PITTSBURGH -- The Colorado Rockies, road warriors?
Believe it.
Ian Desmond hit his fourth home run of the season and rookie German Marquez pitched effectively into the sixth inning as the surprising Rockies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Wednesday night to snap a three-game losing streak.
Marquez (5-3) gave up one run and four hits in five-plus innings as Colorado avoided being swept for the first time this season. Raimel Tapia went 4 for 4 and scored three times for the Rockies. Jake McGee bailed Colorado out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the seventh.
The Rockies have won a major-league best 25 games on the road.
"They persevere, they stay at it," manager Bud Black said. "There's sort of a quiet tenacity to our group."
The Pirates managed just one extra-base hit and left eight men on as their season-high four-game winning streak came to an end.
Chad Kuhl (1-6) remained winless since April 8. He gave up three runs in five innings and his ERA sits at 5.61 through 12 starts, though he's improved of late. Kuhl's ERA is 3.60 over his last three appearances. Manager Clint Hurdle plans on keeping Kuhl in the rotation for now.
"As far as the battle, the fight, it was there," Hurdle said. "Talking about 3-0 (when Kuhl exits). Yeah it's not what you're looking for leaving the clubhouse, then again it's not like he got barreled up."
The Rockies are one of the biggest surprises in the majors, fueled by a starting rotation dotted with rookies and a newfound competence away from Coors Field. The 22-year-old Marquez is helping lead the way. He improved to 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA on the road after keeping the surging Pirates in check then relying on the bullpen to do the rest.
"He was a little erratic at times, but the stuff was good and he made some pitches when he needed to," Black said.
Marquez bounced back from the shortest outing of his brief career (three innings in a loss to the Chicago Cubs last Friday) to work into the sixth. By then the Rockies already had a 3-0 lead.
Desmond sent a pitch from Kuhl just over the reach of left fielder John Jaso with one out in the second to put Colorado up. The Rockies added two more in the fifth. Desmond led off with a walk and scored on Trevor Story's RBI-single. Tapia then darted home when Pittsburgh first baseman Josh Bell couldn't field Marquez's sacrifice bunt.
The Pirates had a chance to get back in it in the seventh, loading the bases with one out. McGee came on and got Adam Frazier to fly out to center then struck out Josh Harrison on three pitches.
"Five, six and seven we're out there," Hurdle said. "If we get one of those innings to click, it's a different game."
Pittsburgh didn't threaten again as Colorado won for just the third time in its last 14 games at PNC Park.
HOT HEADS
The benches cleared briefly in the fifth after Marquez hit Pittsburgh catcher Francisco Cervelli in the left arm with a pitch. Cervelli, activated off the 10-day DL earlier in the day after recovering from a concussion, exchanged words with Colorado catcher Tony Wolters. Players and coaches made their way onto the field but quickly dispersed.
"When you get hit at 98 you get scared man," Cervelli said. "As a catcher, your job is avoid the fight and not just be talking and looking for fights, that's it."
CARGO BENCHED
Black is giving struggling outfielder Carlos Gonzalez a break hoping it will help him break out of an extended funk. Gonzalez, a three-time All-Star, is hitting just .215 this season and is 0 for 24 over his last seven games.
"You can look at the numbers and they're not good right now," Black said. "But he's going to come out of it."
TRADE COMPLETED
The Pirates shipped minor-league pitcher Matt Frawley to the New York Yankees to complete the April 17 trade that sent reliever Johnny Barbato to Pittsburgh. The 21-year-old Frawley was 3-1 with three saves and a 1.62 ERA for Pittsburgh's Class-A affiliate West Virginia.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Pirates: LHP Antonino Bastardo (left squad strain) will stay in Triple-A for the time being as he works his way back. Bastardo, out since mid-May, has allowed three runs in 7 1/3 innings across seven appearances for the Indians.
UP NEXT
Rockies: Begin a seven-game homestand on Thursday against San Francisco. Colorado rookie Jeff Hoffman (4-0, 2.33) will look for his fifth straight victory. Matt Moore (2-7, 5.28) starts for the Giants.
Pirates: Are off Thursday and open a three-game home set with the Cubs on Friday. Trevor Williams (3-3, 5.13 ERA) faces Eddie Butler (3-2, 4.03) in the opener.
---
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Colorado Rockies
Believe it.
Ian Desmond hit his fourth home run of the season and rookie German Marquez pitched effectively into the sixth inning as the surprising Rockies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Wednesday night to snap a three-game losing streak.
Marquez (5-3) gave up one run and four hits in five-plus innings as Colorado avoided being swept for the first time this season. Raimel Tapia went 4 for 4 and scored three times for the Rockies. Jake McGee bailed Colorado out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the seventh.
The Rockies have won a major-league best 25 games on the road.
"They persevere, they stay at it," manager Bud Black said. "There's sort of a quiet tenacity to our group."
The Pirates managed just one extra-base hit and left eight men on as their season-high four-game winning streak came to an end.
Chad Kuhl (1-6) remained winless since April 8. He gave up three runs in five innings and his ERA sits at 5.61 through 12 starts, though he's improved of late. Kuhl's ERA is 3.60 over his last three appearances. Manager Clint Hurdle plans on keeping Kuhl in the rotation for now.
"As far as the battle, the fight, it was there," Hurdle said. "Talking about 3-0 (when Kuhl exits). Yeah it's not what you're looking for leaving the clubhouse, then again it's not like he got barreled up."
The Rockies are one of the biggest surprises in the majors, fueled by a starting rotation dotted with rookies and a newfound competence away from Coors Field. The 22-year-old Marquez is helping lead the way. He improved to 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA on the road after keeping the surging Pirates in check then relying on the bullpen to do the rest.
"He was a little erratic at times, but the stuff was good and he made some pitches when he needed to," Black said.
Marquez bounced back from the shortest outing of his brief career (three innings in a loss to the Chicago Cubs last Friday) to work into the sixth. By then the Rockies already had a 3-0 lead.
Desmond sent a pitch from Kuhl just over the reach of left fielder John Jaso with one out in the second to put Colorado up. The Rockies added two more in the fifth. Desmond led off with a walk and scored on Trevor Story's RBI-single. Tapia then darted home when Pittsburgh first baseman Josh Bell couldn't field Marquez's sacrifice bunt.
The Pirates had a chance to get back in it in the seventh, loading the bases with one out. McGee came on and got Adam Frazier to fly out to center then struck out Josh Harrison on three pitches.
"Five, six and seven we're out there," Hurdle said. "If we get one of those innings to click, it's a different game."
Pittsburgh didn't threaten again as Colorado won for just the third time in its last 14 games at PNC Park.
HOT HEADS
The benches cleared briefly in the fifth after Marquez hit Pittsburgh catcher Francisco Cervelli in the left arm with a pitch. Cervelli, activated off the 10-day DL earlier in the day after recovering from a concussion, exchanged words with Colorado catcher Tony Wolters. Players and coaches made their way onto the field but quickly dispersed.
"When you get hit at 98 you get scared man," Cervelli said. "As a catcher, your job is avoid the fight and not just be talking and looking for fights, that's it."
CARGO BENCHED
Black is giving struggling outfielder Carlos Gonzalez a break hoping it will help him break out of an extended funk. Gonzalez, a three-time All-Star, is hitting just .215 this season and is 0 for 24 over his last seven games.
"You can look at the numbers and they're not good right now," Black said. "But he's going to come out of it."
TRADE COMPLETED
The Pirates shipped minor-league pitcher Matt Frawley to the New York Yankees to complete the April 17 trade that sent reliever Johnny Barbato to Pittsburgh. The 21-year-old Frawley was 3-1 with three saves and a 1.62 ERA for Pittsburgh's Class-A affiliate West Virginia.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Pirates: LHP Antonino Bastardo (left squad strain) will stay in Triple-A for the time being as he works his way back. Bastardo, out since mid-May, has allowed three runs in 7 1/3 innings across seven appearances for the Indians.
UP NEXT
Rockies: Begin a seven-game homestand on Thursday against San Francisco. Colorado rookie Jeff Hoffman (4-0, 2.33) will look for his fifth straight victory. Matt Moore (2-7, 5.28) starts for the Giants.
Pirates: Are off Thursday and open a three-game home set with the Cubs on Friday. Trevor Williams (3-3, 5.13 ERA) faces Eddie Butler (3-2, 4.03) in the opener.
---
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Colorado - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Chad Kuhl pitching for Pittsburgh | COL | PIT |
| Blackmon grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| LeMahieu struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Arenado struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| German Marquez pitching for Colorado | COL | PIT |
| Frazier walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Harrison flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Frazier stole second. | 0 | 0 |
| Polanco struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Jaso flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Chad Kuhl pitching for Pittsburgh | COL | PIT |
| Reynolds grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Desmond homered to left (368 feet). | 1 | 0 |
| Tapia singled to center. | 1 | 0 |
| Tapia caught stealing second, catcher to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Story grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| German Marquez pitching for Colorado | COL | PIT |
| Bell grounded out to first. | 1 | 0 |
| McCutchen popped out to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Cervelli lined out to right. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Chad Kuhl pitching for Pittsburgh | COL | PIT |
| Wolters struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Márquez grounded out to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Blackmon flied out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| German Marquez pitching for Colorado | COL | PIT |
| Moroff singled to right. | 1 | 0 |
| Kuhl grounded into double play, pitcher to shortstop to first, Moroff out at second. | 1 | 0 |
| Frazier struck out looking. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Chad Kuhl pitching for Pittsburgh | COL | PIT |
| LeMahieu grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| Arenado lined out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| Reynolds grounded out to third. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| German Marquez pitching for Colorado | COL | PIT |
| Harrison grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| Polanco flied out to right. | 1 | 0 |
| Jaso flied out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Chad Kuhl pitching for Pittsburgh | COL | PIT |
| Desmond walked. | 1 | 0 |
| Tapia reached on infield single to shortstop, Desmond to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Story singled to shallow left, Desmond scored, Tapia to second. | 2 | 0 |
| Wolters grounded into fielder's choice to second, Story out at second, Tapia to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Márquez sacrificed to catcher, Tapia scored, Wolters to second, Márquez safe at first on error by first baseman Bell. | 3 | 0 |
| Blackmon lined out to right. | 3 | 0 |
| LeMahieu grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Márquez out at second. | 3 | 0 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| German Marquez pitching for Colorado | COL | PIT |
| Bell fouled out to third. | 3 | 0 |
| McCutchen singled to center. | 3 | 0 |
| Cervelli hit by pitch, McCutchen to second. | 3 | 0 |
| Moroff lined out to left. | 3 | 0 |
| Osuna hit for Kuhl. | 3 | 0 |
| McCutchen to third, Cervelli to second on wild pitch by Márquez. | 3 | 0 |
| Osuna grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Edgar Santana pitching for Pittsburgh | COL | PIT |
| Santana relieved Kuhl. | 3 | 0 |
| Arenado grounded out to third. | 3 | 0 |
| Reynolds struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| Desmond struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| German Marquez pitching for Colorado | COL | PIT |
| Frazier doubled to left. | 3 | 0 |
| Harrison singled to left, Frazier to third. | 3 | 0 |
| Rusin relieved Márquez. | 3 | 0 |
| Polanco grounded into double play, first to shortstop to pitcher, Frazier scored, Harrison out at second. | 3 | 1 |
| Jaso singled to center. | 3 | 1 |
| Bell grounded out to second. | 3 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Edgar Santana pitching for Pittsburgh | COL | PIT |
| Tapia hit a ground rule double to left. | 3 | 1 |
| Story flied out to right, Tapia to third. | 3 | 1 |
| Wolters walked. | 3 | 1 |
| Amarista hit for Rusin. | 3 | 1 |
| Amarista singled to right, Tapia scored, Wolters to third. | 4 | 1 |
| Hudson relieved Santana. | 4 | 1 |
| Blackmon popped out to shortstop. | 4 | 1 |
| LeMahieu struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Adam Ottavino pitching for Colorado | COL | PIT |
| Ottavino relieved Rusin. | 4 | 1 |
| McCutchen struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| Cervelli singled to center. | 4 | 1 |
| Moroff hit by pitch, Cervelli to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Freese hit for Hudson. | 4 | 1 |
| Freese walked, Cervelli to third, Moroff to second. | 4 | 1 |
| McGee relieved Ottavino. | 4 | 1 |
| Frazier flied out to center. | 4 | 1 |
| Harrison struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Tony Watson pitching for Pittsburgh | COL | PIT |
| Watson relieved Hudson. | 4 | 1 |
| Arenado popped out to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Reynolds struck out looking. | 4 | 1 |
| Desmond struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Jake McGee pitching for Colorado | COL | PIT |
| Polanco flied out to left. | 4 | 1 |
| Jaso grounded out to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Bell walked. | 4 | 1 |
| McCutchen flied out to right. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Jhan Marinez pitching for Pittsburgh | COL | PIT |
| Mariñez relieved Watson. | 4 | 1 |
| Tapia reached on infield single to shortstop. | 4 | 1 |
| Story reached on infield single to third, Tapia to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Wolters sacrificed to pitcher, Tapia to third, Story to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Valaika hit for McGee. | 4 | 1 |
| Valaika hit sacrifice fly to left, Tapia scored. | 5 | 1 |
| Blackmon grounded out to second. | 5 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Greg Holland pitching for Colorado | COL | PIT |
| Holland relieved McGee. | 5 | 1 |
| Cervelli flied out to right. | 5 | 1 |
| Moroff flied out to left. | 5 | 1 |
| Díaz hit for Mariñez. | 5 | 1 |
| Díaz struck out swinging. | 5 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Colorado Rockies
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackmon CF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | .325 | .373 | .603 |
| LeMahieu 2B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18 | .279 | .342 | .364 |
| Arenado 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | .284 | .341 | .540 |
| Reynolds 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17 | .300 | .382 | .561 |
| Desmond LF | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 13 | .280 | .316 | .398 |
| Tapia RF | 4 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | .261 | .370 | .348 |
| Story SS | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | .215 | .314 | .403 |
| Wolters C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | .296 | .401 | .360 |
| Márquez P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .143 | .143 | .143 |
Rusin P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .400 | .400 | .400 |
a-Amarista PH
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .325 | .333 | .481 |
Ottavino P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
McGee P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
b-Valaika PH
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .232 | .260 | .493 |
Holland P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Totals | 32 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 136 | |||
| a-singled to right for C Rusin in the 7th b-hit sacrifice fly to left for J Mcgee in the 9th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Tapia (2, Santana) HR: Desmond (4, 2nd inning off Kuhl 0 on, 1 Out) RBI: Desmond (20), Story (25), Márquez (4), Amarista (15), Valaika (11) S: Márquez, Wolters SF: Valaika Rockies RISP: 2-9 (LeMahieu 0-2, Story 1-2, Amarista 1-1, Blackmon 0-3, Wolters 0-1) Team LOB: 5 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING CS: Tapia (1, 2nd base by Kuhl/Cervelli) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 2 (Márquez-Story-Reynolds, Reynolds-Story-Rusin). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Attendance | 17,308 (45.1% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:19 |
| Weather | 77 degrees, rain |
| Wind | 8 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Chris Conroy, First Base - Ben May, Second Base - Ed Hickox, Third Base - Jerry Meals |
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