PHOENIX (AP) — Elias Diaz and Ryan McMahon each hit two-run homers, German Márquez threw seven impressive innings and the Colorado Rockies overcame some sloppy fielding to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-3 on Saturday night.
The Rockies bounced back with a win, one day after they were swept in a doubleheader by the Diamondbacks. The first of those two losses ended Colorado's slim hopes of making the playoffs.
The right-handed Márquez (4-6) avoided trouble for most of the night, working around several miscues by his defense. The Rockies were charged with four errors for the first time since 2016.
Márquez needed just 88 pitches to get through his seven innings and gave up five hits and one walk. He gave up three runs, but none were earned.
“I think what we've seen from German, especially the past couple of years, is the in-game poise and confidence,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “The ability to pick up his teammates if we make an error. The ability to minimize damage. That's the sign of a good pitcher and a sign of a pitcher who is growing.”
Colorado trailed 1-0 going until a three-run rally in the fourth inning that was capped by Diaz's homer that just cleared the left-center field wall. The catcher had three hits, including a double. Raimel Tapia had three hits, Trevor Story had two hits, including a triple and Charlie Blackmon added a single and two RBIs.
The Rockies did have one fielding highlight: Right fielder Kevin Pillar made a perfect throw to home plate that caught Pavin Smith, who was trying to score on Jon Jay's single.
Arizona had its four-game winning streak snapped. Rookie catcher Daulton Varsho and Jay each had two hits.
“Overall, we’ve got to spit it out," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. "We’ve got our last game of the season tomorrow and we’ve got to go out and play the best game we can.”
For Arizona starting pitcher Luke Weaver, it was another frustrating outing in a season full of them. The right-hander gave up five runs on seven hits over five innings, including the two-run homer to Diaz. He struck out six.
The 27-year-old Weaver (1-9) was expected to be one of the D-backs' best pitchers this season but instead was one of many reasons that the team's season has finished well short of expectations. He had 12 starts, never pitched six complete innings in any of them and finished the season with a 6.58 ERA.
“I think frustrating is definitely a key word," Weaver said. “I sit back and I reflect as much as I can kind of how the season’s gone. It ultimately just comes back to this game of baseball, it rewards you often, and it can also knock you down pretty hard and push you to get back up.”
RARE AIR
Even though the Rockies won't be in the playoffs, it's been an encouraging season for the team's starting pitchers.
The seven innings without an earned run on Saturday allowed Marquez to finish the season with a 3.75 ERA. Barring a rough outing by Kyle Freeland (3.69) in the season finale on Sunday, that means three Rockies starters will have sub-4.00 ERAs. Antonio Senzatela finished with a 3.44 ERA.
That's not easy to do with half of the season's games are played at Denver's Coors Field, which is known for all its crooked numbers on the scoreboard. Diaz said he's looking forward to work with the pitchers next season.
“The staff is really good, I want to be part of it," Diaz said.
BACK ON THE MOUND
RHP Silvino Bracho made his first big-league appearance since 2018 on Saturday after missing nearly two years while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He gave up a two-run homer to McMahon in one inning of relief.
Bracho was part of the D-backs' bullpen from 2015 to 2018, throwing in 91 games with a 4.67 ERA.
UP NEXT
Rockies: Colorado sends Freeland (2-2, 3.69) to the mound for the team's final game of 2020.
Diamondbacks: Arizona will throw RHP Madison Bumgarner (0-4, 7.36), who has had a disappointing season in his first year in the desert after signing an $85 million, five-year deal during the offseason.
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