Colorado Rockies: German Marquez on his up-and-down spring start

SCOTTSDALE — Colorado Rockies pitcher German Marquez was stellar in the first stages of his outing on Friday before the Arizona Diamondbacks figured him out.

German Marquez shined for the Colorado Rockies through 2.1 innings on Friday at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. However, from there, the Arizona Diamondbacks had his number.

Jon Jay hit a sun-aided double to left and Carson Kelly followed with a laser off the top of the left field wall. That back-to-back sequence doubled the amount of hits Marquez had allowed all spring (just one in three innings heading into Friday) and was the first run the 25-year-old right-hander had allowed this spring.

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You can look at the bad side that Marquez allowed three hits to the final five batters he faced and gave up two runs before the frame ended. Or you can look at the good and see the Marquez had allowed one hit in 5.1 innings of work this spring while striking out six and walking two before Jay’s double that started Arizona’s cascade.

Marquez, however, chose to focus on the positives and wasn’t worried about the flurry of hits.

“I felt like I got a little quick,” Marquez said of his delivery during the late stages of the third inning, shrugging the issues off to timing.

However, Marquez was pleased with the performance of his changeup on Friday. That’s a pitch that he said he has been working on this spring and has been a priority for him to improve that pitch in his arsenal.

“I felt good. My fastball was coming out good. My changeup was good today. My slider, it was okay. I’m getting there.

“My arm feels good. My body feels good.”

Marquez also worked for the first time on Friday in a game situation with new Rockies catcher Elias Diaz. He said the two have formed a good relationship quickly.

“There’s been good communication. He made some pretty good calls today,” Marquez said.

It may seem like it’s standard spring talk from Marquez, but his success will be critical for the Rockies this season as they look to bounce back from last season’s 71-91 mark.