MEDIA CLIPS – April 26, 2017

CarGo unloads a 436-foot blast on chilly night 'He's close to breaking ,' Black says of slumping Rox slugge

By Manny Randhawa / MLB.com | 3:01 AM ET

DENVER -- Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez entered Tuesday's 15-12 loss to the Nationals just .214 with one home in 19 games. But on a chilly and wet night at Coors Field, where a number of drives by Rockies hitters ended in a Nationals glove at the warning track, Gonzalez blasted a 436-foot homer in the second off Washington starter .

Gonzalez also had a deep drive to left-center in the seventh inning for a . Those swings could signal that he's starting to heat up at the plate.

"I think it's just a matter of time," Gonzalez said. "Definitely tonight I felt better at the plate. One of the things I always tell myself when I have to play in conditions like this early in the year: the same things you're feeling at the plate is the same way the is feeling. They're going to make a lot of mistakes because it's kind of hard to feel the ball out there."

Ross admitted the weather conditions made things more difficult on the mound.

"It's not ideal, temperature-wise," Ross said. "I just tried to compete with what I had today. … Everyone says stuff's not going to move as much [at Coors Field], and that was kind of the case today, but you've gotta make an adjustment."

Gonzalez's homer came on a from Ross, and left the bat with an exit velocity of 104.15 mph, per Statcast™. It was his first extra-base since April 16 (a span of 21 at-bats). And he had to hit it into a swirling wind at Coors Field on a 43- degree night at first , which was delayed 66 minutes by rain. 1

"That's one of the things that when it's cold and windy like it was tonight, the ballpark plays pretty fair," Gonzalez said.

"You've gotta square the ball well to hit it out of the ballpark, and that was the case for me. On any other day, the balls we were hitting to the warning track would've been home runs, but it plays fair when it's cold. It was a long day."

It was a long day that went late into the night, but despite coming up short against the Nationals, the Rockies are hopeful that what they saw from Gonzalez is a sign of things to come.

"Carlos is getting ," said manager . "He's close to breaking out, for sure."

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Rox rally behind 4 homers, but fall short

By Manny Randhawa and Owen Perkins / MLB.com | 1:37 AM ET

DENVER -- On a damp and frigid Tuesday night at Coors Field, swung the hottest bat, and driving in a career-high seven runs in the Nationals' 15-12 victory over the Rockies. Washington has won eight of its last nine games.

Turner singled in the first, doubled in the second, homered in the sixth and tripled in the seventh for the third cycle in

Nationals history, and the ninth in the combined history of the Expos and Nationals.

"It was brutally cold, but the bats were hot," Nationals manager said. "That was awesome. Especially the hardest one to get, the , but if you want a triple, this is the place."

Turner (23 years, 300 days old) is the youngest player to hit for the cycle since (21 years, 287 days) in 2013.

Overall, Turner is the 24th youngest, between Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr. and Goose Goslin.

Carlos Gonzalez hit a solo , and Mark Reynolds and each hit his seventh of the season for the Rockies, who pulled to within three runs on doubles by DJ LeMahieu and Nolan Arenado in the fifth. But that was as close as Colorado would get, also drawing to within three on 's third homer of the season in the ninth.

Neither starter got out of the fifth inning, as the Nationals' Joe Ross, who was pitching at Coors for the first time, and the

Rockies' German Marquez (starting in place of the injured Jon Gray) battled the elements and two formidable lineups following a 66-minute rain delay prior to first pitch. The game featured a combined 27 runs and 29 hits.

"It's tough for us on the mound, but it's tough for hitters in the box," Ross said of the conditions. "Everyone says stuff's not going to move as much, and that was kind of the case today, but you gotta make an adjustment. Start a little lower. If you're trying to get off the plate, start a little farther off the plate. I just tried to make adjustments during the game. Luckily we came out on top. A lot of hits going on but we got the win."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Turner's time Turner's career high for RBIs coming into Tuesday's game was three, and he eclipsed that with his two-run homer down the right-field line in the sixth inning. His four-hit night increased his season batting average by 70 points, from .219 to .289. Prior to the Nationals' current road trip, Turner was 3-for-19 (.158). Since, he's 8-for-19 (.421).

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"Being at the top of the lineup, I don't get a ton of opportunities to [drive in runs], and when I do get an opportunity, sometimes I try too hard," Turner said. "I wasn't thinking about driving in the runs other than the triple, when I wanted to get the ball to the ." More >

Murphy-mania: drove in five runs with a first-inning RBI , a bases-clearing triple to left-center in the second and another RBI single in the fourth. The five RBIs tied his career high; he also had five RBIs against the

Cardinals on April 11, and has had five RBIs in a game six times in his career. Murphy is batting .440 (11-for-25) with runners in this season.

"Murph got some big two-out hits," Baker said. "That's big. I'm glad we tacked on the runs we did, because I'm telling you, this place is known for this."

QUOTABLE

"That's Coors Field at its finest right there. No lead is , no deficit is secure. You just got to keep playing and keep playing -- keep scoring. I've played a lot of games here. You're always nervous. You don't want to take anybody out. You want to give guys rest, but you don't know. A couple walks, a couple hits, homers, and they're back in the game, which they were." -- Baker, on the unpredictable nature of Coors Field baseball

"The second inning, I'm sure [Marquez] would like to have back. Two outs on three pitches, and you have the pitcher up.

That's the one he wants back [walk to the pitcher]. And on a number of hitters, he got two strikes, and just couldn't put them away. But it's a learning experience for him. If he gets through that second inning, the whole world changes." --

Rockies manager Bud Black

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Seven of the Nats' first eight runs came with two outs.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

In the seventh inning, the Rockies challenged a call by first-base umpire , who called Zimmerman safe at first on a grounder to Arenado. After viewing all relevant angles, the Replay Official definitively determined that the ball contacted the interior of Reynolds' glove prior to Zimmerman's foot touching first base, and the call was overturned, resulting in an inning-ending groundout. The play on the field was overturned.

WHAT'S NEXT

Nationals: Tanner Roark climbs the hill for the Nats at 8:40 p.m. ET on Wednesday after making quality starts in three of his four starts. He gave up his first two home runs of the season in his last start, a no-decision the Nats won against the

Mets. He's pitched one inning at Coors Field over the course of his career, allowing one hit while striking out two. 4

Rockies: The Rockies will send right-hander Tyler Chatwood to the mound against the Nationals on Wednesday night at

6:40 p.m. MT. Chatwood has faced Washington once, in 2013 when he gave up one run on four hits, walking two and striking out four in six .

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Black: Desmond close to rehab game

By Manny Randhawa / MLB.com | April 25th, 2017

DENVER -- Rockies manager Bud Black said Tuesday injured is "getting close to a [rehab] game" but wouldn't give more details.

Desmond, who sustained a fractured left hand from being hit by a pitch during a game March 12, took batting practice Monday for the first time since the injury. He also took ground balls at first base, shagged fly balls in the outfield and ran the bases prior to the Rockies' 8-4 win over the Nationals at Coors Field.

"He feels good," Black said. "He had another good workout earlier today as well. He's going to integrate with position players here, he's going to hit in a group, and continue to progress."

Rockies option Cardullo

The Rockies optioned Stephen Cardullo to Triple-A Albuquerque to make room on the roster for Tuesday night's German Marquez against the Nationals. Marquez was called up from Albuquerque to start in place of Jon Gray, who is recovering from a stress fracture in his left foot.

Cardullo, 29, was 4-for-28 (.143) with no extra-base hits in 15 games for the Rockies. Last season, he hit .214/.254/.411 with two home runs in 27 games for Colorado. He also played some first base in place of injured starter Mark Reynolds.

"He had a great spring [.333/.395/.545 with three homers in 31 Cactus League games], and deservingly made the team based on Spring Training," Black said. "Things didn't go well performance-wise as we go on here in the first four weeks of

April. But I suspect that if he plays well in Triple-A, and there's a need, he could be that guy coming back."

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Chatwood looks to turn it around vs. Nats

By Owen Perkins / Special to MLB.com | April 25th, 2017

The Nats and Rockies will be looking to gain an advantage in the third game of their four-game set Wednesday in a contest between division leaders.

Tanner Roark has made quality starts in three of his four outings this season -- he went six, seven, and 6 2/3 innings, while allowing two runs twice and three in his most recent outing against the Mets. He gave up his first two home runs of the season in the game vs. New York. He's pitched one inning at Coors Field over the course of his career, allowing one hit and two .

Tyler Chatwood is known as a ground-ball pitcher, but he was off in that element of his game in his most recent outing, when the Giants hit 14 fly balls and line drives against him. That's six more than the righty had allowed in any game since the start of the 2016 season. The flies and drives were relatively soft, with a 88.6-mph average exit velocity, but San

Francisco went 6-for-14 (.429) with a and homer on those balls, highlighting the importance of location when trying to hit it where they ain't.

Three things to know about this game

• Only two active Nats have ever had an extra-base hit against Chatwood. is 2-for-6 and is

1-for-3, with each owning a double against the right-hander.

• Gerardo Parra hits Roark at a .400 clip (4-for-10) with a double and a solo homer.

• Entering Tuesday, Mark Reynolds had 11 homers against the Nats in 136 career at-bats.

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German Marquez returns to Coors Field with a cardinal sin in Rockies’ windy, rainy loss to Nationals For the first time since 2003, the Rockies scored 12 or more runs and lost

By Nick Groke / Denver Post | April 25th, 2017

German Marquez moves with the ease of a greased bike chain. His pitching windup uncoils in one smooth, circular motion, and at the end of that glide, the ball busts out at a batter in a bolt.

“In spring training, I stand around home plate to watch our guys throw,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “The thing about him, even though it’s a nice, easy delivery and there’s not a lot of deception, it has carry through the hitting area. It takes off.”

Marquez on Tuesday night returned to the Rockies with a difficult assignment. The 22-year-old right-hander who debuted as a September call-up last season and started this year in Colorado’s took a late trot to the rainy Coors

Field mound to face the first-place .

By the second inning of what turned into a 15-12 Nationals victory, delayed 1 hour and 16 minutes by the weather,

Marquez’s mellow approach melted with one glaring, rookie mistake. With two outs and no one on in the second, he walked Washington’s pitcher, Joe Ross, on eight pitches. A two-out walk to the opposing pitcher is like spitting into the wind or cursing in church. It’s a basic no-no.

“That was not good,” Marquez said.

He needed only three pitches to get Jayson Werth and Matt Wieters to ground into two outs. The next seven batters in the inning took considerably longer.

“The inexperience of the starting rotation will test us,” Black said last week. His team now sports the youngest rotation in baseball, with an average age of 24. “But the best teacher will be in the fire.”

Marquez stepped into the fire against a loaded Nationals lineup, starring Bryce Harper and a cast packed with all-stars.

Harper’s double in the first inning scored Trea Turner to start the barrage. And Turner’s bases-loaded triple later in the seventh against Colorado reliever gave him a cycle — the second single-double-triple-homer feat this season at Coors Field.

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Rockies’ Greg Holland and Dustin Garneau “fist-fiving” or “high-bumping.” Whatever it is, it won’t end. Holland and Garneau are happily on the wrong page

By Nick Groke / Denver Post | April 25th, 2017

Something is amiss in the Rockies’ surprising early bullpen dominance, even as closer Greg Holland has streaked to nine saves in as many opportunities, plus another shutdown inning Monday night.

So I asked Dustin Garneau, cornering him alone at his locker last week.

“Dustin, I have a hard-hitting question for you,” I said.

“You mean about the fist-bumps?” he said.

It seems that Garneau and Holland cannot get on the same page, at least after a game ends. Holland might have a 1.80

ERA through 10 innings. And Colorado’s relief staff might rank No. 1 in the at 2.62. But their closer and catcher are still figuring it out.

Holland is winless this season trying to get high-five from Garneau. Or is Garneau in the right? Is he hitless in fist-bumps with Holland?

“When I’m fired up, it just happens,” Garneau said. “I just normally go with the fist bump. But now that we know, I’m just gonna keep fist-bumping.”

Garneau has finished 10 games this season, with the Rockies going 7-3. Holland has pitched the ninth inning in four of those Garneau games, all successful saves.

What started as a miscommunication in non-verbal dialogue has turned into a superstition. Now, Garneau says, he’s doing it intentionally.

“I’m not gonna give it up now,” Garneau said. “He’s pitching too well.”

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Bud Black jiggers with Rockies roster for more offense — and foresees Ian Desmond’s return Desmond could play in both the outfield and at first base upon return

By Nick Groke / Denver Post | April 25th, 2017

The addition of a pitcher to their 25-man roster Tuesday — in 22-year-old German Marquez — allowed the Rockies, in a roundabout way, to juggle for more offense.

Colorado manager Bud Black sent outfielder Stephen Cardullo to Triple-A Albuquerque so that Marquez could start against the Nationals at Coors Field. The Rockies had been using a four-man pitching rotation with off days as placeholders for Jon Gray, who is on the disabled list with a broken foot.

On Tuesday, that luxury died. And Black decided to get creative with his bench. He kept utility Pat Valaika instead of Cardullo because the latter has just four hits in 28 at-bats.

“He had a great spring and deservedly made the team. He won a spot,” Black said of Cardullo. “Things didn’t go well here, performance-wise, through the first four weeks of April. I suspect that if he plays well in Triple-A and there’s a need, he could be that guy coming back.”

Cardullo’s absence, though, leaves the Rockies with just three true , all left-handed hitters, in Charlie

Blackmon, Carlos Gonzalez and Gerardo Parra. Valaika is a middle infielder by trade.

So Black will dip into the bottomless well of versatility offered by veteran Alexei Amarista, a 5-foot-6 veteran utilityman who played six positions in each of the past two seasons with San Diego. He even pitched.

“That’s the beauty of the Little Ninja. He can go second, short, third, left, center, right,” Black said of Amarista.

Valaika, Black hopes, will provide more punch to pinch-hitting situations. His two-out double in the eighth inning Monday kick-started a Rockies rally. Blackmon’s home run behind him gave Colorado a 5-4 lead, which they turned into an 8-4 victory.

Valaika, a ninth-round draft pick out of UCLA in 2013, hit .288 with a .920 OPS (on-base plus ) in spring training, narrowly missing out on the 25th roster spot to open the season.

The move also foresees Ian Desmond’s coming return from a broken hand. Cardullo was the Rockies’ back-up first baseman behind Mark Reynolds, who is on a hitting tear during Desmond’s recovery.

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Parra will now be the primary backup at first, until Desmond returns. And when Desmond does come back, he could play in both the outfield and at first base.

Desmond will suit soon. Desmond was swarmed by D.C. media Monday before Washington’s with the Rockies, a matchup of Desmond’s original and current teams. He was originally drafted by the Montreal Expos before they moved to

Washington, where he played seven seasons.

But he still has yet to play for the Rockies. That will end soon, Black said. Desmond will likely start a rehab assignment in the coming days as he works back from a broken left hand suffered in spring training.

“He’s getting close to a game,” Black said. “You want to know when? Can’t tell you.”

Nationals RHP Tanner Roark (2-0, 3.65) at Rockies RHP Tyler Chatwood (2-2, 4.10), Wednesday 6:40 p.m., ROOT

TV, 850-AM

Chatwood followed his best career game — a two-hit shutout April 15 at San Francisco — with a more workmanlike effort against the Giants in Denver. His four runs allowed, on seven hits, worked well enough. He got through six innings with the Rockies in position to win, and they did, 6-5. The 27-year-old right-hander has faced the Nationals only once, in 2013 before his second Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery. He allowed one run in six innings. Nick Groke, The Denver

Post

Thursday: Nationals LHP Gio Gonzalez (2-0, 1.35) at Rockies RHP (3-0, 2.08), 1:10 p.m., ROOT

Friday: Rockies LHP (2-1, 3.32) at Diamondbacks TBA, 7:40 p.m., ROOT

Saturday: Rockies LHP (1-3, 7.11) at Diamondbacks TBA, 6:10 p.m., ROOT

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The Rockies’ roster depth will be as necessary tomorrow as it is today With key players returning, Bud Black will have some interesting decisions to make.

By Hayden Kane / Purple Row | @hwkane | April 26th, 2017

The are in first place. They look like the real deal so far and they are gaining attention as one of the big stories of 2017.

We know the reasons for their success by now—outstanding showings from young starting , a rebuilt bullpen that is doing work, a lineup that is finally thumping, and better organizational depth and versatility.

It's that depth that's about to create some interesting questions for manager Bud Black. Injuries to start the season forced the Rockies to tap into that depth right away. With Ian Desmond looking to return soon and not far behind, the veteran guys who have been filling in have created some interesting dilemmas. Gerardo Parra is actually backing up all that talk about being a new man this season, and Mark Reynolds is on pace to be an all-star at first base.

We're all wondering who's going to play where and who's going to be sent to bench duty. Here are some questions about how those decisions might be made.

Where do the Rockies feel more invested?

This year's fast start is fun and it's the most fun to think about winning now, but we know that the Rockies will always be trying to walk parallel paths between winning now and winning in the future. Now that they did something close to a full rebuild, the hope is to avoid doing it again.

Ian Desmond and his well-known $70 million contract are part of today's plans and the team's future plans. David Dahl is the prized prospect in the organization and is a building block of today's plans and those future plans.

On the other hand, Mark Reynolds is here on a one-year deal that was paid for with change they found in the couch cushions on the party deck. Gerardo Parra is a role player no matter how long he's here, and for just a second I want you to imagine if his tenure extends beyond the two years left on his current deal. What a world.

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There are plenty of reasons to feel like 2017 has opened up for the Rockies to do something special right now, but you can bet Jeff Bridich and company won't stop thinking about future seasons at the same time. Whether that affects lineup decisions in the short term remains to be seen.

Who can handle coming off the bench?

There's no universal way to know, but you might start with veteran guys who are good in the clubhouse. Reynolds and

Parra certainly seem to fit that description, even if neither would be happy to cede playing time. Desmond is also known as a good clubhouse guy, but this is where we talk about that $70 million again (oh, and the first round pick, too).

The typical thinking is that Dahl should play everyday to continue his development. He is certainly talented enough to handle a part-time job, it's just a matter of whether the Rockies would actually go that route. Ultimately, if Dahl is healthy and doesn't hit a serious sophomore , it seems impossible to think he won't play every day. At least we hope that's true.

How much is Bud Black going to tinker?

Maybe Desmond could play first base against right-handed pitching and outfield against left-handed pitching to make room for Reynolds. Maybe Desmond could spell at and free up starting spots at first and in the outfield for those games.

How much does a stable lineup matter, if it matters at all? From the days of Clint Hurdle overmanaging, to that one winning streak in 2009 with a set everyday lineup, to the famous Jim Tracy Sunday lineups, we have batted this topic around with the Rockies over the years but never really arrived at a clear answer.

Would it be detrimental to tweak the lineup based on match-ups and who has the hot hand? Or will this team want those set roles where they know where their name will be on that lineup card, putting their mind at ease? The heck if any of us know, but it's up to Black to figure it out and decide how much he wants to move guys around day to day.

But really, can they justify benching Mark Reynolds?

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The Sheriff of Swattingham continues to be a patient, line-drive hitting machine. So far in 2017, Reynolds has continued cutting his strikeouts while also socking a bunch of dingers. It feels like a situation where the Rockies should let it ride as long as he keeps it up, but as we've covered by now, it's just not that simple.

Aren't you glad they didn't trade Charlie Blackmon?

The Rockies' potentially problematic abundance of outfielders is about to become reality, especially if there's any question about Dahl's playing time. With that will come questions once again about trading Blackmon or Carlos Gonzalez. With

CarGo in the last year of his contract, you might have a case if you think they could trade him. Blackmon, on the other hand, looks like he is here to stay.

He's just a stud. If the Rockies keep this up and contend in 2017, he'll be a big part of it. Whatever the rumors were and no matter how it could have worked if they had dealt him this winter, let's just enjoy the fact that he's still here.

Will attrition solve some of these problems for them?

Probably! You never want to predict injuries, and hopefully the Rockies are going to get healthy and stay healthy. We all know better though; the reality is that depth is only tricky when things are going perfectly, and baseball seasons are so long and weird that things almost never go perfectly.

The cliché tells us that the upcoming problems for the Rockies are "good problems" to have. Black can earn his paycheck when they actually have the luxury of those good problems, but more importantly, the team has already shown that they can stay good when they don't have that luxury and are hit by injuries.

The Rockies probably don't know exactly how they're going to use this depth and versatility when everyone's available, but having that depth when everyone isn't available is a big part of why they are off to a hot start.

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The Rockies and Nationals battled the weather as much as each other Gaining experience can help the Rockies weather the storm

By Richard Bergstrom / Purple Row | April 26th, 2017

DENVER—The Colorado Rockies gave rookie pitcher German Marquez a tough task in his first major league start of the year. As if facing the Nationals, considered one of the best teams in the National League, wasn’t hard enough, inclement weather delayed the start of the game 66 minutes. Now, an hour might not seem like all that much, but baseball players are somewhat peculiar creatures of habit. Only last week, we saw when a minute’s transgression prompted accusations of disrespect. An hour might throw a player out of rhythm as much as if an average Joe was told Starbucks was out of joe.

Once you get past the delay, you’ve got to factor in the weather itself. Back on April 23, 2013, a little over four years ago as of this week, the Rockies played the coldest game in franchise history at a 23 degrees. Another dramatic string of weather happened in early 2015, when, not counting cancellations or suspensions, there were over 22 hours of rain delays with three months of baseball left to play. As recently as two weeks ago, wind blew hot dog wrappers and with equal ease at Coors Field to the detriment of fans and players alike. Comedian Ron White once summed it up well by saying, “It isn’t that the wind is blowing, it’s what the wind is blowing.”

On Tuesday, with the rain/snow stuff swirling around, Coors Field and its affect on baseballs and players seemed to behave differently. Early on in the game, it seemed each ball hit by the Nationals just managed to squeak a soggy half step out of range of a Rockies fielder. When the Rockies came up to hit, the thud of well struck balls betrayed their eventual outcome. Two would-be homers in the first inning by Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu died on the warning track. On Sunday, they probably would have ended up in the stands.

Given the circumstances, the weather was an additional challenge for the young Marquez. He said, “It’s been a little bit of time since I felt that type of weather.” During a difficult second inning, where Marquez gave up five runs, Rockies manager

Bud Black observed “[Marquez had] two outs on three pitches, then he walked the pitcher. He got two strikes on a number of hitters and couldn’t put them away.” Marquez, though he allowed twelve base runners and eight runs, was able to settle down some and gutted through four innings when many pitchers might have been pulled after the initial outburst.

Yet perhaps Marquez learned to weather the storm. Black didn’t make excuses during the post-game press conference, as he observed, “It was a baseball game that was played under conditions that aren’t baseball-type weather, but it’s part 15

of what we do. Both teams are in the same circumstance so whoever outhit the other side, whoever made pitches, whoever made plays was going to win the game today, and they got us.”

Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez echoed those sentiments in an interview with MLB.comwhere he said, “One of the things I always tell myself when I have to play in conditions like this early in the year: the same things you're feeling at the plate is the same way the pitcher is feeling. They're going to make a lot of mistakes because it's kind of hard to feel the ball out there."

I imagine things weren’t always sunny for Black in San Diego, where a wild temperature swing might merely drop the temperature to a balmy 60 degrees over the course of a season. But with experience as a pitcher in a variety of environments, Black’s temperament may be vital in ushering along a young team still new to making these adjustments.

There may even be some additional benefit that bad weather can provide. Gonzalez said, “When it's cold and windy like it was tonight, the ballpark plays pretty fair." Though the weather may lead to more mistakes, if young pitchers like Marquez limit those mistakes, they may not be punished as severely as they would on a normal day at altitude in Denver.

As the season plays out, Marquez and other young Rockies pitchers will keep gaining experience. As they mature into a more veteran mindset, it will increase the probability that they will perform better, regardless of the quality of the opponent or the weather. Maybe then, the Rockies as a team will no longer ebb and flow like a leaf at the mercy of the wind.

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Rockies lose wild game to Nationals 15-12 Rockies claw back but fall short

By Erica Garcia McKinley / Purple Row | April 26th, 2017

The Rockies lost 15-12. They can’t all be wins but it could’ve been a lot worse.

Germán Márquez, making his first start of the season in a game delayed 66 minutes by rain, allowed two runs in the first inning. They came courtesy of Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy. The Rockies were down 2-0 before they had a chance to hit. Márquez began the second inning well, getting Jayson Werth and Matt Wieters to ground out. But then he walked pitcher Joe Ross, and that opened up an opportunity for the Nationals. Adam Eaton followed that up with a single, and then Trea Turner doubled both of them home. After walks to Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman to load the bases,

Daniel Murphy tripled all three runners home to make it 7-0.

Márquez later gave up another run in the fourth inning. While he displayed good stuff despite bad weather against a good lineup, and threw 51 of 85 pitches for strikes, he finished with a rough line: four , nine hits, eight runs, three walks, and just two strikeouts.

Despite a seven run deficit, the Rockies kept it competitive for awhile. Carlos González hit a solo home run in the second inning, and the Rockies added runs in the third and fourth inning as well. The Rockies added two more runs in the fifth inning to make it 8-5—but then the Nationals added a couple in the sixth to make it a five run game again. They had their second five-run inning in the seventh, capped by Trea Turner’s triple to turn it into a 15-5 laugher. With the three bagger,

Turner hit for the cycle, which is the third in Nationals history and the second cycle yielded by the Rockies this year.

Though the game looked bleak, give the Rockies some kudos for still not completely rolling over. They tagged on two runs in the seventh and another four runs in the eighth. Pat Valaika and Alexi Amarista, who came into the game to give Nolan Arenado and CarGo the rest of the night off in the blowout, contributed doubles to the cause. Blackmon hit a two-run home run in the eighth, because he likes it when his walkup song gets replayed during his trot. Parra added a solo shot of his own in the ninth, turning this game into a save situation.

And for added fun, at one point in the game, the Rockies had a catcher (Tony Wolters) playing third base, a third baseman (Valaika) playing left field, and a (Gerardo Parra) playing first base. The Nationals and Rockies will do it again tomorrow at the same time, 6:40 MT. Tyler Chatwood will face Tanner Roark. 17

Colorado Rockies Recall German Marquez, Option Stephen Cardullo

By Kevin Henry / Rox Pile | April 26th, 2017

As expected, the Colorado Rockies made a personnel move ahead of Tuesday night’s game against the Washington

Nationals at Coors Field.

As was rumored throughout the week, the Rockies recalled right-handed pitcher German Márquez from Triple-A

Albuquerque. He will take the hill tonight against the Nationals in place of injured starting pitcher Jon Gray. To make room for Marquez on the roster, Colorado optioned infielder-outfielder Stephen Cardullo to Triple-A Albuquerque.

The 22-year-old Marquez will be making his first start and appearance of the season for Colorado. He made the Opening

Day roster and was in the bullpen. However, he did not see any action before being sent to Albuquerque on April 9.

While in Albuquerque, Marquez shined for the Isotopes. He posted an 0-0 mark with a 2.70 ERA in 10.0 innings pitched.

During that span, he didn’t walk anyone while striking out 18 batters.

Marquez made his Major League debut last season with the Rockies and went 1-1 with a 5.23 ERA in six appearances.

Three of those were starts. During his time in Denver last season, Marquez walked six and struck out 15.

Marquez and current Rockies reliever Jake McGee were part of the 2016 trade that sent to the Tampa

Bay Rays.

Cardullo, meanwhile, has been a part of Colorado’s roster since . In 15 games with the Rockies this season, the 29-year-old utility player is batting .143 with three RBI. Over 43 Major League career games with the Rockies, he is batting .190 with three doubles, one triple, two home runs and nine RBI.

Cardullo joined the Colorado Rockies after proving his worth with the independent Rockland Boulders. He made his Major

League Debut on August 26, 2016.

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Colorado Rockies: Ian Desmond Closer to Return, But Where Will He Play?

By Kevin Henry / Rox Pile | April 26th, 2017

The Colorado Rockies had a grand plan for Ian Desmond in the offseason. Sign him to a big deal, let him learn how to play first base and, with that, fill one of the biggest needs for the team heading into 2017.

It sounded like a great idea. But then along came Mark Reynolds and a wayward pitch in spring training.

With Desmond on the shelf after being hit by a pitch in mid-March, Colorado has climbed to the top of the National League food chain. Forget about just the West. We’re talking the entire National League after the Rockies rallied for an 8-4 win on

Monday night for their fourth consecutive win and a 14-6 mark.

They’ve done this without Desmond, David Dahl or Tom Murphy. They haven’t had Chad Bettis on the hill and are now plugging along with their ace, Jon Gray, sidelined by a stress fracture in his foot.

So how have they not only survived but thrived early in the season? Players like Reynolds and Gerardo Parra stepping up. Young pitchers like Antonio Senzatela and Kyle Freeland not showing their age or inexperience. A bullpen that has been highly effective, words that haven’t been spoken in Colorado in quite some time.

When Desmond began taking batting practice on Monday at Coors Field, it signified another step along his path to recovery and rejoining the Rockies. There’s no specific timeline for Desmond rejoining the team. However, if things keep going well, it could be by mid-May.

But what happens when Desmond becomes an active member of the roster, especially with Reynolds playing so well at first base at the moment? A hint of what might be was given on Monday when Desmond was fly balls in the outfield as part of his “test run” in front of Rockies management.

Versatility has been a keyword around this team throughout the entire season. Great value has been placed upon players who can play more than one position. That includes Desmond, who has done well in the outfield and shortstop in his previous MLB stops.

Taking a red-hot Reynolds out of the lineup at the moment and forcing Desmond into the first base hole makes little sense, especially with Reynolds as a co-leader on the team with six homers and 18 RBI as well as a .329 average heading into Tuesday night’s game against the Washington Nationals.

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As Ben Macaluso discussed in this article, Desmond and Reynolds are veterans who are learning from each other.

They’re also veterans who want to be playing rather than watching from the bench.

So what will Bud Black do when Desmond returns? It’s the million dollar question at the moment and Black does have some time to see where Desmond will fit best into the lineup.

With Parra and Reynolds both hitting well, does it make sense to plug Desmond into their spots? At times, yes, just as much as it might Trevor Story or Carlos Gonzalez. After all, every player will need an off day and every player will go through a slump at some point during the season.

Could Desmond time-share with Reynolds at first? Absolutely. Could Desmond, Parra and Gonzalez rotate in the outfield?

Absolutely. Could that be even more convoluted when Dahl returns? Yep. Could Desmond see some time at shortstop?

You bet. Nothing at the moment seems out of the realm of possibility.

Black has already proven two things in his time as manager. He likes distinct roles in the bullpen and he likes versatility with his position players. His bullpen management has been spot on in the early going. He’ll face a bigger chess match when Dahl and Desmond return. It’s a good problem for the Rockies to have, knowing that two big pieces of the offense are on the mend.

When Desmond was first signed by the Rockies, Colorado management was adamant that the team had found its first baseman of the future. That may still be the case, but the Rockies are dealing with the present at the moment. That’s a present that includes a red-hot Reynolds and a team that has streaked to the top of the National League. With that in mind, this season, Desmond may see his past years of versatility used more than the future plans that were laid out for him in December.

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Bud Black thinks Nolan Arenado is the best defensive 3rd baseman in the game

By Aniello Piro / Mile High Sports | April 26th, 2017

Nolan Arenado is one of the league’s most prominent budding stars. For years now Arenado has ranked among the best players in the league in every major statistical category.

Arenado is a complete player. Loaded with a powerful bat and jaw-dropping defensive skills, his ability to dominate just about every aspect of the game is what separates him from all the other third basemen in the league.

On Tuesday night, Arenado’s defensive versatility took center stage. With one out in the top of the 7th with a runner on first, Ryan Zimmerman hit a chopper down the left field line, and then this happened:

This play is truly a spectacle. The range, control, and strength Arenado demonstrates is near flawless, resulting in an out to end the inning to get the Rockies out of a jam.

After the game, manager Bud Black had some nice things to say about his All-Star third basemen.

“Great play,” Black said. “I mean I don’t know whether you come to expect these types of plays from Nolan, maybe you do. …He’s the best defensive third basemen in the game.”

The praise is well deserved to the four-time Gold Glove winner and the two-time Silver Slugger awardee.

Arenado is off to a great start this year at the plate as well, hitting .325 with six home runs and 14 RBIs.

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Nationals manager Dusty Baker praises revamped Rockies team

By Alissa Noe / Mile High Sports | April 26th, 2017

When manager Dusty Baker and the rest of the Washington Nationals ventured out to Colorado last year to grace Denver with their presence, the Rockies were a much different team than they are today.

As has been the case for most of the franchise’s existence, the Rockies struggled in the bullpen and rode the injury train fairly consistently. This year, with a near-healthy pitching staff and the strength of their offense strutting its stuff in full force, the Nationals are taking on a new animal this week in their four-game series in Denver.

And although the Nationals (13-6) will only play the Rockies twice this year, Baker knows that no game at the hitter- friendly Coors Field is ever easy, but this year’s League-leading 14-6 team’s insurmountable talent makes it that much harder.

“They’re different,” Baker said. “It’s a little different for us because we don’t play them but twice this year. You’d have to really ask the Giants or the Dodgers, or somebody in their division. They’re a lot different in their bullpen, and the preparation is a lot different because you don’t really know much about the personnel.”

After being called up from the minor just days ago to replace Rockies’ injured ace Jon Gray, Baker and the Nats will face a pitcher they’ve never seen before in German Márquez, meaning that they have their work cut out for them that much more.

“We haven’t seen this guy [German] Márquez, we hadn’t seen [Carlos] Estevez, we haven’t seen [Scott] Oberg,” Baker said. “The most advantage goes to the pitcher when we haven’t seen him. But that’s okay, we’ll figure him out pretty soon.”

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HIGHLIGHTS: Rockies’ bats stay hot, pitchers take a beating

By MHS Staff / Mile High Sports | April 26th, 2017

The Colorado Rockies slugged their way to 12 runs, including four home runs in Tuesday night’s rain-delayed game against the Washington Nationals, and still lost. Colorado put up runs in seven of nine innings, but couldn’t overcome an early 7-0 deficit, ultimately falling 15-12 in a game that lasted three hours and 26 minutes and was delayed by an hour and six minutes to start.

Carlos Gonzalez, Mark Reynolds, Charlie Blackmon and Gerardo Parra all went deep for Colorado, nearly half of the

Rockies’ nine extra-base hits on the night. Blackmon was 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs, and DJ LeMahieu had three hits and a pair of runs scored in the loss. Bud Black emptied his bench and Cristhian Adames was the only Rockies position player without a hit on the night. It was the fifth game in a row that Colorado has scored six or more runs, and the fourth in a row with eight or more. Still, it was not enough to overcome Washington’s powerful offense and a tough first outing of the year for German Marquez.

Marquez was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to fill the void left by Jon Gray, who is out at least six weeks with a left foot injury. Marquez gave up eight runs, all earned, over four innings pitched to suffer the loss. Trea Turner hit for the cycle for the Nationals and drove in seven of Washington’s 15 runs. It was the second time Colorado had allowed an opposing player to hit for the cycle at Coors Field this year. Wil Myers did it for San Diego earlier this month. Daniel

Murphy was 3-for-5 with five RBIs. Enny Romero pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win for Washington.

The Rockies and Nationals continue their four-game series on Wednesday night at Coors Field. Tanner Roark (2-0, 3.65) gets the nod for Washington. Tyler Chatwood (2-2, 4.10) will start for Colorado.

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Cardullo optioned to Triple-A to make room for Marquez

By Alissa Noe / Mile High Sports | April 25th, 2017

After a phenomenal spring performance–for which he won the team’s Abby Greer Award and his first ever spot on an MLB

Opening Day roster–Colorado Rockies outfielder Stephen Cardullo will take a step back from the Majors for now, as he heads back to Triple-A, the Rockies announced Tuesday.

“Cardullo will head to Albuquerque and get his at-bats with Isotopes,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “He had a great spring. Again, deservingly made the team based on Spring Training. We had a couple spots open on the pitching staff and on the position players side, and he won a spot.”

But, as luck would have it, the starting rotation didn’t remain completely healthy–namely, rotation pitcher Jon Gray. That meant that the adjustments were needed, prompting the Rockies to call up 22-year-old pitcher German Márquez. With first baseman Ian Desmond and outfielder David Dahl finishing their recovery from injuries soon–and Desmond, to whom

Black alluded would return in the very near future–that left the roster, and consequently Cardullo, in a vulnerable position to shakeup; and Cardullo was pushed to the wayside to once again complete the rotation.

That’s not to say, however, that Rockies fans outside of New Mexico won’t be seeing Cardullo sometime down the road this season–depending, of course, on how the injury card plays out and if he can balloon his numbers down in Triple-A.

“Things didn’t go well here performance-wise as we went on here through the first four weeks of April, but I suspect that if he plays well at Triple-A, and there’s a need, he could be that guy coming back,” Black said.

In playing 15 out of the Rockies’ 20 games of the season thus far, Cardullo had been batting .143 with four hits, three

RBIs, two runs and three walks.

Marquez is set to start Tuesday’s game against the Nationals in Gray’s spot, as the latter pitcher mends from a fracture in his foot.

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Rockies at the forefront of the modern pitch-framing movement

By Drew Creasman / BSN Denver | April 26, 2017

DENVER – The concept of pitching framing is nothing new. It goes back over a hundred years to the game’s beginnings.

As long as human perception remains imperfect, and balls and strikes remain called by humans, the game-within-a-game that the catcher plays with the umpire will remain.

But the game has changed.

Where almost a decade ago, many if not most statisticians scoffed at the idea of catcher pitch framing as a valuable skill, today stats measuring exactly that are the new hot thing.

“That’s become very trendy the last number of years with all the data that’s been accumulated,” said Bud Black before

Tuesday night’s game between the Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals. “I know that and our coaches in spring training on the catching side worked hard with our catchers in a lot of areas: blocking, receiving, throwing, and pitch framing and receiving the ball.”

The statistics Black is alluding to take a long time to balance out but a season ago Tony Wolters rated quite well … Dustin

Garneau did not.

Last season, Wolters described his process to us: “I always try to beat the ball to its spot,” he said. “I feel I have to get my body lower in order to give a nice, visible target for the home plate umpire to see. But my goal is to always beat the ball because if I’m late, I’m not going to get the call.”

But Garneau is very aware of that and has taken it upon himself to gather up the information about what he wasn’t doing well and address it.

“I’ve changed,” he told BSN Denver in an exclusive interview. “I’ve had to reinvent my receiving to get my metrics up. Last year I was down in like the 70s,” he said. “I’ve had to readjust and that’s the way catching is going right now. It’s adapt or die.”

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And Garneau wastes no second thoughts on whether or not there is some nefarious element of this type of gaming the system. “You’re just trying to manipulate the ball to be in the . It’s all just apart of the game that we have to deal with.”

It would be silly not to make these kinds of adjustments based on available data, even if the data still has a long way to go before it is anywhere near 100 percent accurate.

To our eye test, Garneau has been much better this season in the framing department and it will be interesting to see where he stands once he accumulates enough innings in 2017 for the data to mean anything. One way to see the positive effects that he has had on the pitching staff is to look at the ERA for those pitchers while he is behind the dish. Garneau currently ranks first among players with at least 10 games caught in “catcher ERA.”

Garneau is also tied for second among MLB catchers in DWAR.

“I think [catcher ERA]is a good measurement for catchers,” he told us. “But it’s all due to my pitching staff, man. Our pitching staff is on point right now. It makes games a lot easier to call when your pitching staff can pitch a little bit. But to me, it’s still the most important part of catching.”

We also talked a bit about the next frontier of catcher analysis; game calling. We’ll have that for you soon.

But as far as framing goes, Black was driving the point home that as a former pitcher he appreciates the time and effort put in by these catchers to get the most out of every pitch.

“These guys have worked on it,” he said. “And I know that when you work on something and you work on it diligently and you work on it every day and you repeat quality work and good habits, it will show up in the game. And I think that’s what’s happened.”

As we recently highlighted, the Rockies aren’t winning games with their typically blusterous bats, rather they are winning with a combination of fantastic pitching — especially the bullpen — timely hitting, and lockdown defense. And all of those things have been anchored by the catching tandem of Garneau and Wolters.

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Trevor Story has been more valuable than you probably think

By Drew Creasman / BSN Denver | April 26, 2017

DENVER – For Trevor Story, it’s been a tale of two seasons. This time a year ago, he was practically a folk hero, slaying mighty dragons with a single swing of his bat and bringing joy to the townspeople in Coloradoville. The bards sang from high upon the mountains, spreading the word of his mythical deeds. In the wild lands of the West, his name became legend as he battled Snakes and Giants and whatever the hell a Dodger is. Parents and grandparents told their children and grandchildren the tale’s and they only grew in their outlandishness and splendor. Everyone knew the story of Story.

But the passage of time is a cruel mistress to us all.

One trip around the sun and the hero who became a legend was starting to look like a goat (not a G.O.A.T.) as fans grew concerned that he had been exposed, that he was striking out too much, and that we could be in for the dreaded sophomore slump.

His last few games have tempered such talk a bit. Over his last seven games, he is hitting .320 with three homes runs and nine RBI, including the big that put the Rockies on top of Johnny Cueto and the Giants over the weekend.

As he and his coaches and his teammates kept assuring us it would, Story’s bat is coming around. Yes, he is still projected to strike out approximately 235 times this season but he’s also on pace to hit 32 home runs and drive in 90, which the Rockies will absolutely take from their seven-hole hitter, especially when you consider the improvements he has made defensively.

While everyone seems to be looking for the guy who became one of the most feared hitters in the game after just a week of service time, they’ve been missing the guy who still carries all that power potential but has made himself into a commodity even when he isn’t standing in the batter’s box.

“He’s steady,” manager Bud Black told BSN Denver before getting into the details in a fashion only he can:

“You guys saw last year I assume and this year I was impressed right away with Trev during spring training. Actually, before spring training because he spent the winter down in Scottsdale in our omplex working out. He was making plays at shortstop well before spring training. What I saw [there]as far as his work ethic, I saw just a very steady reliable defender

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with a plus arm and the ability to make some spectacular plays. There’s been a couple of plays up the middle that have been really, really good. And a couple of slow rollers that have been really good. The play that we haven’t seen but I’m sure we’re gonna see it is the play in the hole where he goes and gets the ball and exhibits that cannon. I don’t remember what your question was now, be he’s a good defender.”

It’s still very early for defensive stats, but according to baseball-reference.com, Story has (slightly) increased his range factor and his total zone fielding. On the more traditional stats, Story has (again slightly) a better so far this season as well. He got off to a slow start defensively last season, which went unnoticed as we were all clamoring around to watch him launch baseballs into orbit. But he has been much more sure-handed so far this season.

He’s shown willingness to draw a walk and that when he does make contact, the ball goes really far. Eight of his 13 hits this season have been either doubles or home runs. So despite the .188 batting average he still has a .702 OPS. Players have succeeded with that kind of profile before. Carlos Pena, in particular, comes to mind. Like Pena, Story is making the absolute most of the hits he does get and is providing outstanding defense in between. Unlike Pena, Story is doing so at the premium shortstop position which is even more valuable.

And all of that is still being weighed down by his dreadful start which Story seems to quickly be putting in the rear-view mirror. So maybe it’s a bit early to put him squarely in the “feast or famine” category.

“I trust and believe in the work that I’m putting in,” Story told us about his development in all aspects of the game. And that work allowed him to be an asset to his club even while his bat was still arriving late to the 2017 regular season.

Of course, whatever value Story has given has been enough for the first-place Rockies so far.

“We’re playing tough games and coming out on top,” he says. “I think that’s the sign of a good team.”

After his last seven games, the bards and songstresses are warming up their pipes again. It may be time to start singing of the tale of Story once more. And while the chapters where mighty swings slay Giants will always be the most exciting, it’s important to remember to have “steady” hands on the long journey.

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Trea Turner touches ’em all, cycles as Nats reduce Rox 15-12

By Jake Shapiro / BSN Denver | April 25, 2017

DENVER – It was cold enough to affect the number of layers I wore (four) so I assume it was cold enough to effect the players. Washington, now winners of eight-of-nine got back into the win column cooling Colorado’s four-game heater 15-

12.

It was one of those wild Coors games.

Trea Turner cycled in the contest, the second at Coors Field this month, Wil Myers cycled last home-stand. Turner singled in the first, doubled and drove in two in the second, homered in the sixth knocking in two more runs and finally, he tripled to complete the four-piece while driving in three more. On the evening he went four-for-six and he drove in a career-high seven FRBI.

German Marquez made his season debut with the Rockies and his fourth big league start and got rocked. In four innings of work, he gave up eight earned runs on nine hits and three walks. He was on a 90-pitch pitch although he probably wouldn’t have lasted much longer. He struggled to get out of innings and it cost him. Where the Rockies took advantage of the Nationals on Monday was with two outs, the Nats hit their opponents right back.

Daniel Murphy co-stared to Turner for D.C. driving in a career-high five as he went three-for-five at the dish. Bryce

Harper played a supporting role, staying hotter than anything imaginable at the cold Coors night, going two-for-four with two walks, now 13-for-his-last-25.

The Nats got to Marquez early and often, scoring a road team tacos (seven) in just two innings. The Rockies answered with a Carlos Gonzalez solo shot in the second. However, back in the first inning Charlie Blackmon and DJ

LeMahieu struck balls well that hung up in the cold night air.

The third was a clean one for Marquez but he got roughed up and knocked out in the fourth as the Nats plated their eighth. The Rockies took advantage of a leadoff walk to cut it back to 8-2. A clean inning of work from Jordan Lyles gave the Rockies their best shot at a comeback. They cut it to 8-5 in the fifth, knocking Joe Ross out but the Rockies couldn’t all the way off the ropes.

The Nationals tacked on tacos (seven) more in the sixth and seventh, getting to Jordan Lyles and Scott Oberg. And the score was set at 15-7 as Bud Black got CarGo and Nolan Arenado off their feet early.

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But it was far from over. The Rockies tagged back with six themselves in their seventh and eighth but the spots which were vacated by Arenado and Gonzalez ended up killing their eighth inning rally. This left Bud Black in a strange spot for defense for the ninth. Tony Wolters moved to third for the first time in his pro career, Pat Valakia left for the first time as a pro, Alexi Amarista, an infielder, remained in right while Gerardo Parra moved to first.

LeMahieu went three-for-five so too did Blackmon as the pair combined for four runs driven in, Chuck hit a home run.

Wolters himself stayed hot going two-for-five as the Rockies scored more than six for the fifth straight game.

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Stephen Cardullo optioned, German Marquez recalled

By Jake Shapiro / BSN Denver | April 25, 2017

DENVER – It was announced on Monday that quality pitching prospect German Marquez would be returning to the big leagues, joining the rotation in place of Jon Gray on Tuesday. In order to make room for the right-handed starter, the

Rockies have optioned right-handed bench bat and utility player Stephen Cardullo.

Cardullo was the lone right-handed outfielder on the roster but the Rockies left-handed outfielders had no trouble hitting lefties to this point. Cardullo’s call down could mean Ian Desmond could be back within a week’s time as he is a righty and may now play the outfield with the resurgence of Reynolds. Cardullo being called down also means the Rockies are back to four on the bench, three of which are utility but they did not have to lose any of them off their 25-man or

40-man roster.

Pat Valaika was the only other guy the Rockies could have optioned down as they are set on an eight-man bullpen. If The

Rockies chose to demote Alexi Amarista or Cristhian Adames it would’ve come at the expense of exposing them to other big league teams.

Cardullo is just 4-for-28 in 32 plate appearances this year. His story is a great one, rising from unaffiliated ball to the majors and twice winning a roster spot. He’ll goto Triple-A Albuquerque for the time being.

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Mike Dunn makes off-field impact with military support program

By Sarah Ford / BSN Denver | April 25, 2017

DENVER – It’s not unusual to see major league players use their good fortune to give back to their community, but in his first year as a Rockie, Mike Dunn has already found a memorable way to make an impact with Colorado’s military families.

Last week, the Rockies announced that Dunn will host military guests and their families at Monday home games throughout the year. Guests will be invited watch the team take batting practice on the field and chat with Dunn and other players before taking in the game.

“It’s whatever little bit I can give back to them to come out and experience a ballgame,” Dunn said. Dunn’s support of military families stems all the way back to 2011, when he went fishing with veterans as a Miami Marlin as part of the

Shake-a-Leg program.

“Just sitting down and talking to them…I’ve always had an appreciation for the military and their families and stuff, but spending a day out on the water fishing with those guys and talking to them kind of honed in that was where I wanted to focus my charity,” he said.

Two years later, Dunn and the Marlins had developed a program with military support organizations like Little Warriors and Special Operations Warrior Foundation to bring military families out to games. Although Dunn is seeing a change of scenery in Colorado, the program he is developing with the Rockies mirrors what he helped build in Miami.

“Really just bringing them out, bringing their families out, and really just being able to sit down and talk to them and just let them enjoy a day at the ballpark,” Dunn explains. “Take their minds off of what’s going on, and maybe it helps them out a little bit to just sit back and relax and watch a game.”

Dunn and the Rockies plan to host 10 families this year, placing the foundation for a program Dunn can see growing and continuing through future seasons at Coors Field.

“Right now we’re just leaving it open,” said Dunn. “Whoever wants to come out, come out and enjoy a game.”

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Turner hits for cycle, Nationals outlast Rockies

By Pat Graham / Associate Press – ESPN.com | April 26, 2017

DENVER -- Trea Turner wore everything he could to stay warm, including a red ski mask that covered his face.

For someone who doesn't enjoy hitting in the cold, he sure was hot at the plate.

Turner hit for the third cycle in Nationals history and drove in a career-high seven runs, helping Washington to a 15-12 win over the Colorado Rockies on a frigid Tuesday night.

The shortstop had a single in the first, a two-run double in the second, a two-run homer in the sixth and a bases-loaded triple in the seventh. It was the first cycle by the Nationals since Cristian Guzman on Aug. 28, 2008.

"I'm a baby when it comes to the cold," Turner said. "I was just trying to survive the cold."

In between pitches in the field, Turner stuck his throwing hand into his back pocket. At the plate, he really sizzled. Turner wasn't thinking triple to complete the cycle, only about lifting the ball into the outfield.

He did that and more, lining a shot into the right field corner. He slid into third and began to clap.

"It's funny -- when you don't think about it, it happens," said Turner, who had the ninth cycle in Expos/Nationals history.

Turner's seven RBI are tied for second-most in a single game in Nationals history. Count Washington manager Dusty

Baker as impressed.

"There aren't many guys that can say they drove in seven runs in a game," Baker said.

Not to be overlooked: Daniel Murphy also had a big night, tying a career best by driving in five runs.

Enny Romero (2-1) earned the win by pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings a night after taking the loss.

German Marquez (0-1) was roughed up in his first start of the season, surrendering eight runs in four innings. He was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to fill in for Jon Gray, who's sidelined by a stress fracture in his left foot.

Carlos Gonzalez and Mark Reynolds hit solo homers for Colorado. Charlie Blackmon added a two-run shot in the eighth and Gerardo Parra homered to lead off the ninth to make it 15-12. But Shawn Kelley settled down to finish off the game.

The game was delayed 66 minutes by rain and the temperature at first pitch was 43 degrees. Turner and Nolan

Arenado were among several players who wore a ski mask to keep warm.

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Marquez learned an important lesson: Don't walk the pitcher. With two outs in the second, he struggled to find the strike zone as Joe Ross drew a walk. The Nationals went on to score five times in the inning to take a 7-0 lead.

"He'll gather this one and realize that if he gets through that second inning, the whole world changes," manager Bud Black said. "Who knows what happens? It didn't. That's the reality of it."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rockies: First baseman Ian Desmond (broken left hand) is getting closer to going out for a rehab assignment after another productive workout Tuesday. Black didn't divulge when Desmond might be headed out.

THIS & THAT

Ross went 4 2/3 innings and allowed five runs, breaking a string of 12 straight quality starts by Washington. ... Bryce

Harper finished 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. He's hitting .400. ... The last time Colorado lost scoring 12 or more runs was 2003, according to the team.

NEWEST STRASBURG

Righty and his wife welcomed a baby girl. It's their second daughter.

Strasburg is on the paternity list, but is expected to return when the Nationals host the this weekend.

BETTIS UPDATE

Black said he spoke with Chad Bettis over the weekend and the pitcher is "in good spirits." Bettis resides in the Phoenix area, where he's receiving chemotherapy after doctors discovered his testicular cancer had recently spread to his lymph nodes.

The plan is for Bettis to visit the team when they begin a three-game series in Arizona on Friday.

"He can't wait to see us. We can't wait to see him," Black said.

UP NEXT

Nationals righty Tanner Roark (2-0, 3.65 ERA) is two innings shy of 600 for his career heading into his start Wednesday.

The Rockies will throw righty Tyler Chatwood (2-2, 4.10), who will be making his second-ever start against the Nationals.

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Quick Hits: Throw Back Tuesday

By Tracy Ringolsby / Inside the Seams | April 26, 2017

In a season with a new look the Rockies suffered through a reminder of the past with one of those high-scoring Coors

Field events.

The Rockies suffered a 15-12 loss to the Nationals on Tuesday night, the eighth time in franchise history they suffered a loss in which they scored 12 or more runs.

Trea Turner

Trea Turner became the second player to hit for the cycle this season. Both cycles have come at Coors Field and both have been the product of a visiting player. Wil Myers of the Padres hit for the cycle on April 10. Turner also had seven

RBI.

Rockies manager Bud Black spoke after the game about the Rockies rally that fell short:

http://pressbox.mlb.com/documents/6/2/0/226559620/BUD_POST_4_25_idxc9ebs.mp3

It was the 12th time the Rockies have scored 12 or more runs in a game and lost, the first since a 15-12 loss to the

Cardinals on April 8, 2003; the seventh at home for the Rockies, including one at Mile High Stadium. Four of the losses came in 1999.

A quick look at the eight games in which the Rockies scored at least 12 runs and lost:

Mark Grant

June 22, 1993: Reds 16, Rockies 13 at Mile High Stadium

The Rockies led 5-1 after two innings, but trailed 11-14 after five. Roberto Kelly drove in five runs for the Reds, and Kevin

Mitchell was 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple and home run. Current Padres broadcaster Mark Grant was the victim of a four-run fifth, suffering the loss.

Darren Holmes 35

July 14, 1997: Dodgers 14, Rockies 12, 10-innings at Coors Field

Rockies bullpen was the Rockies starting itcher, giving up nine runs in 5 1/3 innings. Mark Piazza was 4-fof-6 with four RBI. Tod Zeile keyed a three-run 10th for the Dodgers with a two-run home run.

Jerry Dipoto

May 4, 1999: Cubs 13, Rockies 12 at Wrigley Field

Tyler Houston doubled home a run with no outs in the bottom of the ninth off Jerry DiPoto, and then scored the game- winning run on a one-out single by Mickey Morandini. It was the Rockies only loss on the road in which they scored 12 or more runs. It was the first of four losses in 1999 in which the Rockies scored 12 or more runs.

Jeffrey Hammonds

May 19, 1999: Reds 24, Rockies 12

Sean Casey drove in six runs and scored five. He went 4-for-4 with two home runs and three walks. The score was tied 6-

6 at the end of two innings. Jeffrey Hammonds hit three home runs for the Reds. Dipoto gave up six runs on seven hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innngs for the loss.

Darryl Kile

June 22, 1999: Cubs 13, Rockies 12

The Rockies led 9-1 after three innings. Mike DeJean gave up three runs in the eighth. started for the Rockies and gave up four of the five home runs hit by the Cubs. Dante Bichette, Terry Shumpert and drove in three runs apiece for the Rockies. Bichette, Shumpert, and Vinny Castilla homered for the Rockies.

Todd Helton

Aug. 13, 1999: Expos 14, Rockies 10 (10 innings)

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Pinch-runner James Mouton scored the game-winning run on a throwing erro by Rockies first baseman , who was attmepted to throw out Mouton at the plate. Helton’s run-scoring single in the eighth, and a run-scoring double by

Neifi Perez in the ninth had tied the score.

Neifi Perez

April 8, 2003: Cardinals 15, Rockies 12 (13 innings)

Todd Helton’s home run in the seventh tied the game at 12-12. Mike Matheny, however, had a three-run home run off Dan

Miceli in the 13th inning that gave the Cardinals the victory. The Cardinals had taken a 12-11 lead with five runs off Justin

Speier in the top of the seventh.

German Marquez

Tuesday: Nationals 15, Rockies 12

Nationals carried a 15-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh. Rookie Nationals shortstop Trea Turner and drove in seven runs. It was the third cycle for a player in a Nationals uniform and the ninth overall for the franchise, which begna as the

Montreal Expos. German Marquez started and gave up eight runs in four innings.

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