The Colorado Rockies' Brad Hawpe follows through on a three-run home run in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday at Hi Corbett Field.
Jason Marquis hopes this start stops any questions about his abilities.
Marquis tossed five solid innings, Brad Hawpe hit a three-run homer and the Colorado Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-3 on Monday.
Marquis allowed two runs and three hits. He struggled in his previous three starts, allowing 22 earned runs and 26 hits in 12 innings.
“It definitely feels good to get results. It also puts to rest any doubts in my teammates’, managers’ or coaches’ minds,” he said. “I went back to my basics and tried to be an athlete and let my ability and talent take over and keep the thought process out of it.”
Marquis’ only real mistake against the Diamondbacks resulted in a two-run homer by Josh Whitesell in the fourth inning. It was Whitesell’s third homer of the spring.
“Everything,” Marquis said when asked what pitches worked. “I picked the pitch I wanted to throw and tried to be real loose and be an athlete and be myself.”
The Rockies acquired Marquis from the Chicago Cubs in an offseason trade, hoping to get the solid starter he has been during his career. They saw glimpses of that against the Diamondbacks. Conor Jackson and Mark Reynolds were the only others to get hits off Marquis.
“I have been working on new deliveries and trying to get consistent, but that shouldn’t take away from being an athlete,” Marquis said. “Sometimes I put thoughts in my head that shouldn’t be there on the mound.”
Todd Helton went 4 for 4 with two doubles for Colorado, raising his spring average to .515. Clint Barmes went 3 for 3 with a double, and Troy Tulowitzki had two hits.
Yusmeiro Petit, battling for one of the final spots on Arizona’s pitching staff, gave up four runs and four hits in three innings. He struck out one and walked one.
Petit allowed all of his runs in the first inning, including Hawpe’s first spring homer.
“I missed a couple of pitches and I paid for it,” Petit said. “I was able to make the adjustments later.”
Petit had been pretty much untouchable most of the spring, entering with a 1.13 ERA.
Notable
• The Rockies optioned OFs Carlos Gonzalez and Matt Murton and LHP Greg Smith to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Cs Edwin Bellorin and Paul Phillips and LHP Randy Flores were reassigned to minor league camp.
• The Diamondbacks reassigned OFs Gerardo Parra and Chris Roberson to their minor league camp.