Rockies thump Milwaukee Brewers 8-4

WP: German Marquez (10-5); LO: Matt Garza (6-7); Save: none; Homeruns: Mil, Domingo Santana (20), Keon Broxton (20), Orlando Arcia (12); Col - Charlie Blackmon (28), GerardO Parra (10), Carlos Gonzalez (8)

Box Score

Hitting was king tonight in Coors Field tonight...surprise! The Rockies rocked Matt Garza for eight runs (seven earned) in 4.2 innings and survived three Milwaukee homers for an 8-4 win.

The Rockies jump-started the scoring in the bottom of the first when lead-off hitter Charlie Blackmon slapped a low curve ball from Garza into the leftfield seats for a 1-0 lead. Garza gave up a single to DJ LeMahieu, but a double play helped get the Brewers get out of the inning.

Domingo Santana homered to right to tie the game in the top of the second, but his two poor plays in right defensively contributed to the Colorado offense later. An Eric Thames triple and Neil Walker single put the Brewers up 2-1.

Colorado took the lead for good in the bottom of the third frame. A one out double by pitcher German Marquez was followed by a single from Blackmon, putting runners on first and third. Keon Broxton made a sliding catch of a shallow fly to center with the runners holding. But a drive to right that might have been caught went over Santana’s glove and off the wall for a to run triple from Nolen Arenado.

A single to right by Carlos Gonzalez on a ball that seemingly could have been caught fairly easily by Santana led to an unearned run in bottom four. A walk and a throwing error by Travis Shaw trying to get a force at second plated the Rockies’ fourth run. as Cargo easily trotted home. 5-2 Colorado.

Garza couldn’t last through the bottom of the fifth. Arenado pulled one down the leftfield line over the foul poll that was called foul, then flew out to deep right. Gerardo Para pulled one well out to right to push the lead to four. Garza struck out Mark Reynolds but his breaking ball in the dirt eluded Manny Pina and Reynolds reached. Gonzalez homer oppo homer over Braun moved the score to 8-2.

Marquez retired the first two in the top of the sixth, but Keon Broxton and Orlando Arcia hit back to back jacks to straight away center to make it the final of 8-4. Marquez ended the night allowing seven hits in 5²⁄₃ innings, including a double and triple from Thames, and three homers. Garza gave up nine hits over his 4 1/3, including a double, triple, and three homers.

Jeremy Jeffress retired the two he faced to finish up the fifth, and Carlos Torres worked three innings to save the pen, giving up no hits, three walks, and striking out three.

The Cubs topped Toronto 7-4 this afternoon and the Cards blew almost all of an 11-2 lead but won 11-10. That leaves St. Louis in second a game and a half back and the Brewers in third, back 2 games.

Milwaukee (63-60) sends out rookie Brandon Woodruff (1-1, 1.50) to face the Rockies’ Bettis (0-0, 0.00). Bettis is making his second start of the year (seven innings, six hits, no runs) after returning from his battle with testicular cancer.