Rockies rely on strong bullpen again, sweep 2 from A's

Updated Jul. 29, 2020 7:35 p.m. ET

Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — German Márquez struck out eight over six impressive innings to bounce back after losing on opening day at Texas, and the Colorado Rockies wrapped up a successful season-opening road trip by beating the Oakland Athletics 5-1 on Wednesday.

Charlie Blackmon delivered an insurance run with an RBI double in the eighth, then reached on an error in the ninth that led to a pair of runs.

The Rockies went 4-1 on their trip after beating the A’s 8-3 on Tuesday night. They now go home to Coors Field.

“It’s very important to start winning from the beginning with what happened,” Márquez said. “We have to keep playing like this. It’s a good feeling.”

Garrett Hampson hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the fourth to help back Márquez (1-1), who on Friday against the Rangers carried a no-hit bid into the sixth before Texas rallied.

The Rockies continue to get reliable relief pitching to back strong performances by the starters.

“At critical times we’re making pitches. We were stressed a couple of times today and we got out of it again with Carlos (Estévez) and Jairo (Díaz). We got out of some jams in Texas,” manager Bud Black said. “Overall, I think the guys have done a really good job executing the game plan. I think our baseball ops department along with our pitching coaches had a real good strategy with the Rangers and with the A’s. This is a good team, the A’s are a good team with a good lineup. I thought we pitched them well.”

Estévez relieved Márquez and escaped the seventh unscathed with the tying run on second after he hit Stephen Piscotty, who then stole second.

In the eighth, Oakland put two runners on against Díaz before Mark Canha was hit by a pitch to load the bases. But Robbie Grossman struck out, putting Oakland at 0 for 14 with runners in scoring position during these two games.

“With runners in scoring position we didn't do a very good job today, and that was pretty much the tale of the game,” manager Bob Melvin said. “Unfortunately they came up with the big hits and we didn't.”

Matt Chapman homered in the bottom of the first for the A's. Colorado came right back when Tony Wolters hit a tying single in the top of the second against Frankie Montas (0-1), Oakland's winless opening day starter who needed 28 pitches to get out of the second.

A's prospect Vimael Machin made his defensive debut at second base after a stint as designated hitter in his first big league appearance Sunday against the Angels.

DAVIS SITS

A's slugger Khris Davis, who led the majors with 48 home runs in 2018, got a break from his regular designated hitter duties after beginning the season 0 for 15 with seven strikeouts. Ramón Laureano was DH.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rockies: RHP Scott Oberg, nursing a strained back that landed him on the injured list to start the season, threw a bullpen Monday and Black said: “He threw great, felt really well. He came out of that in a good spot very confident.” There's still no timetable for Oberg's return.

Athletics: Melvin said LHP Jesús Luzardo, who tested positive for the coronavirus during intake testing despite no symptoms, could make his first major league start as soon as this weekend's wraparound series in Seattle. The A’s were waiting to see whether Luzardo was needed in relief Wednesday, and he went 3 2/3 innings. Luzardo struck out five and allowed three runs on four hits. “He will be in the rotation soon,” Melvin said. Luzardo said, “I think I’m ready in terms of arm strength and how I feel.”

UP NEXT

The A's haven't named their starter for Friday's series opener in Seattle after a day off Thursday. RHP Jon Gray (0-0, 1.93 ERA) starts for Colorado in the club's home opener Friday night against the Padres.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports