Márquez shuts down Reds in Game 1 of twin bill

CINCINNATI -- On paper, Germán Márquez isn’t having a great season. His ERA only recently dipped below five, and his Statcast page is littered with dark blue, below-average numbers. But that doesn’t tell the full story of a pitcher who’s earned quality starts in eight of his last ten appearances.

By recovering from an abysmal start to the season -- his ERA peaked at 6.92 on May 3 -- Márquez has boosted confidence in a Rockies staff desperately looking for answers in its rotation.

Márquez gave the Rockies what they needed Sunday as they defeated the Reds 8-4 in the first game of a doubleheader at Great American Ball Park. Márquez went seven innings, allowing two runs on three hits. He walked three and struck out four.

"He set a great tone he needed to," Rockies manager Bud Black said.

"It was amazing," Márquez said. "After a long night last night, today I felt good. I was hitting my spots. Everything was good."

Right-harder José Ureña could not replicate Márquez’s performance in Game 2. He allowed seven runs (six earned) in 5 1/3 innings as Rockies fell to the Reds 10-0. The Rockies have not swept a doubleheader since August of 2017.

It was Márquez’s 11th straight start of at least six innings. Over his last 10 starts, he is 4-3 with a 3.39 ERA. He's been a different pitcher since mid-June.

"I think the key is I'm hitting my spots," Márquez said. "When my fastball location is good, everything is good. I feel like my focus is good."

Márquez was coming off an ace-worthy outing, in which he outdueled Max Scherzer by allowing three baserunners while striking out five in a scoreless seven innings at Citi Field.

He picked it up there Sunday. Márquez faced the minimum through three innings, allowing a walk and eliminating the runner via a double play. Márquez worked a five-pitch second and a nine-pitch third.

That pushed his scoreless streak to 10 innings.

But TJ Friedl hit the second pitch of the Reds' fourth inning just out to right field for his fourth home run. Kyle Farmer singled with two outs in the inning, but Márquez didn’t allow another hit until Friedl a hit high shot off the foul pole in right for his first career two-homer game.

"Márquez made two mistakes," Black said. "Two balls up in the strike zone -- mislocation on the fastball on the first home run, then hung a breaking ball on the second home run.

"Germán was very efficient. Great pitch count early in the game. It carried him through seven."

The Rockies did next to nothing against Reds starter Nick Lodolo. He went six shutout innings, striking out nine and letting only two batters reach second.

Lodolo was lifted after 101 pitches, and the first four Rockies to face right-hander reliever Joel Kuhnel reached. All four scored as well, the big blow coming on Charlie Blackmon's two-run, pinch-hit double.

So Márquez took a 4-2 lead and an 80-pitch count into the seventh. He proceeded to retire the Reds in order on seven pitches.

On an ordinary day, Márquez might have gone out for the eighth.

But he fully warmed up during Saturday night's three-hour, 45-minute rain delay, throwing 25 pitches.

"I was [affected] a little bit," he said. "I was a little tired today. My mindset was I had to go as long as I could."