Márquez, Davis and Oberg deliver in Spring Training debut and Rockies W

It may be the eighth game of Spring Training already, but some Rockies pitchers are just starting to shake off the winter rust and get into Cactus League games.

German Márquez, Wade Davis, Jake McGee and Scott Oberg made their 2020 premier on Sunday at Salt River Fields in a 6-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

Márquez was fantastic over three innings, becoming only the second Colorado pitcher to last as long following Antonio Senzatela’s Friday start and the first to do it in scoreless fashion.

After getting the vote of confidence from manager Bud Black as the team’s closer, Wade Davis tossed a one-two-three frame, striking out one – Angels’ top prospect Jo Adell – in the process.

McGee did not fair quite as well, allowing two runs on three hits, including back-to-back doubles to former Albuquerque Isotopes Elliot Soto and Double-A infielder Franklin Torres.

A leadoff single against Oberg was all the 30-year-old gave, retiring the next three Angels’ hitters in order, punctuated by a strikeout to finish the sixth inning.

Turning Point: Charlie Blackmon’s RBI double

Entering the fifth inning down 2-0, Colorado had little-to-no offense. Jose Suarez, all of 22-years-old, struck out two and walked one during the first three innings before Matt Ball entered for Los Angeles. Trevor Story doubled in the fourth and returned with a two-out run-scoring double off Ball once again. With the scored tied at 2-2, Blackmon pulled one to right field to easily score pinch-runner Eric Stamets from second base.

Player of the Game: German Márquez

The 25-year-old from Venezuela was excellent in his first in-game action since August 22 of last year due to inflammation in his right arm. The six-month respite was just was the doctor – or team trainer Keith Duggar – had ordered. Márquez played with his slider and changeup effectively and his fastball topped out at 97 in front of the home crowd. He gave up one hit and walked a batter which he quickly erased with a 6-4-3 double play courtesy of Story, Chris Owings and Daniel Murphy.

Stat of the Game: Elias Díaz singles; raises batting average to .667

One week into Spring Training and still nothing matters all that much. If the overall results of Spring Training for most individuals have minimal impact on decisions pertaining to the starting lineup and subsequent 26-man roster decisions, then the outcomes of the first eight Cactus League games should be the least important. That being said, non-roster invitee Díaz is making his case to become Tony Wolters’ backup with his sixth hit in nine at bats.

Diamond Details:

• Ian Desmond added an insurance run in the sixth inning with a solo home run to left, his first hit of the spring. The four-bagger was only the fifth Rockies home run of the spring through eight games.
• First-timers LHP Ryan Rolison and RHP Antonio Santos threw one scoreless frame apiece. The 22 and 23-year-old, respectively, have not allowed an earned run for 5.2 innings combined.
• On Monday, Colorado travels to the Peoria Stadium to take on the Seattle Mariners at 1:10 MDT. RHP Jon Gray and RHP Justus Sheffield start game number nine for each club.