The Colorado Rockies defeated the Houston Astros 5-1 on Tuesday night. Germán Márquez out-dueled Justin Verlander and went seven strong innings, allowing just three hits and striking out seven, to set the team up for the win.
Key moment for Márquez
The Rockies starter entered the bottom of the seventh inning with a 3-1 lead and having thrown 90 pitches. It looked like he had recorded a key second out with a runner on second by striking out Josh Reddick. Reddick’s swing was so bad, however, that he clipped Tony Wolters’s glove and went to first base.
It was a moment that could have swung the game and led to key match-ups with the tying run on base. Say what you will about Bud Black—and people do, especially about his lineups—but he flexed all of his skills when it comes to reading and managing a young pitching staff. He left Márquez in and talked to him on the mound to fire him up. Márquez proceeded to retire Evan Gattis and Kyle Tucker to escape the trouble and finish his gem of a start.
Nolan Arenado, designated hitter
The Rockies were baffled by Verlander for most of the night. They did their only damage against him when Carlos González reached on a softly hit single and was on base for Arenado. Serving as the DH for the night, Arenado put a ridiculously good swing on a fastball and hit a two-run shot to give the Rockies the lead.
Home run #30 for #28!#NolanBeingNolan pic.twitter.com/zSMKa4Bwcp
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) August 15, 2018
Offense adds on late
Tony Wolters, Trevor Story, and Charlie Blackmon delivered big hits to keep adding to the lead, a welcome sight given the heartbreaking losses of the last road trip. The RBI double from Wolters to add the third run felt especially huge, perhaps because it was also so unexpected.
Looking ahead
The Rockies will try to make it three out of four in the season series with the Astros on Wednesday. Tyler Anderson will start against Gerrit Cole.