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Arenado, Marquez lift Rockies to 11-1 win over Cardinals

Sports

September 22nd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DENVER (AP) — Nolan Arenado hit a grand slam, German Marquez pitched five solid innings for his first major league win and the Colorado Rockies slowed the St. Louis Cardinals’ playoff chase with an 11-1 victory on Wednesday. The Cardinals entered the day tied with New York and San Francisco atop the NL wild-card standings. The Mets and Giants both played later.

Arenado broke open the game in the second with his NL-leading 39th homer of the season. His fourth career slam made it 6-1. Luke Weaver (1-4) was roughed up by the Rockies, surrendering seven hits and six runs in two innings. Before this game, the right-hander had allowed 12 earned runs in his last seven starts combined.

This was a memorable day for Marquez (1-0), who made his first big league start after three appearances out of the bullpen. He allowed one run and struck out three.

DENVER (AP) — Colorado reliever Carlos Estevez and St. Louis outfielder Jose Martinez faced each other in an unusual way — a playful post-national anthem standoff . With Wednesday’s game about to start, Estevez and Martinez stood near their dugouts — with their hand over their heart — and refused to back down until the other moved first.

Martinez’s teammates offered support by bringing him water and a batting helmet. Estevez’s teammates countered by spraying him with sunscreen and giving him a catcher’s mask. The befuddled umpiring crew didn’t quite know what to do.

Apparently, Estevez relented first and made a winner of Martinez, who jumped up and down in celebration before retreating to the dugout. The start of the game was delayed several minutes by the good-natured prank.