old right-hander, his first start came in his fourth big league appearance since making his debut on
September 8. He made sure it was worth the wait for Colorado fans.
Marquez allowed just one run over five innings, scattering four hits. He also struck out three and walked just one in his 82-
pitch performance.
Nolan Arenado would give his rookie teammate all the runs he would need in the second inning, launching a grand slam
off St. Louis starter Luke Weaver (a fellow rookie). It was Arenado’s 39th homer of the season and highlighted a five-run
second-inning explosion for the Rockies.
But on Wednesday, the focus was clearly on Marquez and his solid start. Marquez recorded his first Major League win
and became the second-youngest player (21 years, 212 days) in Rockies history to record his first Major League win.
Only Jamey Wright (21 years, 206 days on July 17, 1996 against San Francisco) was earlier.
Thinking back to when Marquez was almost considered a throw-in player as part of the trade that also brought Jake
McGee to Denver and sent Corey Dickerson to Tampa Bay, it’s hard to imagine the harvest the Rockies could potentially
reap in years ahead. At the time, it was labeled as “the Corey Dickerson trade.” With days like today, it could easily be
renamed “the German Marquez trade.”
“He didn’t give us a lot of opportunities,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said of Marquez after the game. “We kind of
created one early. He did a nice job of shutting it down. Good stuff. Good movement. Good life.”
And seemingly plenty of good things ahead for Marquez and a young, talented Colorado Rockies pitching staff as well.