German Marquez turned in a vintage performance. Unfortunately for the veteran right-hander, the Rockies turned in a 2025 performance.
In other words, they lost again.
Philadelphia capped off its four-game sweep with a 2-0 victory on Thursday afternoon at Coors Field before an announced, pro-Philly crowd of 23,308.
The Phillies took three games from Colorado at Philly in the second series of the season. With their sweep in Denver, it marked the first time in Phillies franchise history that they swept a season series of at least seven games against a single opponent.
The Rockies’ sad saga continued. They lost their fifth straight game, were shut out for the eighth time this season and slid to an almost unfathomable 8-42 record. Their .160 winning percentage has them on pace to finish the season with 136 losses, obliterating the White Sox’s major league record of 121 losses set last season.
You must go back to the 1895 Louisville Colonels (7-43) to find a worse 50-game start than Colorado’s.
Marquez pitched seven innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits. He struck out five and walked two.He said his knuckle curveball was the sharpest it’s been all season.
“I threw a lot of curveballs because my fastball command was also better today. … It set it up,” said Marquez, now 1-7 with a 7.66 ERA. “I was locating my pitches (well), so today was great.”
Marquez also had a strong start against San Diego on May 11 at Coors Field (one run allowed on three hits with two strikeouts). So he’s had back-to-back starts at home in which he threw seven innings and allowed just one earned run. He’s the first Rockies starter to throw at least seven innings and allow one or fewer earned runs in two consecutive home starts since he did it on May 21-June 1, 2021, during his All-Star season.
“That was good momentum from German (today),” said manager Warren Schaeffer, now 1-9 since taking over for Bud Black, who was fired on May 11. “He was sharp. I thought his curveball was good. He was spotting his heater. Everything was working for him today, and he gave us a shot.”
The Phillies nicked Marquez for an unearned run in the fourth when leadoff hitter Bryson Stott reached on a fielding error by shortstop Ezequiel Tovar. Bryce Harper, who ripped Colorado pitching throughout the four-game set, doubled Stott home with a liner down the left-field line.
In the seventh, a leadoff walk to the dangerous Kyle Schwarber returned to haunt Marquez when Max Kepler ripped a double into the right-field corner to score Schwarber, putting Philly ahead, 2-0.
Lefty Ranger Suarez blanked Colorado for 6 2/3 innings, giving up six hits and three walks. Colorado had opportunities to break through vs. the lefty but couldn’t do so, going 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position. All told, the Rockies were 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position, leaving them with a .213 average for the season, tied with Texas for fourth worst.
“For me, I’m looking for us to battle,” Schaeffer said. “I know the results weren’t there today. Suarez was really good today. He was really good with runners in scoring position. We gave ourselves opportunities, but we just couldn’t cash in.”
The Rockies begin a three-game series Friday against the Yankees at Coors Field.
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Originally Published: May 22, 2025 at 3:48 PM MDT
