NewsMarquis' struggles send Rockies to loss
Righty allows five runs in five frames; Rox hit three homers
By Thomas Harding / MLB.com
09/03/09 7:26 PM ET
DENVER -- Consecutive seventh-inning home runs by Chris Iannetta and Ian Stewart, and a homer by Clint Barmes in the eighth, gave Rockies fans something to cheer about. But for the most part, Thursday afternoon was a reason to be nervous.Jason Marquis struggled, giving up five runs and nine hits in five innings, as the Rockies fell to the Mets, 8-3, at Coors Field.
The Rockies entered the day hoping to sweep the Mets, but finished it hoping the Phillies could beat the Giants on Thursday night. Colorado began the day a game ahead of San Francisco in the National League Wild Card standings.
The Rockies (74-60) have the D-backs coming to Coors on Friday night for the opener of a three-game set. To regain their momentum, the team must figure out one of the game's toughest pitchers, Dan Haren, who will throw against Jason Hammel.
"It would have been terrific to sweep them, but we didn't," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "We have to keep our attention focused. Each and every series we play, we need to do the very best to win it, and hopefully we can get a couple more opportunities to go along here to sweep a series."
Little went right offensively for the Rockies, who managed four hits in seven innings against Pat Misch (1-1), who earned his first Major League victory after eight losses.
"Offensively, we didn't start figuring out Mr. Misch until the seventh inning," Tracy said. "I think some of that had to do with the fact we chased the ball up in the zone and we popped the ball up."
So, in the search for positives, at least the postgame medical news was good.
An MRI on closer Huston Street revealed, as expected, inflammation in the right biceps tendon, but no structural damage. He'll be treated aggressively with anti-inflammatory medicines in hopes of getting him ready soon, but his status is day-to-day.
Also, center fielder Dexter Fowler, who is recovering from a bruised right knee and a procedure to remove fluid from it, ran under the care of trainers on Thursday. He'll do a full workout during batting practice on Friday. If all goes well, he'll join Triple-A Colorado Springs for an injury-rehab stint -- seven innings Saturday, a full game as the designated hitter Sunday, a full game offensively and defensively Monday, be evaluated Tuesday and, the Rockies hope, be reactivated Wednesday, when he is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list.
Marquis (14-10) induced double plays to end the second and third innings and entered the fifth trailing, 1-0. But the Mets scored four runs in the fifth, two on David Wright's double.
Wright is 12-for-30 (.400) against Marquis in his career.
"I was struggling with adjustments to make my pitch," Marquis said. "It wasn't for lack of adjustments. I couldn't figure it out."
Misch held the Rockies to two hits until two were out in the seventh. Iannetta, who hit .193 in August, knocked his 15th homer of the season. Stewart, who is 7-for-18 (.389) in his past four games, followed with his 20th home run of the year.
Most of the other hits in the air from Colorado's bats, however, were weak fly balls.
"He throws it up in the zone a little bit, cuts it, sinks it, throws a changeup and curveball," Stewart said. "He was just keeping guys off-balance and not giving guys a good pitch to hit."
Rockies leadoff man Carlos Gonzalez, who lined a single to open the bottom of the first inning, said Misch made it a frustrating day.
"He doesn't have the great stuff, but he pitched real well -- you have to give him credit," Gonzalez said. "We didn't have the best day."
Misch said he tried to forget about facing Marquis.
"We got him early in the second and I think again in the fifth -- that was great," Misch said. "To be honest, I try not to think about the score too much, because when you think about that, other things tend to happen. It was great to put the runs up on the board early and relax a little more."
Barmes added his 22nd homer of the year, a solo shot off Pedro Feliciano in the eighth inning. But Daniel Murphy parked a no-out two-run shot off Joe Beimel in the top of the ninth to give the Mets (60-74) some late insurance.
Thomas Harding is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
