Bergman Earns 1st Win As Rockies Beat Marlins 7-4
DENVER (AP) — Once Christian Bergman worked out the nervous energy, he settled in just fine.
Good thing, too, because Colorado needed him to pitch deep into the game after an extra-inning victory the night before.
Bergman worked into the seventh for his first major league win and Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer, helping the Rockies beat the Miami Marlins 7-4 on Sunday.
Bergman (1-2) was reinstated from the disabled list earlier in the day after missing 51 games with a broken left hand. The right-hander gave up nine hits and four runs in his first start since June 20.
"We were strapped today, so we needed Bergman to go deep and he did," said manager Walt Weiss, whose team beat the Marlins in 13 innings on Saturday.
Now Bergman just needs the game ball from his inaugural big league victory.
"I'm sure someone probably has it for me," Bergman said, grinning. "This feels pretty good. It didn't go exactly as planned. But it never does."
Arenado kept up his torrid month by going 2 for 4, raising his average to .388 in August. He also was hit on the right elbow in the fifth but stayed in the game with what he described as a stinger.
Miami's Brad Hand (2-6) settled down after giving up two early homers. But he lasted just 4 1-3 innings and was charged with four runs and nine hits.
"We left a few on base. You can't do that in this park," manager Mike Redmond said after theMarlins stranded eight runners. "Four runs in this ballpark isn't enough."
Charlie Blackmon took advantage of a lackadaisical play by Giancarlo Stanton in right to turn a routine single into a double in the sixth. Stanton nonchalantly fielded a roller through the infield and casually threw it toward the infield. Blackmon immediately rounded first and easily slid into second.
The heads-up play paid off when Blackmon scored on Drew Stubbs' double to give the Rockies a 5-2 lead. Blackmon said the idea came to him the night before, watching Stanton play so deep in the outfield.
"He did the same thing today," Blackmon said. "I timed it right and just kept going."
The All-Star outfielder insisted he wasn't caught off guard — it was just a hustle play by Blackmon.
His manager concurred.
"Blackmon came out of the box going hard. He took a chance and got to second," Redmond said.
That insurance run would come in handy. The Marlins scored twice in the seventh on an RBI double by Jeff Baker and a run-scoring single for Stanton. Juan Nicasio kept the Rockies in front by recording the final two outs of the inning.
DJ LeMahieu then gave Colorado some breathing room with a two-run double in the seventh.
Arenado hit his 14th homer in the first. Two batters later, Michael McKenry hit a solo shot off Hand.
The Rockies have won five of their last seven games in their best stretch since mid-June.
TRIPLE DELIGHT
Marlins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria tied a team record with two triples, each after Blackmon struggled to pick up the ball in the glare of the sun as he retreated toward the fence in right.
"I think (those) are two plays that I make if the ball doesn't go directly in the sun," Blackmon said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: LHP Dan Jennings, who suffered a concussion when he was hit in the head by a line drive on Aug. 7, threw two innings on Friday for Single-A Jupiter. His next appearance is to be determined.
Rockies: OF Michael Cuddyer (strained left hamstring) was placed on the DL for the third time this season. The NL batting champion also was out with a strained left hamstring in April and missed more than two months with a fractured left shoulder. "This year has been rough," Cuddyer said.
UP NEXT
Marlins: Miami will make its first visit to Anaheim, California, since 2005 to play the Angels. RHP Jarred Cosart (1-1, 2.45 ERA) pitches for the Marlins when the series begins Monday night.
Rockies: After nine straight at Coors Field, the Rockies head to San Francisco on Monday. LHP Tyler Matzek (2-9, 5.38 ERA) goes for Colorado.
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