DENVER (AP) — German Marquez scattered four hits over seven scoreless innings, Ryan McMahon homered twice and drove in three runs, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-1 on Friday night.
Raimel Tapia also homered and C.J. Cron had two hits and two RBIs for the Rockies, who snapped a five-game losing streak that included two shutout losses at San Diego earlier this week. “It was nice to get back here and get this win,” McMahon said. “All we can do is look to the future and try to play good baseball like we did tonight.”
Marquez (3-4) struck out eight and walked three in putting together consecutive wins for the first time this season after losing three in a row. The Diamondbacks had runners on the corners with one out in the top of the seventh, but Marquez got out of the jam by getting Daulton Varsho to line out to short and fanning pinch-hitter Andrew Young. “German battled,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “It probably wasn’t his most sharpest game but yet seven scoreless innings. I thought our (hitting) approach was good all the way through the game and German did his part, a little rocky early but he really righted the ship in innings four, five and six.”
McMahon hit a two-run homer in the first off Seth Frankhoff (0-1) and added a solo shot off Riley Smith in the fifth for his seventh career multihomer game and second this season. Both came against Arizona.
Tapia hit a two-run drive in the second.
Josh Rojas’ sacrifice fly in the eighth inning off reliever Jordan Sheffield led to Arizona’s lone run.
“We were a hit or two away (in the eighth) from making this a very close ballgame, and we’ll just build off that,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’ve got to.”
It was the Diamondbacks’ 11th consecutive loss on the road, matching their longest skid away from home since losing a franchise record 14 straight from May 18-June 18, 2010. They have scored two or fewer runs in each of their past seven road games.
MASK MANDATE LIFTED
Fans attending games at Coors Field no longer will be required to wear masks as the Rockies announced a further relaxation of restrictions imposed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, masks continue to be encouraged for anyone in attendance who has not yet been vaccinated against the virus. In addition, the team said it has received permission from the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment to expand attendance to 35,000, or 70% of the stadium’s capacity, effective June 1. Current guidelines allow 21,363 people or 42.6% of capacity.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: RHP Taylor Widener has made good progress in his rehabilitation of a right groin strain and there is a chance he could be activated from the 10-day injured list in time to start Sunday’s series finale against the Rockies. … 1B Christian Walker is closing in on a return from the IL, though a precise date has not been set. Walker has resumed baseball activities in working his way back from right oblique soreness. “Where, when and how he gets back on the field has yet to be determined, but he is in a very good spot with his swing fundamentals and he is feeling good with his side,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said.
Rockies: LHP Kyle Freeland came out of his second rehab start feeling good and he will continue to be evaluated over the next few days to determine the next step in his recovery from a shoulder strain that he suffered in spring training. … INF Brendan Rodgers was reinstated from the 10-day injured list after recovering from a strained right hamstring that had sidelined him since April 1.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: LHP Madison Bumgarner (4-3, 4.15 ERA), limited to four innings in his last start Monday because of a groin injury, is set to make his next start Saturday as scheduled against the Rockies. Manager Torey Lovullo credited Bumgarner’s decision to shut down his previous start early for his timely recovery. “We’re encouraged by Bum’s recovery and his commitment to speak up, I think it really saved us a bigger headache,” Lovullo said. “I don’t think he’s going to take any steps backward and we’re going to see him at full strength.”
Rockies: RHP Antonio Senzatela (1-4, 5.18 ERA) will seek to stop a four-game losing streak when he takes the mound against the Diamondbacks. He pitched eight scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks at Coors Field on April 7, his lone win this season.
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