MINNEAPOLIS -- Mark Reynolds came back to the Colorado Rockies this season on a just-in-case basis.
He's in the middle of their thriving lineup like he was part of the plan all along.
Nolan Arenado got the doubleheader going with a first-inning home run, Reynolds added a two-run single and the road-tough Rockies beat the Minnesota Twins 5-1 on Thursday in the first game.
German Marquez (2-2) dodged trouble over five innings to limit the damage to a sacrifice fly by Brian Dozier, and the Rockies raised their record in away games to 13-5, the best mark in the major leagues. They're leading the NL at 26-15 overall.
Reynolds has a team-leading 35 RBI, putting him in the top five in the majors, to go with a whopping 1.008 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. He signed a minor league contract a couple of weeks before spring training, and has been difficult to bench even with first baseman Ian Desmond back from injury. With the interleague matchup, manager Bud Black was able to use Reynolds as the designed hitter.
Still the all-time leader with 223 strikeouts for Arizona in 2009, Reynolds has improved his two-strike approach and balanced his power with better contact.
"I think it's a big pat on the back to Mark to, over the course of his career, make changes in the type of offensive player he's become," Black said.
Greg Holland struck out Dozier to end the game for his franchise-record 18th consecutive save to start the season, after entering with runners at first and second, to notch his second straight one-batter save.
Desmond and Charlie Blackmon drove in runs against Twins starter Ervin Santana (6-2), who took the mound with the major league lead in ERA (1.50). Santana finished seven innings for the fifth time in nine tries, but two of the four walks he issued scored.
"They're very aggressive right now and everything is going their way, so every time you're behind in the count something's going to happen in favor of their team," said Santana, who has walked 12 batters over his last three turns.
Eleven of the 14 runs that Santana has allowed this year have come in his last two home appearances.
ARENADO AMBUSH
Santana was one strike from finishing a perfect first inning before Arenado belted a full-count fastball into the second deck above left field for his 10th homer. Arenado is 16 for 31 with five doubles, four home runs, three walks and 13 RBI in the first inning this season.
EMPATHETIC MARQUEZ
Marquez, one of three rookies currently in the rotation, stretched his scoreless streak to 15 straight innings until a triple by Eddie Rosario led to the only run. He got slugger Miguel Sano to pop out with runners at first and second to end the fifth inning.
Marquez dedicated the victory to his native country, recently beset by a wave of political violence.
"Besides us, the Rockies, this win goes to Venezuela," Marquez said.
LOCATION LUCK
The Twins, who have the second-best AL road record at 11-5, fell to 8-12 at home. Twins manager Paul Molitor didn't want to dissect the issue.
"Probably we have to put the gray uniform on and try to play with a gray uniform," Santana said, smiling.
ROTATION ROULETTE
The rainout Wednesday night forced the day-night, split-admission doubleheader Thursday and threw a curveball at the pitching plans for both teams.
Colorado's Tyler Chatwood (3-5, 5.25 ERA) and Minnesota's Jose Berrios (1-0, 1.17 ERA) were assigned to pitch the second game, but neither manager expressed interest in bringing the afternoon starter back Monday on short rest.
Molitor announced that Alejandro Mejia will start Saturday against Kansas City, leaving options open for Monday. Black was noncommittal for Monday, when the team will play at Philadelphia, but Jeff Hoffman could be recalled from Triple-A for that game.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rockies SS Trevor Story, placed on the 10-day DL a week ago with a strained left shoulder, took batting practice before the game and was dispatched to a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque. He's batting only .180 with a team-high 48 strikeouts in 111 at-bats.
UP NEXT
Rockies: LHP Tyler Anderson (2-4, 6.43 ERA) will take the mound Friday at Cincinnati, with RHP Lisalverto Bonilla (0-1, 4.85) pitching for the Reds.
Twins: RHP Hector Santiago (4-2, 3.80 ERA) will pitch Friday against Kansas City, opposite RHP Nate Karns (2-2, 4.46) for the Royals.
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More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Colorado Rockies
He's in the middle of their thriving lineup like he was part of the plan all along.
Nolan Arenado got the doubleheader going with a first-inning home run, Reynolds added a two-run single and the road-tough Rockies beat the Minnesota Twins 5-1 on Thursday in the first game.
German Marquez (2-2) dodged trouble over five innings to limit the damage to a sacrifice fly by Brian Dozier, and the Rockies raised their record in away games to 13-5, the best mark in the major leagues. They're leading the NL at 26-15 overall.
Reynolds has a team-leading 35 RBI, putting him in the top five in the majors, to go with a whopping 1.008 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. He signed a minor league contract a couple of weeks before spring training, and has been difficult to bench even with first baseman Ian Desmond back from injury. With the interleague matchup, manager Bud Black was able to use Reynolds as the designed hitter.
Still the all-time leader with 223 strikeouts for Arizona in 2009, Reynolds has improved his two-strike approach and balanced his power with better contact.
"I think it's a big pat on the back to Mark to, over the course of his career, make changes in the type of offensive player he's become," Black said.
Greg Holland struck out Dozier to end the game for his franchise-record 18th consecutive save to start the season, after entering with runners at first and second, to notch his second straight one-batter save.
Desmond and Charlie Blackmon drove in runs against Twins starter Ervin Santana (6-2), who took the mound with the major league lead in ERA (1.50). Santana finished seven innings for the fifth time in nine tries, but two of the four walks he issued scored.
"They're very aggressive right now and everything is going their way, so every time you're behind in the count something's going to happen in favor of their team," said Santana, who has walked 12 batters over his last three turns.
Eleven of the 14 runs that Santana has allowed this year have come in his last two home appearances.
ARENADO AMBUSH
Santana was one strike from finishing a perfect first inning before Arenado belted a full-count fastball into the second deck above left field for his 10th homer. Arenado is 16 for 31 with five doubles, four home runs, three walks and 13 RBI in the first inning this season.
EMPATHETIC MARQUEZ
Marquez, one of three rookies currently in the rotation, stretched his scoreless streak to 15 straight innings until a triple by Eddie Rosario led to the only run. He got slugger Miguel Sano to pop out with runners at first and second to end the fifth inning.
Marquez dedicated the victory to his native country, recently beset by a wave of political violence.
"Besides us, the Rockies, this win goes to Venezuela," Marquez said.
LOCATION LUCK
The Twins, who have the second-best AL road record at 11-5, fell to 8-12 at home. Twins manager Paul Molitor didn't want to dissect the issue.
"Probably we have to put the gray uniform on and try to play with a gray uniform," Santana said, smiling.
ROTATION ROULETTE
The rainout Wednesday night forced the day-night, split-admission doubleheader Thursday and threw a curveball at the pitching plans for both teams.
Colorado's Tyler Chatwood (3-5, 5.25 ERA) and Minnesota's Jose Berrios (1-0, 1.17 ERA) were assigned to pitch the second game, but neither manager expressed interest in bringing the afternoon starter back Monday on short rest.
Molitor announced that Alejandro Mejia will start Saturday against Kansas City, leaving options open for Monday. Black was noncommittal for Monday, when the team will play at Philadelphia, but Jeff Hoffman could be recalled from Triple-A for that game.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rockies SS Trevor Story, placed on the 10-day DL a week ago with a strained left shoulder, took batting practice before the game and was dispatched to a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque. He's batting only .180 with a team-high 48 strikeouts in 111 at-bats.
UP NEXT
Rockies: LHP Tyler Anderson (2-4, 6.43 ERA) will take the mound Friday at Cincinnati, with RHP Lisalverto Bonilla (0-1, 4.85) pitching for the Reds.
Twins: RHP Hector Santiago (4-2, 3.80 ERA) will pitch Friday against Kansas City, opposite RHP Nate Karns (2-2, 4.46) for the Royals.
---
More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
1:10PM,EDT,May 18,2017
Target Field, Minneapolis,Minnesota
Target Field, Minneapolis,Minnesota
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Colorado - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Ervin Santana pitching for Minnesota | COL | MIN |
| Blackmon flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| LeMahieu flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Arenado homered to left (375 feet). | 1 | 0 |
| Reynolds walked. | 1 | 0 |
| González flied out to left. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| German Marquez pitching for Colorado | COL | MIN |
| Dozier struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Mauer reached on infield single to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| Sanó reached on infield single to second, Mauer to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Kepler flied out to right. | 1 | 0 |
| Vargas grounded out to second. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Ervin Santana pitching for Minnesota | COL | MIN |
| Desmond lined out to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Parra flied out to left. | 1 | 0 |
| Amarista grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| German Marquez pitching for Colorado | COL | MIN |
| Polanco doubled to deep left. | 1 | 0 |
| Gimenez grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| Rosario struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Buxton lined out to left. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Ervin Santana pitching for Minnesota | COL | MIN |
| Wolters walked. | 1 | 0 |
| Blackmon singled to right, Wolters to second. | 1 | 0 |
| LeMahieu sacrificed to pitcher, Wolters to third, Blackmon to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Arenado intentionally walked. | 1 | 0 |
| Reynolds singled to left, Wolters and Blackmon scored, Arenado to third, Reynolds to second on error by third baseman Sanó. | 3 | 0 |
| González popped out to shortstop. | 3 | 0 |
| Desmond singled to right, Arenado scored, Reynolds thrown out at home. | 4 | 0 |
| 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| German Marquez pitching for Colorado | COL | MIN |
| Dozier popped out to first. | 4 | 0 |
| Mauer struck out looking. | 4 | 0 |
| Sanó grounded out to third. | 4 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Ervin Santana pitching for Minnesota | COL | MIN |
| Parra lined out to center. | 4 | 0 |
| Amarista doubled to left. | 4 | 0 |
| Wolters flied out to left. | 4 | 0 |
| Blackmon singled to right center, Amarista scored, Blackmon thrown out at second attempting to advance on play. | 5 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| German Marquez pitching for Colorado | COL | MIN |
| Kepler lined out to right. | 5 | 0 |
| Vargas grounded out to second. | 5 | 0 |
| Polanco flied out to right. | 5 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Ervin Santana pitching for Minnesota | COL | MIN |
| LeMahieu struck out looking. | 5 | 0 |
| Arenado grounded out to shortstop. | 5 | 0 |
| Reynolds walked. | 5 | 0 |
| González flied out to center. | 5 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| German Marquez pitching for Colorado | COL | MIN |
| Gimenez grounded out to first. | 5 | 0 |
| Rosario tripled to deep center. | 5 | 0 |
| Buxton walked. | 5 | 0 |
| Dozier hit sacrifice fly to left, Rosario scored. | 5 | 1 |
| Buxton stole second. | 5 | 1 |
| Mauer walked. | 5 | 1 |
| Sanó popped out to third. | 5 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Ervin Santana pitching for Minnesota | COL | MIN |
| Desmond struck out looking. | 5 | 1 |
| Parra flied out to center. | 5 | 1 |
| Amarista flied out to right. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Chris Rusin pitching for Colorado | COL | MIN |
| Rusin relieved Márquez. | 5 | 1 |
| Kepler flied out to right. | 5 | 1 |
| Vargas flied out to right. | 5 | 1 |
| Polanco struck out swinging. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Ervin Santana pitching for Minnesota | COL | MIN |
| Wolters struck out swinging. | 5 | 1 |
| Blackmon lined out to right. | 5 | 1 |
| LeMahieu grounded out to pitcher. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Chris Rusin pitching for Colorado | COL | MIN |
| Gimenez singled to center. | 5 | 1 |
| Rosario flied out to left. | 5 | 1 |
| Buxton singled to left, Gimenez to second. | 5 | 1 |
| Ottavino relieved Rusin. | 5 | 1 |
| Dozier popped out to second. | 5 | 1 |
| Mauer lined out to left. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Ryan Pressly pitching for Minnesota | COL | MIN |
| Pressly relieved Santana. | 5 | 1 |
| Arenado struck out swinging. | 5 | 1 |
| Reynolds struck out swinging. | 5 | 1 |
| González struck out swinging. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Adam Ottavino pitching for Colorado | COL | MIN |
| Sanó singled to right center. | 5 | 1 |
| Dunn relieved Ottavino. | 5 | 1 |
| Grossman hit for Kepler. | 5 | 1 |
| Grossman grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Sanó out at second. | 5 | 1 |
| Vargas popped out to second. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Ryan Pressly pitching for Minnesota | COL | MIN |
| Grossman in right field. | 5 | 1 |
| Desmond struck out swinging. | 5 | 1 |
| Parra flied out to left. | 5 | 1 |
| Amarista struck out looking. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Mike Dunn pitching for Colorado | COL | MIN |
| Polanco grounded out to third. | 5 | 1 |
| Gimenez struck out swinging. | 5 | 1 |
| Escobar hit for Rosario. | 5 | 1 |
| Escobar singled to center. | 5 | 1 |
| Escobar to second on fielder's indifference. | 5 | 1 |
| Buxton walked. | 5 | 1 |
| Holland relieved Dunn. | 5 | 1 |
| Dozier struck out swinging. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Colorado Rockies
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackmon CF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | .323 | .364 | .616 |
| LeMahieu 2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | .287 | .356 | .357 |
| Arenado 3B | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15 | .299 | .351 | .591 |
| Reynolds DH | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 18 | .319 | .398 | .610 |
| González RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | .207 | .273 | .311 |
| Desmond 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 14 | .313 | .328 | .438 |
| Parra LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | .262 | .295 | .393 |
| Amarista SS | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | .308 | .325 | .487 |
| Wolters C | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | .328 | .381 | .431 |
| Totals | 30 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 130 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Amarista (4, Santana) HR: Arenado (10, 1st inning off Santana 0 on, 2 Out) RBI: Arenado (28), Reynolds 2 (35), Desmond (9), Blackmon (31) S: LeMahieu 2-out RBI: Arenado, Desmond, Blackmon Rockies RISP: 3-5 (Desmond 1-1, Reynolds 1-1, Wolters 0-1, Blackmon 1-1, González 0-1) Team LOB: 3 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 1 (Amarista-LeMahieu-Desmond). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Target Field, Minneapolis, MN |
| Attendance | 20,603 (52.8% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:53 |
| Weather | 50 degrees, overcast |
| Wind | 12 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - David Rackley, First Base - Nic Lentz, Second Base - Alfonso Marquez, Third Base - Chad Fairchild |
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