Perhaps the best play of German Marquez's spectacular outing in the Colorado Rockies 3-0 win over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday was the one that came right after he gave up the no-hitter.
The 22-year-old, who was making his seventh career MLB start, got six innings through the game before surrendering a hit. Chicago's Kris Bryant broke up the no-no with a double to lead off the top of the seventh.
The Rockies were nursing a one-run lead at the time. Power-hitting Kyle Schwarber stepped to the plate. It easily could have gotten away from Marquez in that moment. Instead, the righty from Venezuela induced a Schwarber grounder. Marquez squeezed it, stared Bryant down to ensure he wouldn't go to third and coolly threw to first to get the out.
It was the type of play that won't make the highlights — but it was vital to helping Colorado clinch a series win over the defending World Series champions.
Marquez ended up throwing a three-hitter across eight innings. He allowed no runs, struck out eight and walked one. Oh, and he did all right swinging the bat, too.
Marquez turned a one-run lead into a three-run lead in the bottom of the seventh when he lined a Carl Edwards fastball into left that scored Mark Reynolds and Pat Valaika. It was Marquez's first big-league hit and RBI.
Greg Holland's one-two-three ninth clinched it for Colorado.
On the mound, Marquez was particularly impressive with his curveball. Six of his eight strikeouts came on that pitch. Here's a slowed down, zoomed in version of the one he threw to Miguel Montero in the fifth.
Punching guys out, keeping calm when guys did put the ball in play, even swinging the bat — Marquez did it all.
He became the sixth Rockies pitcher to throw at least six innings of no-hit ball.
The Rockies improved to 22-13 this year, which marks their best start through 35 games in franchise history. They have a two-game lead in the NL West entering a four-game series against the Dodgers that starts Thursday.
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