Marquez great again before Iannetta wins it

ST. PETERSBURG -- It took until their last day in Florida, but the Rockies finally snapped out of their offensive funk, topping the Rays, 1-0, in extra innings during Wednesday’s series finale at Tropicana Field.

It was Colorado’s first franchise win at the Rays’ home stadium, and the club had Chris Iannetta to thank. The game remained scoreless until the 11th inning, when the Rockies’ catcher -- who had entered the game in the bottom of the eighth -- smashed an 0-2 line-drive into the left-field seats for the eventual game-winner.

“To win this one, having the off-day to go back home, it’s going to be a much better flight, obviously,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “We need some guys to exhale a little bit. I think the last couple days were pressing.”

Iannetta may have dropped the mic, but many central characters came together to make his moment in the spotlight possible.

The ball started rolling with right-hander Germán Márquez. He turned in another solid outing, holding the Rays scoreless on three hits over seven frames, fanning seven and walking three during his second consecutive quality start. Though he didn’t get the win, Marquez, who is rumored to have signed a five-year, $43 million contract Tuesday -- lowered his ERA to 0.69 and his batting average against to .119.

“My slider was on today,” he said. “I felt very confident with it today, and I executed it.”

Marquez also benefited from a strong defense behind him. With the game scoreless in the bottom of the seventh with one out and runners at second and third, Marquez did his part by striking out Mike Zunino for out No. 2. On the next play, Willy Adames dropped a near-perfect bunt down the third-base line and hustled to first.

Third baseman Nolan Arenado charged, barehanded the ball and winged it across the diamond, but first-base umpire Eric Cooper ruled Adames beat the throw, scoring the run from third to give the Rays an apparent 1-0 lead. The Rockies challenged the call, though, which was overturned after a replay review to preserve the scoreless game.

Black was quick to point out that Arenado’s snag was one of many impressive plays on the day.

“We played defense and [the Rays] didn’t make mistakes, either,” Black said. “It was a hell of a well-pitched game and a great defensive game.”

Iannetta’s first homer of the year snapped a 22-inning scoreless drought for Colorado and marked just the second run the Rockies had scored in the past 40 innings. The Rockies finished 3-4 on the road trip after taking two of four against Miami prior to facing the Rays.

“Everyone outside the clubhouse was hitting the panic button,” Iannetta said. “It’s fun; we have a much more level head than that. We take it one game at a time, and we hear the noise, but we try to not let it get to us.

“We do a really good job of that, and we have done that over the past two years that I’ve been here.”

Did you know? The Rockies’ win snapped an 0-5 record at Tropicana Field, and now they have won in every Major League park but one: Rogers Centre (formerly the SkyDome) in Toronto.

He said it “There wasn’t a bigger swing so far in seven games.” -- Black, on Iannetta’s homer