 gave up three hits, walked one and didn't allow a runner to third base as the Rockies snapped a four-game losing streak. Marquez improved to 4-1 in five career starts against the Pirates and lowered his ERA to 2.08 away from Coors Field.Charlie Blackmon went 3 for 5 for Colorado, including a two-run triple to left off Chris Archer (1-4) in the fourth. Story homered for the second straight game when his shot to deep left field in the third inning glanced off the glove of Pittsburgh leftfielder Bryan Reynolds and into the seats.That was more than enough offense for Marquez, who gave the Rockies just their second win during their current eight-game road swing by shutting down the surging Pirates.Pittsburgh came in off a 7-4 road trip through St. Louis, Arizona and San Diego bolstered by the white-hot bat of first baseman Josh Bell.Bell entered with a major league-leading 44 RBIs - the third-most by a Pirates player through 44 games since it became an official statistic in 1920 - but went 0 for 4. Bell's teammates didn't fare much better. Pittsburgh mustered only a first inning double by Reynolds and a pair of singles in the fifth by Melky Cabrera and Francisco Cervelli. Otherwise, the Pirates were kept off balance by Marquez.Pittsburgh kept pace in the crowded NL Central despite a patched together starting rotation. Archer - who missed three weeks with inflammation in his right thumb before returning last week - was hoping to give the bullpen a relatively easy night but struggled with pitch efficiency.He needed 23 pitches to get out of a scoreless first inning and ran into more trouble in the second. Daniel Murphy led off with a double and moved to third on a grounder by Ian Desmond. The Pirates appeared to have Murphy caught in a run down between third and home after a grounder by Tony Wolters, but Cervelli's flip to third baseman Colin Moran deflected off Murphy's helmet and rolled away from Moran, allowing Murphy to score.Story's shot to left in the third pushed him into a tie with Nolan Arenado for the team lead in home runs. And Blackmon's slicing liner to the notch in left-center in the fourth pushed Colorado's lead to 4-0.Archer gave up four runs, three earned, in five innings, with two walks and three strikeouts as his ERA ticked down to 5.55. He needed 92 pitches to get 15 outs. Marquez, meanwhile, needed 104 pitches to get through eight full innings.HE'S OUTTA HEREPittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle was ejected in the eighth after pinch-hitter Jake Elmore was called out on an odd play at first. Elmore hit a grounder to Marquez and Marquez made a sweeping tag attempt as Elmore ran to first. Elmore was called out on the field and the call was upheld on video review, even though replays clearly showed Marquez failed to tag Elmore.TRAINER'S ROOMPirates: RF Gregory Polanco was a late scratch due to finger discomfort in his left hand. ... Cervelli left in the sixth inning with an upper chest contusion after a foul ball appeared to hit his throat. ... LF Corey Dickerson (right shoulder sprain) threw to bases and participated in batting practice.UP NEXTRockies: Jon Gray (3-4, 4.73 ERA) is 0-1 with a 9.95 ERA in three starts against the Pirates.Pirates: Could use an ''opener'' again on Wednesday.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
Pirates carry momentum into series vs. Rockies Bolstered by a successful road trip, the Pittsburgh Pirates return home to PNC Park on Tuesday to open a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies.The Pirates went 7-4 in St. Louis, Arizona and San Diego despite having to cobble together a starting rotation and even going with an opener for the first time -- on top of having a couple of rookies now occupying spots in the bullpen.Pittsburgh won three of four against the Padres on the last stop of the tour."It was a very strong finish," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told reporters of the trip. "I'm proud of the effort. I'm proud of the energy. The offense is starting to do some things that are significant as well. It was a fun trip for us. It was a good baseball trip." The homestand features the Rockies and three games against the Dodgers."It's been a long trip, one of the longer ones we've taken since I've been here," Hurdle said. "Going home will be good. ... Two good teams coming in. Should be some good baseball." Injuries have ravaged Pittsburgh's pitchers. Right-hander Chris Archer (1-3, 5.58 ERA), who will face Colorado right-hander German Marquez (4-2, 3.80) Tuesday, has spent time on the injured list and has had some ineffective outings.In his first game off the IL, Archer gave up seven runs (six earned) in 3 2/3 innings Wednesday in one of Pittsburgh's four losses on the road trip, 11-1 at Arizona.Though he has lost his last three starts, Archer is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA in two career starts against Colorado.The Rockies might be getting a bit of a break with the Pirates' pitching challenges.Colorado is 1-4 on its current road trip and has lost four straight -- including a three-game sweep at the hands of Philadelphia. Strong opposing pitching has been a theme on the trip.In 48 innings, the Rockies have struck out 66 times against the likes of Boston's Chris Sale and the Phillies' Aaron Nola and Jerad Eickhoff.Trevor Story, who had one of four Colorado homers Sunday in a 7-5 loss at Philadelphia, doesn't want to give too much credit to opposing teams, though."I'd say it's more so us," Story told the team's website. "It was the first time facing Sale, so that was a little different, but we've faced Nola and these guys a lot, and played well. It's not like we just can't hit them or anything, but we haven't played to our standard offensively, so it's frustrating."It's not for lack of preparation or effort. We're just not executing right now." Charlie Blackmon, who also homered Sunday, pointed to the fact that the Rockies have been in each game this trip. All five games have been decided by one or two runs."I think it's good for us," Blackmon told the Rockies' website. "If we could win a couple of those key at-bats over the past few days, we pick up a couple extra wins. We're putting ourselves in position. We're just not quite finishing it off." Marquez will be making his sixth start on the road, where he has a 2.55 ERA.In four career starts against the Pirates, he is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 27 strikeouts. That includes going 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts at PNC Park.--Field Level Media
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