Elias Diaz delivered a two-out run-scoring single in the ninth on an afternoon German Marquez struck out 11 and was picked for his first All-Star team, helping the Colorado Rockies rally for a 3-2 win Sunday over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Diaz sent a 3-2 pitch from All-Star closer Alex Reyes (5-3) into left and Joshua Fuentes, who had reached on a single and advanced on a wild pitch, beat the throw home with a head-first dive.
Trevor Story tied the game at 2-apiece with a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Story added a solo homer in the first.
Rockies reliever Justin Lawrence (1-0) earned the win by pitching out of a jam in the ninth. He got pinch-hitter Yadier Molina to ground into an inning-ending double play.
St. Louis has lost 22 of 33 games following a 30-22 start. Runs were at a premium in this four-game series, with St. Louis outscoring the Rockies by a 15-14 margin.
Marquez kept the Cardinals off-balance in striking out a season-high 11. Harrison Bader was the only one to solve Marquez, lining a knuckle-curve on an 0-2 count over the fence in left for a two-run homer in the second.
The hard-throwing righty was coming off a gem against Pittsburgh last Tuesday when he took a no-hit bid into the ninth before allowing a leadoff single.
Marquez has pitched most of the season like an All-Star, which will be on his home field on July 13,after he earned a spot Sunday. Marquez became the first Rockies starter to make the All-Star team since Ubaldo Jimenez in 2010.
Marquez got the best of fellow All-Star and former teammate Nolan Arenado, striking him out twice.
Arenado, who played eight seasons in Colorado, didn't have the most productive return to Coors Field. Over the four-game series, he went 2 for 14 with no homers or RBIs. Arenado did receive a round of applause before stepping into the batter's box Sunday - and will be back to the park for the All-Star Game.
Carlos Martinez was cruising along until one out in the fourth when trainers came out to check on him. Martinez was taken out due to a bruised right thumb he suffered while at the plate.
Story's homer in the first was his sixth in 12 games. The Rockies shortstop is finding his swing just in time for the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game next week.
