Colorado Rockies podcast: Let’s talk about German Marquez and a big win

The Colorado Rockies shook off a sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the desert on Friday night.

A 6-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks did wonders for the Colorado Rockies (and their fans, to be perfectly honest). Not only did the win allow the Rockies to keep pace with the St. Louis Cardinals in the chase for a Wild Card spot (they’re still 1.5 games behind), it also earned them a game on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West standings. A home loss by the Dodgers to San Diego was a gift for a Rockies team that hasn’t given up hope of grabbing its first-ever division title, especially considering they’re 1.5 games back with nine games left.

The victory on Friday night was also historic on a few levels. The win was the 42^ndof the season away from Coors Field, setting a new Rockies franchise record for success outside the Mile High City. Additionally, German Marquez fanned 11 Diamondbacks (while not issuing a walk) in a magnificent performance on the mound. It not only marked the 200^thstrikeout of the season for Marquez (marking just the third time a Rockies pitcher had ever done that in a season) but also was the fifth time this season that Marquez had struck out 10 or more batters in a game. With that, he became just the third pitcher in Colorado history to achieve five or more double-digit strikeout outings in the same year, joining Jon Gray (2016) and Pedro Asatcio (1999 and 2000).

For all of the love that Kyle Freeland has received this season (and rightfully so), maybe it’s time that Marquez received some of those same kudos.

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Now 13-10 on the season with a 3.91 ERA, Marquez has been extra special in August (2-1, 2.14 ERA in six starts) and September (2-1, 2.70 ERA). Away from Coors Field, he’s 8-4 with a 2.91 ERA in 16 starts, helping the Rockies achieve that road record mentioned earlier.

In his latest Rockie Road podcast, our own Jake Shapiro talks about Marquez, what he has meant to the team, what he did for the Rockies on Friday night and how the win was a big boost to a team looking for just that.

Click here to listen to Shapiro’s latest Rockie Road podcast.