MEDIA CLIPS – July 30, 2017

Marquez stymies red-hot Nationals' offense By Jamal Collier and Thomas Harding / MLB.com | 12:59 AM ET

WASHINGTON -- In one of the best starts of his young career, Rockies right-hander German Marquez carried a perfect game into the sixth inning against the 's top scoring offense as he led the Rockies to a 4-2 victory

Saturday night at Nationals Park.

"I really wasn't thinking about it," said Marquez, who struck out nine in each of his previous two starts. "I was just trying to pound the zone, hit my target and get hitters out."

Marquez struck out a career-high 10 in seven innings of two-run ball to lead Colorado -- which currently sits in the second

National League Wild Card spot, a game behind the D-backs and five games ahead of the Brewers -- to just its fourth road win in the past 20 games. Marquez's was just seventh start in Rockies history that was perfect through at least five. Matt Wieters ended the bid with a one-out single in the sixth.

"Tonight, German set the tone with an ultra-aggressive mindset of just throwing good strikes," Rockies Bud

Black said. "I saw the confidence grow, from the first hitter of the game."

Right-hander Pat Neshek made his Rockies debut with a scoreless eighth and Greg Holland, activated before the game from paternity leave, secured the victory with his 32nd in 33 tries.

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Nationals starter Tanner Roark seemed to have turned a corner after a rocky first half but struggled again Saturday, with a pitch count preventing him from going deep into the game. The right-hander allowed four runs in five innings with four walks, and struck out eight.

"He was wild, wide off the plate," Nationals manager said. "Every time you try to go away, it would be off the plate....Just tonight his pitch count got high. He had four walks, which is quite a bit for him. It just wasn't sharp tonight."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Breaking up the perfect game: Marquez stifled the Nationals' offense until Wieters finally broke through with a one-out single in the sixth to help spark a rally for the Nats. Howie Kendrick then doubled in his first at-bat for the Nats since he was traded from the Phillies on Friday, which set the stage for a two-out, two-run single by Wilmer Difo to put Washington on the board.

"I think that's the big thing just try to get it rolling," Wieters said. "We know with our lineup, it's deep where if we can get rolling we can put up a big inning. We were able to get two there which was big the way he was pitching, but it just kind of stopped there."

Marquez rebounded to strike out Bryce Harper, who represented the tying run, to end the threat. Marquez continued to stay on a roll on the mound lately, and after striking out nine batters in each of his previous two starts he finally reached the double-digit mark.

Back-to-back doubles: The Rockies got on the board in the second inning thanks to a two-run homer from , but their offense fell quiet until the fifth inning when a pair of back-to-back doubles off Roark gave them a comfortable lead.

Gerardo Parra struck first with a double to left field to drive home DJ LeMahieu, then Mark Reynolds followed with a double to right to score Parra and extend Colorado's lead to four.

"I had no idea what he [Roark] was going to throw me; I got lucky with a late-barrel double," Reynolds said.

"They're very tough," Roark said about the Rockies lineup. They don't much and they fouled off a lot of pitches and made me go deep into counts. They're a good hitting team."

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SCARY, THEN SMOOTH

New arrival Neshek made hearts skip with his first pitch, one that Adam Lind sent towering but just foul.

"I was trying to push it a little bit more in foul territory," Neshek said.

Neshek settled in to retire Lind on a hard grounder. He finished a spotless eighth by fanning pinch-hitter Pedro Severino.

"The first inning is always a tough one," Neshek said. "You have all new equipment, all new teammates. We went over signs before the inning started. I've got different shoes -- my feet are killing me right now. You've got a lot of weird little stuff going on, and then you've gotta go out and face a really good lineup like that. I'm really pleased with how it went."

WHAT'S NEXT

Rockies: Left-hander (10-7, 3.64 ERA), tied with teammate for the MLB lead in rookie wins, will start the 11:35 a.m. MT opener of the doubleheader with the Nationals. Righty (3-1, 5.84), who is 3-1,

6.57 in five starts since returning from a stress fracture in his right foot, will open the nightcap at 5:05 p.m.

Nationals: Right-hander Erick Fedde, the Nats' top pitching prospect according to MLBPipeline and third-ranked prospect overall, will make his Major League debut during Game 1 of the doubleheader, slated for a 1:35 p.m. ET start.

In the nightcap, right-hander Edwin Jackson will take the mound for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch.

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Freeland looking to build on last start vs. Nats By Kyle Melnick / MLB.com | 7:17 AM ET

Two rookie -- one of whom will be making his Major League debut -- will go head-to-head when the Nationals and

Rockies play the first game of their doubleheader at Nationals Park on Sunday.

Nationals No. 3 prospect Erick Fedde will make his Major League debut in place of Stephen Strasburg, who's nursing a nerve impingement. Fedde shifted to the bullpen in the Minors earlier this season as a possible option for the Nationals' struggling bullpen. However, the 24-year-old moved back to Triple-A Syracuse's starting rotation at the beginning of July and has notched a 6.94 ERA over 11 ⅔ innings in four starts since.

Full Game Coverage

The right-hander has a 5.57 overall ERA since being promoted to Syracuse in mid-June, but looked better in his last start when he allowed two runs over five innings. The Las Vegas native, who played little league with Bryce Harper, began the season as MLBPipeline.com's No. 60 prospect but dropped out of the Top 100 in the midseason update.

"His statement to me was that he hates to walk people," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. "That's a pretty good statement coming from a young ."

"Since he's been stretched out and got a little more comfortable at the Triple-A level, he's able to get guys out now within the strike zone, which is something we wanted him to do," general manager Mike Rizzo said. "In Double-A he was getting guys out outside the strike zone, and in Triple-A he had to make the adjustment."

Rockies starter Kyle Freeland is more seasoned than Fedde after beginning the year in the rotation. The 24-year-old is coming off a solid outing in his lone start after the All-Star Game, permitting two runs over six innings in a win over the

Pirates. This will be the lefty's first time facing the Nationals.

In the evening, Nationals starter Edwin Jackson will look to rebound from his poor outing Tuesday, when surrendered seven runs over five innings in a loss to the Brewers. Washington called up Jackson on July 18 and he allowed two runs over five innings in his first start with the team since 2012.

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After Jackson's previous outing, Baker said the right-hander wouldn't lose his starting job based on one poor appearance, earning him another start. The 15-year veteran is 1-4 with 10.80 ERA in 14 career appearances against Rockies. With the

Padres last season, Jackson was 0-1 with a 8.71 ERA vs. Colorado.

The Rockies will counter with Jon Gray, who allowed two runs over five innings in his previous start after two shaky outings. The right-hander has struggled on the road with a 7.65 ERA, compared to his 3.71 ERA at . He surrendered four runs over four innings when he faced the Nationals last year.

Three things to know about these games

• is hitting 6-for-12 with a home run, triple and double against Jackson in his career.

• Around 50 of Fedde's family members will travel to Washington for his debut.

• is batting .375 (24-64 AB) with eight home runs and 26 RBIs in his last 15 games.

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Marquez flirts with perfection, leadership role By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | @harding_at_mlb | 12:47 AM ET

WASHINGTON -- The Rockies' rough road fortunes and a Nationals lineup coming off an eight-homer performance was as big as Rockies rookie right-handed pitcher German Marquez let it be.

And Marquez found it no big deal Saturday night, when he retired the first 16 hitters in order during seven standout innings in the Rockies' 4-2 victory at National Park.

The non-waiver Trade Deadline is approaching Monday, and the Rockies look bent on staying with a young rotation that features four rookies and a second-year man. If the Rockies -- who currently hold the second National League Wild Card -

- are staying with youth, Marquez (9-4) figures he can be a leader. Saturday's 10 were a career high, and he fanned nine in each of his previous two starts.

"Why not?" said Marquez, who pitched the Rockies to just the fourth win in their last 20 road games. "I just try to do my best. Every game for me I'm going to go out and battle. I don't want to magnify outings."While fanning the first two and forcing a grounder in the first inning, Marquez felt he had a well-commanded fastball and sharpness to his curve and slider. His fledgling changeup -- a factor recently -- was also good.

"It did look like the fastball command was better, but I was really impressed by the breaking ball all night long -- you saw some funny swings," Rockies manager Bud Black said.

Marquez's start was perfect through 5 1/3, just the seventh in the Rockies' 25-season history to be perfect for at least five innings. Tyler Chatwood went five this year at San Francisco on May 2, and the record is six innings, by Chad Bettis at

Philadelphia on May 29, 2015.

"Nothing against our hitters, it was just he was beating them tonight," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said.

Matt Wieters singled in the sixth to end Marquez's perfection. Howie Kendrick then doubled with one out and Wilmer

Difo drove both home on a two-out single. Marquez then faced Bryce Harper, but didn't let the hype surrounding the

Nationals' star affect his plan of attack, blowing a 98.1-mph fastball by Harper's bat for an inning-ending strikeout.

"I know it's Bryce Harper," Marquez said. "But it's another hitter. I've got to hit my target and execute my pitches."

"His stuff was electric, like it was flying out of his hand," shortstop Trevor Story said. "But I saw that he was locating.

Pretty much anywhere he wanted to throw it, he was hitting his spots." 6

Fans delight as Rox recall Tapia from Triple-A By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | @harding_at_mlb | July 29th, 2017

WASHINGTON -- No amount of rain and mist could dampen the sunshine in the hearts of some vocal Rockies fans, for returned to the Majors on Saturday.

The Rockies recalled Tapia from Triple-A Albuquerque amid a flurry of roster moves over the last few days. Tapia, 23, has hit .314 in the Majors this season with two home runs, two triples and nine RBIs over 40 games. Tapia was 0-for-12 during his first two big league stints, but was so exciting during his third stint that, at least according to fans on social media, July

18 was a dark day in Denver.

Now all can delight in the return of Taia's plaited hair that's dyed golden blond, his bright smile and his blazing speed.

Tapia is tied with the Marlins' Dee Gordon for fourth-fastest sprint speed with a top speed of 29.6 feet per second according to Statcast™.

The calls for him to be in the lineup every day have already begun but for now, at least Tapia is back in Purple Pinstripes.

He takes the position-player role of first baseman-outfielder , whose right calf strain landed him on the 10- day disabled list Friday.

"It's definitely a cool feeling to know that the fans want me there; I love the fans, too," Tapia said, with first-base

Tony Diaz translating. "That's why I always smile. I just like to be myself. I play hard. I smile at little kids. I know that means a lot to them, and to me, too. Hopefully I can continue to do that for many years to come."

A deep outfield has been the reason Tapia didn't make the team out of Spring Training, but he has patiently sizzled when in Triple-A -- .349 in 42 games -- and waited by the phone. Now it's still an outfield crowd, with Charlie Blackmon a fixture in center (Tapia's best position), and Carlos Gonzalez and Gerardo Parra in the corners. They all bat left-handed.

"It's not easy, especially for him -- a guy who's been an everyday player at every level," Rockies manager Bud Black said.

"It takes you out of your groove."

Worth noting

• Closer Greg Holland returned from paternity leave after he and wife Lacey welcomed their second child, daughter

Hunter Nicole, on Thursday. She measured 7 pounds, 3 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. Their son, Nash, turns 3 on

Oct. 1.

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To make room, the Rockies designated for assignment righty reliever Jordan Lyles(0-2, 6.94 ERA in 46 2/3 innings), and also optioned righty reliever Carlos Estevezto Albuquerque; however, Estevez will serve as the 26th allotted player for

Sunday's doubleheader against the Nationals.

The moves leave the Rockies with 39 players on their Major League roster.

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German Marquez starts in perfection then wrestles the Rockies out of a road funk against the Nationals Marquez became just the sixth Rockies pitcher in 25 years to get through at least five perfect innings By NICK GROKE | [email protected] | The Denver Post PUBLISHED: July 29, 2017 at 8:06 pm | UPDATED: July 29, 2017 at 9:24 pm

WASHINGTON, D.C. — He blitzed the National League’s heftiest slugger with 99 mph high heat, as if, at 22 years old,

German Marquez has not yet figured out who to fear.

The Rockies right-hander, whose knees long ago stopped shaking in nervousness on the mound, flew through a hard- hitting Nationals lineup Saturday for more than five perfect innings. Marquez plopped down the first 16 batters he faced, including Bryce Harper on four whipped pitches in the fourth inning.

And the rookie from Venezuela willed the Rockies out of a nasty road funk, leading them to a 4-2 victory at Nationals

Park, just their fourth in the last 20 away from Coors Field.

Marquez added another promising outing to a season that will set him up in a burgeoning career and, perhaps, carry him in an evolving rotation toward the postseason.

“This was very, very important,” Marquez said. “We’re in the thick of things.”

Marquez became just the seventh Rockies pitcher in 25 years to get through at least five perfect innings.

The Rockies (59-45) snapped a three-game slump that skidded them through St. Louis last week and they lobbed a volley back at one of the best teams in the NL, a Nationals squad (61-40) that had demolished Colorado for 46 runs in four April days.

“They hit eight home runs the other day too,” first baseman Mark Reynolds said. “We have to grind these games out. We need all these young pitchers we have to step up.”

Marquez, one of four rookie starters Colorado is using in an excessively young rotation, strode through seven imposing innings, never retreating from a lineup with the best offensive slash line in the NL. His career-high 10 strikeouts, against no walks, included whiffs of Harper twice, both on high fastballs, at 99 mph in the fourth and 98 in the sixth, both to end an inning.

He also sank a curveball to set down Adam Lind in the sixth after falling behind the count at 3-0, then rallying through a

10-pitch at bat. Lind was locked in. Marquez boldly buried the final breaking pitch at his feet.

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“We have a lot of confidence in our guys on the bump. That showed tonight. Marquez was awesome,” shortstop Trevor

Story said. “His stuff was electric. It looked like it was flying out of his hand.”

Marquez was perfect through 16 batters. Matt Wieters finally broke apart his no-hit bid with a solid single to left field. But as the Nationals followed with a double from newly acquired pinch-hitter Howie Kendrick and a two-run single to left from

Wilmer Difo, Marquez came back for his second strikeout of Harper to end the threat.

Harper carried a 19-game hitting streak into Saturday. Marquez helped snuff it out. He spun a pirouette and pounded his glove in celebration.

In May, Marquez approached an outing in Denver with similar aplomb. He kept the Cubs hitless through six innings that day, with a fastball-curveball combo that was still in its infancy. By Saturday in D.C., Marquez graduated to efficiency.

He threw just 48 pitches in the first four innings while only two balls reached the outfield. His 99 pitches through seven innings resulted in just three hits and two runs.

“I feel more confident now, more experienced,” Marquez said. “We were facing one of the best teams in baseball. I have to step up.”

The Rockies offense met Marquez in kind. Story‘s two-strike home run to right field in the second inning scored Carlos

Gonzalez for an early 2-0 lead. Story’s 15th homer was his third in five games. In the fifth, the Rockies hopped on

Washington starter Tanner Roark for consecutive doubles, from Gerardo Parra to left field and Mark Reynolds to right.

Both hits scored runs and the Rockies led 4-0.

As the Rockies creep toward Monday’s trade deadline, having already acquired right-handed reliever Pat Neshek in a trade last week with Philadelphia, they added a reason for ambition by opening a rain-delayed weekend series with a sound victory over the NL Central leaders.

Neshek pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning in his Rockies debut, with two groundouts and a four-pitch strikeout of pinch-hitter

Pedro Severino. Then closer Greg Holland, having returned from the birth of his daughter Thursday, pitched an equally clean ninth.

“It’s nice to come in and know you’re in a playoff race,” Neshek said. “You saw some emotion from me because this is a big game. If we’re gonna make the playoffs, that’s who we’re going to face, a team like the .” 10

Rockies cut the cord on Jordan Lyles; Greg Holland returns with a bundle; Raimel Tapia back too “The flight back to the big leagues, guys have smiles on their faces. The other way, not so much.” By NICK GROKE | [email protected] | The Denver Post July 29, 2017 at 7:12 pm

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Rockies on Saturday finally cut the cord on beleaguered reliever Jordan Lyles, the final piece to the Dexter Fowler trade from 2013, cutting the former starter who had become a low-leverage innings eater.

Colorado designated Lyles for assignment and optioned right-hander Carlos Estevez to make room for closer Greg

Holland, who returned after the birth of his daughter, and outfielder Raimel Tapia, called up from Triple-A.

Lyles will be available to other teams through waivers. If he clears waivers after seven days, the Rockies could outright him to Triple-A.

“He’s been a great teammate to all the guys,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “He came to the park every day ready to pitch. Never complained, no excuses. But he’ll be the first to tell you his performance was not where it needed to be.”

Lyles arrived in Colorado with Brandon Barnes in a trade with the Astros for Fowler. After struggling as a starter, the

Rockies moved him to the bullpen last season and he struggled as a backup long reliever this year, with a 6.94 ERA over

46 2/3 innings.

Holland’s bundle. Holland returned from paternity leave Friday after his wife, Lacey, gave birth to a daughter, Hunter

Nicole, on Thursday.

“At 4 p.m., on the nose,” Holland said. This leave was well-timed all around for Holland. He departed the Kansas City

Royals during the Championship Series in 2014 for the birth of his first child, son Nash.

Tapia’s back. Tapia’s return is his fourth call-up this season from Triple-A. The outfielder has been forced to adapt to the elevator ride between the minors and majors in this, his rookie season.

“It’s not easy,” Tapia said. “But I’m mentally strong. As long as I stay ready and continue to get better, I’m going to help this team win.”

Tapia’s call-up fills a void left by Ian Desmond, who was moved to the 10-day disabled list Friday with a strained right calf muscle.

“Hey, it’s Tap time,” Black said. “The flight back to the big leagues, guys have smiles on their faces. The other way, not so much.”

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Footnotes. Right-hander Chad Bettis threw his second Triple-A rehab start, his fourth overall, in a return from cancer. In 5

1/3 innings, he gave up three earned runs on five hits, with two walks. Albuquerque manager Glenallen Hill pulled him mid-at bat in the sixth after he crossed his pitch limit. … Estevez did not leave the team Saturday. He will be the 26th man on the roster for Sunday’s doubleheader nightcap.

Looking ahead

First game: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (10-7, 3.64 ERA) at Nationals RHP Erick Fedde (debut), 11:35 a.m., AT&T

SportsNet

Second game: Rockies RHP Jon Gray (3-1, 5.84) at Nationals RHP Edwin Jackson (1-1, 4.76), 5:05 p.m., AT&T

SportsNet

The Rockies will stick with their regularly-scheduled rotation for a doubleheader, with Freeland bumping off Saturday a day late and Gray going several hours later than planned to the nightcap. The Nationals, filling in for the injured Stephen

Strasburg (elbow nerve), will call up Fedde from Triple-A. He is Washington’s No. 3 prospect. Freeland excelled in his last turn, giving up just two runs on six hits over six innings against the Pirates. The Cardinals pounced on Gray last week for a two-run homer in the first, but he rebounded for four scoreless inning afterward. Nick Groke, The Denver Post

Monday: Off

Tuesday: Mets LHP Steven Matz (2-4, 5.51) at Rockies RHP Jeff Hoffman (6-3, 5.58), 6:40 p.m., AT&T SportsNet

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Brendan Rodgers has become nearly untouchable in the Rockies’ trade deadline dealings. His time will wait. The Rockies, it seems, have decided Rodgers is worth the wait. But no prospect is off the table. By NICK GROKE | [email protected] | The Denver Post July 29, 2017 at 7:33 pm

WASHINGTON, D.C. — One of them wore braces on his teeth, a suggestion of his age and place as a baseball prospect.

The other carried the expectations of a franchise, something less obvious at first glance.

Brendan Rodgers, the Rockies’ high-value minor-league middle infielder, rubbed elbows with Jose Gomez during spring training long enough to form a bond. And Rodgers is starting to see his friends churned through the business of baseball.

Gomez was one of three Single-A players traded last week from Colorado to Philadelphia in a deadline week deal that netted the Rockies a much-needed relief pitcher.

Rodgers, meanwhile, stands on firm ground. The 20-year-old slugger, the second-highest draft pick in club history, is affecting the future of the Rockies from afar.

“A few of my buddies got traded,” Rodgers said by phone from Hartford, Conn., where he is excelling with the Double-A

Yard Goats. “I know it’s part of the business. But with all the trade stuff going on, I try not to think about it or pay any attention on social media. Just go play hard and let it all work out.”

As the trade deadline rushes toward its conclusion Monday, with the Rockies in the thick of potential deals from multiple angles, Rodgers is the nearest they have to an untouchable. He is a hallmark of Colorado’s minor-league system who continually draws interest from other clubs enamored of his ability to hit for power and average and field with a rocket arm.

As the No. 7-ranked prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America, Rodgers’ name is near others across the league who will soon affect playoff races.

One of those races involves the Rockies, who entered the weekend 13 games over .500 and firmly grasping a wild-card spot. The playoffs are a siren, a tease that can lure fringe playoff teams into jumping into mistakes. The decision to trade for an immediate run while sacrificing future stability is a delicate balance.

The Rockies, it seems, have decided Rodgers is worth the wait. But no prospect is off the table.

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“I’ve only seen a couple at-bats. But he’s one of our best prospects,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “I’ve been around long enough to know there are very few untouchables in this game. Very few, when you think about it. The Nationals have one. The Angels have one. And we have one. That’s the really hard part of a general manager’s job, assessing a player’s value, both your own and others.”

The untouchables Black hinted at are proven names: Washington right fielder Bryce Harper, Anaheim center fielder Mike

Trout, Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado.

Black first saw a trade deadline unfold from the front office as a special assistant in Cleveland for four years through 1999, when the mid-market Indians were consistently pushing toward the postseason. He watched general manager John Hart and assistant GM Mark Shapiro juggle the needs of the present, trying to piece to together a playoff team, with the demands of the future, as it relates to prospects.

“I’ve been around long enough to understand,” Black said. “I’ve been around enough conversations and heard a lot of philosophical talk about that over the years. It’s given me perspective.”

He knows the Rockies could flip Rodgers for immediate help to fill some glaring holes in their run through the National

League West. Colorado, despite trading for sidearm veteran reliever Pat Neshek last week, could use a multiyear arm at the back of the bullpen to buffer the possible loss of Greg Holland before next season. They could use a veteran catcher to bolster a weary battery. They could use a veteran starting pitcher to mix with a rookie-heavy rotation.

But Rodgers seems a price too high. He was hammering a 1.119 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) early this season for the Single-A Lancaster JetHawks before a jump to Double-A, ahead of schedule. In the past month, he quickly adjusted to better pitchers and lower altitudes, with an .830 OPS. He has learned to demand a hitter’s count, then know that the next pitch might not be a fastball, something less talented pitchers fall back on.

“I have a long ways to go,” Rodgers said. He will likely need about 150 more at-bats in Hartford. “The ultimate goal for me this year was to stay healthy and get to Double-A. I did one of the two. I started the year with a nagging wrist injury, but after that, I was like, I have a chance.”

Even Neshek, who joined the Rockies on Friday, can see the potential of a team that makes it difficult to destroy the future for incremental help in the near term. 14

“This is a really good offense, one of the best I’ve seen,” he said. “It’s a matter of getting hot at the right time and staying in the race.”

For now, it seems, the Rockies will pick away at the edges of potential acquisitions, ignoring the lure of a hefty haul at the expense of their highest-profile prospect. Whether that caution extends to 22-year-old Ryan McMahon, a Triple-A infielder tearing up pitchers in the Pacific Coast League, or 19-year-old Riley Pint, the Single-A pitcher with the 100 mph fastball, will play out soon.

And if the Rockies wait for a significant run toward the , so will Rodgers.

“I’m gonna bust my butt to make it work,” he said. “Just chill out and be myself.”

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Saunders: Cooperstown, where baseball stars — known and unknown — shine bright By PATRICK SAUNDERS | [email protected] | The Denver Post July 29, 2017 at 7:00 pm

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — A constellation of stars gathered here this weekend. So many, in fact, that it’s enough to make a baseball fan’s head spin and his heart race.

Over there, having lunch on the patio of the famed Otesaga Resort Hotel, is Cardinals Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson, looking like he could still melt a batter with his glowering stare and then strike him out with his slider.

Holding court in the lobby is Hank Aaron, baseball’s true home run king. Hammerin’ Hank is 83 now, but there remains an air of majesty about him.

At a swanky party Friday night, Rod Carew was greeted warmly, and hugged gently, by those friends in baseball who thank God he’s still alive, thanks to a transplanted heart and kidney.

Saturday afternoon, at a ceremony at Doubleday Field, I had the honor of introducing Claire Smith as she was awarded the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for her “meritorious contributions to baseball writing.” No other award for a baseball writer is more prestigious, and she became the first woman to receive it.

But a lesser-known star is Tom Shieber, the senior curator for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. He looks, and speaks, like a professor of baseball history.

The thousands of fan who flocked to Cooperstown this weekend don’t know Shieber or his co-workers, but they should thank them. Here, in this quaint hamlet in upstate New York, American’s grandest game is researched, authenticated, preserved and displayed.

My wife, Nancy, and I were fortunate to get a behind-the-scenes tour at the Hall of Fame. Shieber was our congenial and most-knowledgeable Hall of Fame host.

We saw a cooled storage vault where thousands of priceless photographs are kept safe from the elements. We saw Lou

Gehrig’s scrapbook, complete with newspaper clippings announcing he had the deadly disease that would take his life and take on his name.

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Shieber led us into an artifacts room, where baseball treasures are stored until they go on display in the museum.

— Here are the cleats worn by Mike Trout when he hit for the cycle as a rookie in 2013. Trout was the youngest player in

American League history — 21 years, nine months, 16 days — to hit for the cycle.

— Shieber allowed me to hoist, but not swing, a bat used by Honus Wagner in the early 1900s.

— I was able to cradle (wearing white gloves, I should add) a signed Mickey Mantle baseball that was used in the

Yankees’ final game of the 1956 season. Mantle won the Triple Crown that year, hitting .353, with 52 homers and

130 RBIs.

— Knowing that I’m from Colorado, and that I cover the Rockies, Shieber brought out a bat used by Todd Helton in his final game of the 2000 season. To refresh your memory, Helton won the National League batting title that year, batting

.372, while slugging 42 home runs, hitting 59 doubles and driving in 147 runs.

— Shieber also showed us items most of us would never think to hang on to, but nonetheless enrich baseball’s tapestry.

For example, when Russ Hodges called Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard Round the World” to give the Giants the 1951 NL pennant in a dramatic playoff over the rival Dodgers (“The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!”), Hodges was so excited, he never finished filling out his scorecard. In the column where a shaded diamond should denote a home run, there is nothing but a blank space.

So thanks, Mr. Shieber, for a peek inside America’s greatest game.

Spotlight on Yoenis Cespedes, LF, Mets

What’s up: The Mets’ season and Cespedes’ season have been a hand-in-hand disaster. The “Amazin’s” are languishing under the .500 mark as they come to Denver on Tuesday to open a three-game series. Cespedes, plagued by various leg injuries, had played in just 56 games and was hitting .277 with 10 homers and 27 RBIs through Friday. In many ways, the left fielder’s season has mirrored that of Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez, who also has struggled. The two outfielders have been among baseball’s biggest disappointments, the difference being that Cespedes can blame injuries, while Gonzalez cannot. 17

Background: The 31-year-old Cespedes signed a $110 million, four-year contract in the offseason to remain with the

Mets. His prodigious power at the plate and grace in the outfield made him a fan favorite, first in Oakland and then in New

York. But he has learned a hard lesson: muscling up is not necessarily good for a baseball player. “My plan is to change my workout program,’’ Cespedes recently told The New York Post. “I want to become more flexible, more athletic, have less bulk (in my legs). I want to do less weight lifting. I’m going to do some different things, I want to do yoga, more stretching. I want to be lighter. I want to come back around 210, lose about 15 pounds.’’

Saunders’ take: It’s beginning to look like the Mets’ decision to re-sign Cespedes was a mistake, but that’s the chance teams must take in this age of big-money contracts. Interestingly, the left fielder recently told Susan Slusser of the San

Francisco Chronicle that he wants to finish his career in Oakland. “I wish that happens,” Céspedes told the Chronicle, adding, “I told (former A’s and current Mets teammate Jerry) Blevins, ‘I don’t know how many years I’m going to play, but

I’m going to play the last year of my career with Oakland. I don’t know if that’s possible or not, but that’s my goal. … I still love the A’s. They were the first team to give me an opportunity to play in the big leagues. I love Oakland all the time.’ ”

Three up, three down

UP

1. Royals: Mike Moustakas became the fastest player to reach 30 homes in team history as K.C. rolled to its ninth straight win.

2. Indians: Rejuvenated Danny Salazar led Cleveland to its eighth consecutive victory, keeps just ahead of streaking K.C. in AL Central.

3. Yankees: Back in first in AL East and rookie Matt Judge has 37 homers through his first 125 career games, third-most in MLB history.

DOWN

1. Brewers: Brent Suter turned back the Cubs on Friday night, but a 2-8 road trip has Brew Crew slipping out of contention in NL Central.

2. Rockies: Getting swept in St. Louis revealed just how fragile Rox young rotation is as the dog days of summer start barking.

3. Tigers: Trade rumors abound for underachieving Detroit, with catcher Alex Avila and reliever Justin Wilson at the top of the list — and Colorado as possible destinations.

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Marquez pitches Rockies past Nationals 4-2 Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- German Marquez is rolling along quite nicely for the . Just ask Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals.

Marquez carried a perfect game into the sixth inning, Trevor Story homered and Colorado beat Washington 4-2 on

Saturday night in a matchup of playoff contenders.

Marquez (9-4) set down his first 16 batters before allowing three hits in a span of four hitters in the sixth inning. The right- hander struck out a career-high 10 while allowing two runs and three hits over seven innings in his 20th career start.

"That's a really special performance when you take a perfecto into the sixth inning," Colorado manager Bud Black said.

Pat Neshek, who was acquired in a trade with Philadelphia on Wednesday, pitched a perfect eighth in his Rockies debut. Greg Holland, who was activated from the paternity list Saturday, completed a 1-2-3 ninth for his 32nd save in 33 tries.

Marquez won his fourth consecutive start. He also joined teammates Kyle Freeland and Antonio Senzatela as the only rookies in the majors with at least nine victories this season.

"He had great stuff going tonight," Nationals catcher Matt Wieters said. "He had a curveball that was really sharp. It was tough. He was able to throw it for strikes early and then throw a hard one below. He got rolling there the first time through the lineup."

Harper went 0 for 4 to end his 19-game hitting streak. Tanner Roark (8-7) labored through five innings, allowing four runs and five hits with four walks.

"He was wild wide off the plate," Washington manager Dusty Baker said. "Every time he tried to go away, it'd be off the plate."

Story hit a two-run drive to right-center in the second for his 15th homer this season. Gerardo Parra and Mark

Reynolds added consecutive RBI doubles in the fifth.

Marquez struck out Adam Lind to open the sixth. Wieters then poked a single to left to break up Marquez's bid for a perfect game and pinch hitter Howie Kendrick, making his Washington debut a day after he was acquired in a trade with

Philadelphia, doubled.

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Wilmer Difo got Washington on the board with a two-run single, but Harper struck out to end the threat.

Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, Daniel Murphy, Anthony Rendon and Lind, the Nationals' Nos. 3-7 hitters, each entered the night hitting at least .317. They combined to go 0 for 16.

"To hold this lineup that they have to what he did tonight, he obviously had electric stuff throwing 98, 99," Reynolds said.

"He was dotting his slider and curveball and threw his changeup when he had to. He was impressive."

STORY TIME

Story hit his third homer in five games. It's the first time he has had such a stretch since smacking three in four games

April 18-22.

"That was a really solid at-bat and he got a ball out over the plate and hit the opposite-field homer," Black said. "Trev's had better at-bats the last month."

MAKING MOVES

Colorado recalled outfielder Raimel Tapia from Triple-A Albuquerque, optioned right-hander Carlos Estevez to

Albuquerque and designated right-hander Jordan Lyles for assignment. Estevez is 4-0 with an 8.10 ERA in 18 games with

Colorado this season, while Lyles was 0-2 with a 6.94 ERA in 33 appearances.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Nationals: INF Stephen Drew was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left abdominal strain. ... General manager

Mike Rizzo said RHP Stephen Strasburgcame through his Saturday bullpen session well. Strasburg (right elbow nerve impingement) is eligible to be activated from the disabled list on Thursday.

UP NEXT

Rockies: Freeland (10-7, 3.64 ERA) and RHP Jon Gray (3-1, 5.84 ERA) start Sunday in a split doubleheader prompted by

Friday's rainout.

Nationals: RHP Erick Fedde makes his major league debut in Sunday's first game. RHP Edwin Jackson (1-1, 3.75 ERA) gets the nod in the nightcap.

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Carlos Gonzalez on the Rockies' potential postseason run Marly Rivera ESPN Writer

Since arriving in the major leagues in 2008, Carlos Gonzalez has won a National League batting title, made three All-Star rosters and taken home three Golden Gloves and one Silver Slugger award. But one thing he hasn't done since his second year in MLB is make the playoffs. This year, with his Rockies firmly in control of a wild-card spot (at least at the moment), he spoke with Marly Rivera about what it would mean to make a run. He also discussed how he's approaching his impending free agency and what it means for him to represent Venezuela.

It seems you guys are back on track after a tough stretch. How do you feel about your chances to make the playoffs?

We are very happy to see that it's the end of July and we are still in the playoff hunt. We have done a great job since the season started. Since we came back from spring training, we've worked hard and our focus has always been on winning series. It's something that has kept us alive in a tough division, competing with the Dodgers, the Giants and the

Diamondbacks. It's been a tough fight all season long, but that also motivates you to keep working hard and giving it your best every day.

Was there disappointment after losing so much ground in the division following the hot start?

No, of course not. All the teams go through highs and lows and obviously we had a bad stretch before the end of the first half. The Dodgers have played incredibly well. But as I told you, all teams go through tough times. The Dodgers still have not gone through that, but we've been fighting to keep up with them and waiting for them to go through the same tough stretch we went through.

With the Clayton Kershaw injury, does that allow the Rockies to start thinking about winning the division rather than simply focusing on the wild card?

Well, we've always wanted to win the division. The wild card is the second option, but you never focus on the second option. Our mentality has always been to win series. When we face any rival, we try to win that series and that's what's been keeping us close to first or second place. The loss of Clayton Kershaw is a significant injury for the Dodgers and hopefully all of us will continue to stay healthy and keep playing good baseball. Our focus has to be on our own performance and staying on track and not losing ground, not on what's going on with the other teams. We just focus on doing our job. If we keep winning series, I know one of those two things will happen: We will go on to the postseason as divisional champions or as the wild-card team. 21

How do you describe your playoff hunger after not being in the postseason since 2009?

For me, it's still one of the best experiences I've ever had in my career, being able to play in the playoffs. It's what we try to focus on every day, to be able to have that opportunity again. I have been in this organization for quite some time and I know what it's like to go through bad times. Obviously right now the team is going through a great period and we are trying to enjoy it the most we can.

As you enter the final months of your contract, do you start thinking this might be your last chance to go to the playoffs with the Rockies?

Well, yes, that possibility exists. Obviously you have to be mature and know that's something that could happen in the future. There are several options, but as I have told you, I am focused on doing my job on a daily basis. At this time, I am still with the organization and I am putting in all my heart so things go well this season and we'll see [what] happens in the future.

How did you decide to deal with your impending free agency?

We had a conversation with the owner of the team during spring training and we came to an agreement that when they said play ball [on Opening Day] each one of us was going to focus on playing baseball and on trying to improve and be a great team. That's what we have been doing, and as I said, that's something that will take care of itself in its due time. I am not thinking about that right now.

How much will this team's ability to make the playoffs regularly influence your decision?

Right now this team has a good core, a good base of young players who are going to be very good for years. Look at guys like Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon, DJ LeMahieu, guys in the rotation like [Antonio] Senzatela, like [Germán]

Márquez, like [Jon] Gray, who are just coming up and they have been given the opportunity to play at this level and are doing a great job. That means this is going to be a team where if most players stay healthy and everyone continues to develop, it's going to be a very good team for many years, and then there will be a time for me to make a decision. I know that time will come, and we will evaluate the options when we have them.

Is that what's most important for you, being with a team that has a chance to make the playoffs consistently year after year?

Yes, of course. I believe that at this stage in my career the most important thing is to win, and to be at peace. In terms of 22

money and those things, that's separate. I want to have the opportunity to play on a team that gives me a chance to develop further as a baseball player and allows me to contend for a championship ring.

Would you say that money is secondary at this stage of your career?

Of course, yes. Obviously at the beginning of your career you focus on doing things right, and everything you do, and all the sacrifices you make, they are for your family, to be able to help them and to secure their future. I am already in another stage; this stage is about winning, and about enjoying the game as I have always enjoyed playing it since I was a kid, and being able to win a championship.

How do you and many other Venezuelan players focus on baseball every day knowing the difficulties your country is going through?

It is quite difficult. For us, Venezuela is still our home. We have a lot of family, many acquaintances and friends over there, and it's thanks to them that we are here today, all the education and everything we learned over there; you can never forget that. Everything we do here in the United States is in representation of each one of them, not only our family, but the whole country. We know that we have a country full of talent, full of warriors, of people who have always supported us and we are here because of them and we also support them.

How difficult is it to follow what's happening on social media and to receive calls and messages from friends and family?

It is very difficult. As a human being I always worry when I see so many deaths and all the war and all the fighting that's happening in our country. It's something very difficult for us to just put aside. I have also always said it; I support them, the same way that they have always supported me. I hope things in my country will get better. As I told you, we are winners, we are talented people and we will be able to move on from this very difficult time.

Has honoring Venezuela further motivated you to reach the playoffs?

Of course. Every win, every little thing any Venezuelan accomplishes, fills us with pride, not only for me but also for people over there. We know that there is a generation that is going to come and will represent us as well and everything we do here, we do for them, and we are very happy that they continue supporting us.

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MLB trade deadline: How the Rockies could turn a Jonathan Lucroy rental into something bolder

Could the Rockies get a catcher and improve their bullpen in a deal with the Texas Rangers? by Hayden Kane@hwkane Jul 29, 2017, 11:03am MDT | Purple Row

The Colorado Rockies are open to rentals as they improve their roster in anticipation of a run for a playoff spot in

2017. Pat Neshek is a rental, and if they add a catcher, that player will likely be a rental too.

Texas Rangers’ catcher Jonathan Lucroy is one such potential catcher for hire. He would bring name recognition and a track record that includes big contributions in a playoff race last year. He is struggling this year, however, and with an expiring contract, Lucroy might not demand a huge price. A trade like that, or a similar deal for Alex Avila, would be a relatively safe but nevertheless effective deadline move.

That’s fun, because that means the Rockies are honest-to-goodness playoff contenders. But there might be an even more fun trade out there, specifically with the Rangers, that would be bolder and would help the Rockies beyond this season.

The Rockies could try to put together a package to acquire Lucroy and right-handed relief pitcher Keone Kela.

The 24-year-old reliever is having a dynamite year—one that might put him in line for save opportunities if he remains in

Texas. In 32 appearances, Kela sports a 2.51 ERA to go along with a 12.25 K/9 ratio. He made his debut two years ago and had similarly good numbers, while 2016 was a lost year largely due to injury. Ultimately, Kela has an electric arm and would give the bullpen a big boost. And, better yet, he’s under team control through 2020.

As a young reliever with real upside and team control, Kela doesn’t seem like a guy the Rangers would shop at all. But according to reports from Ken Rosenthal and Evan Grant, he is available Given his age and contract status, he would demand a fairly high price and very well might stay put, according to Adam Morris over at Lone Star Ball.

The arguments for the Rockies to seriously pursue Kela start with their needs this season. There’s no need to kick Jordan

Lyles while he’s down, but it is fair to point out that the other right-handed options in the bullpen not named Greg

Holland have been disappointing. Adam Ottavino is fighting some inconsistency, and the other spots have been a revolving door with guys like Carlos Estevez, Jairo Diaz (gulp), Antonio Senzatela and even Tyler Chatwood.

Pat Neshek obviously helps the team in that regard, but adding Kela would give Bud Black more options in high-leverage spots and more length to the bullpen to meet the demands of the playoff race and (let’s hope) playoff baseball.

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We can also look beyond 2017. It’s near certain that Greg Holland will select free agency after this year. Do you think he’ll cash in on his bounce back by signing long-term with the Rockies? More importantly, do you want the Rockies to be the team giving a lengthy contract to a closer?

The correct answer to the latter question is no, by the way, and if you disagree, you should be required to buy three Mark

Melancon sherseys to repent: white, black, and that godawful orange.

Keone Kela would give the Rockies another option at closer in the seasons to come. The ghost of Rex Brothers reminds us not to talk about “closers of the future” and all that, but it doesn’t hurt to think about who will be closing games if (when)

Holland is off making big money with the Nationals or whomever.

To make this trade, the Rockies would have to part with a big-ticket prospect, or maybe even a young player who has tasted the big leagues. Do any of us want to see Raimel Tapia on the Rangers? Of course not, Mucho Swagger should only be on the Rockies. Would it be indefensible to trade Ryan McMahon? In 2017, yes. In 2016? Not so much, and who knows what that difference means for the major-league player he’ll end up being.

You could indulge hypothetical packages for a while, but the point is that the Rockies would have to really pay to add Kela to a Lucroy package. That’s always scary, especially as those of us who are prospect nerds get attached to these guys.

It’s at that point, though, that we should remember the words of Andy McCullough from the 2015 Baseball Prospectus

Annual: “prospects are bullshit.”

In other words, the attachment to untested and unrealized potential has a way of making wartless prospects seem more valuable than major-leaguers, whose warts are there for all to see. And that can get in the way of opportunity.

If the Rockies want to go bold at the trade deadline, this is one way they could do it. Jeff Bridich faces the challenge of walking parallel paths: win now and keep building for later. This trade could give the Rockies a rental at catcher now and another valuable bullpen arm for the next few years.

That would be fun, right?

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Holy German! Marquez immaculate in dismantling Nats By Drew Creasman on July 29, 2017 | BSN Denver

When the Colorado Rockies began the 2017 season, 22-year-old German Marquez was stashed in their bullpen, not pitching at all before being sent down to Triple-A about a week into the campaign. On April 25, Marquez made his season debut at Coors Field in a start against the Washington Nationals and was obliterated to the tune of eight runs on four hits over just four innings of work.

In the space between then and now, Marquez has posted an 8-3 record with a 3.56 ERA and standout performances against the and Pittsburgh Pirates at home.

And on Saturday night in the nation’s capital, the Rockies rookie starter stared down the same fearsome hitters he debuted against in those unmistakable red and white uniforms and he blew them all away, dismantling Washington in a 4-

2 Colorado win.

After retiring the first 16 batters of the game, Marquez lost the perfect game bid with one out in the sixth on an opposite field single from Matt Wietersagainst one of the few hanging curveballs the kid threw in the game. It was the third most consecutive batters sat down by a pitcher in Rockies history. Did we mention that he is 22?

The at-bat prior, after falling behind 3-0 to Adam Lind, with two borderline calls going as balls, and after 10 fastballs struck him out with the wicked curve.

As so often happens, once the seal was broken, Marquez suddenly looked human again, giving up a pinch-hit double to Howie Kendrick in his first at-bat in a Nationals uniform. Still, it looked like Marquez would power his way out of it after striking out Brian Goodwin with a fastball Goodwin is still half way through his swing on. But Wilmer Difo threw the bat head at an outside fastball on the first pitch of the next at-bat, lofting a soft liner just in front of Gerardo Parra in left field, scoring two.

Within a handful of minutes, Marquez had lost the perfect game, the no-hitter, and the shutout and was suddenly staring at Bryce Harper who represented the tying run in the batter’s box. The 22-year-old regained his focus once again, trusted his ridiculous power stuff and struck out one of the very best all-around hitters in baseball with the high cheese. It was his

10th strikeout of the game, making it the first time the young fireballer has reached double digits in that department. It was only the second time in Rockies history that a rookie pitcher has struck out at least 10 hitters without walking a batter. The only other time was Jon Gray‘s famous 16-strikeout game against the .

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Marquez cruised through a 1-2-3 seventh inning to finish off his masterpiece that, like so many of the greats, contained one blemish. He is only the seventh pitcher in Rockies history to carry a perfect game into the sixth inning

Nationals starter Tanner Roark had good stuff, spotting the fastball well at times and racking up eight strikeouts. But the

Rockies offense was patient both in and out of the strike zone, driving up his pitch count, working out four walks, and making the most of their five hits against him.

The first example of this came in the second when Carlos Gonzalez drew a walk and Trevor Story put together one of the best at-bats of his career, staying right on every pitch, fouling a few straight back, tracking the ball all the way before finally blasting a two-run homer over the right-center field wall on the eighth pitch.

Colorado plated another pair in the fifth again starting with an excellent at-bat from DJ LeMahieu who drew a walk. Gerardo Parra came through with a two-out double to left, DJ was off on the pitch and scored. Mark

Reynoldsfollowed with a double off the right field wall to score Parra, putting Colorado up 4-0.

Parra is now batting .360 on the season with 43 RBI. Since May 23, Parra is batting an eye-popping .500 (43-for-86) with

29 RBI over 26 games. He has been the driving force of the Rockies offense, to the surprise of many, working his way into the cleanup spot in the lineup. And he has proven Bud Black wise in that decision.

He has done all this while missing 28 games with a right quad strain.

Pat Neshek made his Colorado Rockies debut in the eighth with a two-run lead. He got a little help from Story (who had a few nifty plays in the game) and Nolan Arenado (who has had a few nifty plays in his career) to get the first two outs but finished off his inning with his patented ugly-swing-inducing stuff for the punch out.

Greg Holland was called upon for the save in his first game back off the paternity list. He did so with ease to extend his

MLB lead in saves to 32, completing one of the best-pitched games of the season for the Rockies.

Colorado moved to 59-45 and snapped a three-game losing streak.

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In the Noe: Rockies will be fine as Ian Desmond recovers By Alissa Noe July 29, 2017 | Mile High Sports

I can give you 70 million reasons why Ian Desmond‘s recurring injuries are bad news for the Colorado Rockies, but there’s nothing he, nor they, can do about it right now.

For the moment, Desmond needs to focus on getting his calf muscle and his body right, and it looks like that will have to take more R & R than originally thought. But you know what? It happens. In a sport this grueling, it can be hard to stay healthy, especially when simply playing can re-aggravate an old injury.

In the meantime, though, the Rockies will be fine without him on the field. They have plenty of talent to back up Desmond while he makes his recovery, both at first base and in left field.

He’s certainly played first base a lot less this year than was originally planned, which the team can obviously credit to Mark Reynolds. Reynolds has been nothing short of phenomenal this season, both at the plate and at the bag, so that area of their game shouldn’t be too affected.

In the outfield, perhaps, the Rockies have their greatest depth of talent.

Currently on the 25-man roster, they boast the skills of the near-infallible Charlie Blackmon, a somewhat-embattled Carlos

Gonzalez, the white-hot and feared Gerardo Parra and Alexi Amarista, who has certainly earned his ‘Little Ninja’ nickname.

And, if the Rockies find a way to call up some of their Triple-A talent, they can call on the likes of Raimel Tapia, who’s speed and bat can bring a unique edge to the roster once more.

Unfortunate injuries happen all the time in thes six-month ordeal that is a MLB season, but you know what that is?

As manager Bud Black likes to say, that’s baseball.

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5X5: Marquez is Marvelous By Tracy Ringolsby | Inside the Seams

5X5: Marquez gets his revenge. … Holland, a saving grace. … What a Story he can tell. … Washington a home on he road for Rockies. … and the Rockies are ready to double up.

GERMAN MARQUEZnot only won his fourth consecutive start in a 4-2 victory at Washington on Saturday night, but he retired the first 16 batters he faced before Nationals’ catcher Matt Wieters singled with one out in the sixth. He equaled the third farthest into a game a Rockies starting pitcher has carried a perfect game.

According to Elias, Marquez became the first rookie to work five perfect innings to start a game since Dylan Bundy of

Baltimore pitched 5 1/3 percent innings for the Orioles against the Rockies on July 27 last season. Mark Reynolds ended the perfection with a walk with one out in the sixth, and 10 pitches later, after giving up home runs to and

David Dahl, Bundy was replaced.

It had to be a special moment for Marquez in light of the fact in his 2017 Rockies debut he also started against the

Nationals, at Coors Field on April 25 and he gave up eight earned runs in four innings of a 15-12 Rockies loss. Marquez allowed three hits, a double and two singles, in seven innings on Saturday. In that April game he gave up eight hits in four innings, including a triple and two singles to second baseman Daniel Murphy.

Longest a Rockies pitcher has carried a perfect game:

Pitcher Date Opponent Innings

Chad Bettis 5/29/2015 at Phillies 6

Tyler Chatwood 4/15/2017 at Giants 5 2/3

German Marquez Saturday at Nationals 5 1/3

Juan Nicasio 6/9/2013 vs. Padres 5 1/3

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Shawn Chacon 4/4/2003 vs. D-Backs 5 1/3

Jason Jennings 5/31/2002 at Giants 5 1/3

Jeff Francis 7/24/2006 vs. Cardinals 5

GREG HOLLAND WORKED a 1-2-3 ninth inning on Saturday, earning his 32nd save and lowering his ERA to 1.72.

Holland moved into fourth place on the Rockies single-season save list, nine behind Jose Jimenez, who converted 41 saves in 2002. His ERA would be a franchise record for a reliever. The current record holder is Rex Brothers, who had a

1.74 ERA in 2013.

Single-Season Save Record Lowest Reliever ERA

Player Season G Sv SvOP Player Season ERA

Jose Jimenez 2002 74 41 47 Greg Holland 2017 1.72

Shawn Chacon 2004 66 35 44 Rex Brothers 2013 1.74

Huston Street 2009 64 35 37 Manuel Corpas 2007 2.08

Greg Holland 2017 38 32 33 Steve Reed 1995 2.14

Rafael Betancourt 2012 60 31 38 Gabe White 2000 2.17

Brian Fuentes 2005 78 31 34 Taylor Buchholz 2008 2.17

Dave Veres 1999 73 31 39 Bruce Ruffin 1993 2.5

Brian Fuentes 2006 66 30 36 Adam Ottavino 2013 2.64

Brian Fuentes 2008 67 30 34 Brian Fuentes 2008 2.73

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Huston Street 2011 62 29 33 Brian Fuentes 2003 2.75

TREVOR STORY has begun to silence the critics. There’s no hidding the fact that Story had his struggles at the start of the season, which really isn’t unusual for a second-year

The challenge is for the hitter to adjust. And Story has, particularly when it comes to his two-strike approach. The result?

In his last 16 games Story is hitting .300 with four home runs and 17 RBI, including a two-run home run that put the

Rockies up 2-0 early in Saturday’s 4-2 victory.

And despite his early season problems he remains one of the more productive shortstops in the NL, ranking second in home runs with 15, and third in RBI with 45.

Top 10 primary shortstops in the NL in home runs:

Player Team HR RBI

Corey Seager LAD 17 49

Trevor Story Col 14 45

Paul DeJong StL 12 27

Freddy Galvis Phi 11 38

Chris Owings Ari 11 46

Orlando Arcia Mil 9 31

Zack Cozart Cin 9 31

Jordy Mercer Pit 9 39

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Brandon Crawford SFG 9 53

Jose Reyes NYM 9 35

THE ROCKIES ARE at home on the road in Washington, where they are 26-15 since the franchise moved from Montreal for the 2005 season, their best record on the road against any team in the last 13 seasons. They are 19-11 at Nationals

Park. and they are 50-34 all-time on the road against the Expos/Nationals, which is the only winning road record for the

Rockies against an NL team.

Rockies road records against current NL teams:

Franchise W-L Pct.

Washington Nationals 50-34 .595

San Diego Padres 94-99 .487

Cincinnati Reds 39-46 .459

Chicago Cubs 37-45 .451

Milwaukee Brewers 30-40 .429

Philadelphia Phillies 35-52 .402

Pittsburgh Pirates 37-56 .398

St. Louis Cardinals 35-54 .393

Miami Marlins 31-53 .369

San Francisco Giants 70-123 .363

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Los Angeles Dodgers 68-124 .354

Arizona Diamondbacks 61-112 .353

Atlanta Braves 28-55 .337

New York Mets 29-60 .326

THE ROCKIES ARE scheduled to play their third doubleheader of the season on Sunday. It is a day/night doubleheader with Game 1 starting at 11:30 a.m., MDT, and the second game at 5:05 p.m.

All three doubleheaders have been to make up a game that was rained out. The Rockies split with the Cubs at Coors

Field on May 9, and split with the Twins in Minnesota May 18.

The Rockies, Tigers and Indians are set for three doubleheaders this year, second to the Twins, who will play five, including three at home and two on the road.

Sunday’s doubleheader with be the 53rd in Rockies history, the 15th on the road. The Rockies have swept 16 doubleheaders, been swept in 20 and split 16.

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