Jason Marquis scattered four hits over 7 1-3
innings, Eric Young Jr. hit his first major league homer and the
Colorado Rockies beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-1 on Tuesday night.
The win was the fifth straight by the Rockies, and moved them 19
games above .500 (79-60) for the first time in franchise history.
It also ensured the NL wild-card leaders of remaining at least
two games in front of San Francisco, which hosted San Diego later
Tuesday.
Marquis (15-10) allowed one run and struck out a season-high
seven. He had his sinker working, getting 12 groundball outs as he
matched his career-high in wins. He was 15-7 in 2004 while with the
St. Louis Cardinals.
The right-hander ran into trouble in the eighth, giving up
leadoff singles to Drew Sutton and Drew Stubbs. After Paul Janish
moved the runners up on a dribbler, Marquis was replaced by Randy
Flores, who got Joey Votto to hit into a run-scoring groundout for
the second out.
Rafael Betancourt entered the game and enticed Brandon Phillips
to hit an inning-ending flyout.
Franklin Morales, filling in for the injured Huston Street,
pitched the ninth for his fifth save in six chances.
Todd Helton and Carlos Gonzalez each drove in a run with a
sacrifice fly, while Yorvit Torrealba's single in the second
extended his hitting streak to a career-best 16 games.
With Troy Tulowitzki and Ian Stewart both out with stiff backs,
the Rockies went with a makeshift infield.
Clint Barmes filled in for Tulowitzki at shortstop, while
Garrett Atkins played third in Stewart's absence.
Atkins made a diving stop in the fourth, snaring a grounder in
the hole and throwing out Craig Tatum by a half-step at first.
Barmes saved the Rockies a run with his glove in the sixth. With
a runner on third, Barmes stopped a grounder up the middle,
pirouetted and threw to first to just get Phillips.
Matt Maloney (0-4) was recalled from Double-A Carolina before
the game, joining the team for a third stint this season. The
left-hander lasted five innings, giving up one run and four hits
before leaving with a blister on his middle finger.
Pedro Viola made his major league debut in relief of Maloney in
the sixth, giving up Young's homer.
The Rockies scored a run in the first when Young led off with a
double and scored on Helton's sacrifice fly to left. Helton has
five RBIs in his last three games.
NOTES: Reds OF Jay Bruce (broken right wrist) went 2 for 4 in a
rehab assignment Monday with Triple-A Louisville. ... The Rockies
are 24-10 against the NL Central. ... Rockies RHP Ubaldo Jimenez
tweaked his hamstring running the bases Monday, but he said it was
feeling better and doesn't expect to miss a start.
