Marlins 6, Rockies 2
DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies, and Coors Field in particular, seem to bring out the best in Tom Koehler.
He again muffled the Rockies as the Miami Marlins won 6-2 on Friday for their third straight victory and fifth in seven games. Play was halted after the seventh inning, and Koehler didn't return after a 1 hour, 55 minute rain delay.
Koehler stymied the Rockies through five innings, throwing 40 of 59 pitches for strikes and finished with 105 pitches, 71 strikes while allowing eight hits and one walk with six strikeouts.
Koehler ended two innings with double-play grounders and got 10 outs on ground balls and held the Rockies hitless for 3 2/3 innings, facing the minimum number of batters in that span.
In four career starts against the Rockies, Koehler is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA and three walks and 22 strikeouts in 28 innings. At Coors Field, Koehler is 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA in three starts, each lasting seven innings, and one walk and 17 strikeouts in 21 innings.
Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton hit his 18th home run, a 478-foot solo shot to left-center in the second. It was the longest homer hit at Coors Field -- one foot longer than a blast hit by Joc Pederson of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.
Rockies starter Eddie Butler (3-6) lasted 5 1/3 innings, giving up a career-high 11 hits, the last an opposite-field double to left by second baseman Dee Gordon that scored the second run of the inning and gave the Marlins a 6-0 lead.
That inning began with a triple by catcher J.T. Realmuto, who had a career-high four hits. Right fielder Carlos Gonzalez laid out for Realmuto's drive but couldn't catch it, and the ball rolled toward the corner. Shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria poked Butler's first pitch over the head of second baseman DJ Lemahieu.
The Rockies finally scored a run in the sixth on a two-out single by shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who had three hits. His hit scored center fielder Charlie Blackmon, who singled when second Gordon caught his spikes in the dirt trying to catch Blackmon's grounder.
Third baseman Nolan Arenado's sacrifice fly off Vin Mazzaro in the eighth made it 6-2.
The loss dropped the Rockies to 2-3 on their current 10-game homestand and 10-16 overall at Coors Field.
The Marlins loaded the bases on three straight singles to start the fifth, but Rockies starter Eddie Butler minimized the damage. After center fielder Marcell Ozuna grounded into a run-scoring fielder's choice that put the Marlins ahead 4-0. Butler got left fielder Christian Yelich to ground into a double play.
Butler yielded three straight one-out singles in the second, the last a run-scoring hit by Realmuto. Butler then loaded the bases by walking shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, and Koehler's swinging bunt brought home a run to make it 2-0.
NOTES: Rockies RHP LaTroy Hawkins (right biceps tendinitis) threw a perfect inning for Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday night as he began his second rehab assignment. Hawkins will pitch again Sunday. ... Rockies LHP Chris Rusin will start Saturday, taking the turn of injured RHP Jordan Lyles. He will undergo season-ending toe surgery Wednesday. ... Marlins C Jeff Mathis (broken right hand) was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list, and C Jhonatan Solano was designated for assignment. ... Marlins RHP Mat Latos (left knee inflammation) is scheduled to throw 85-90 pitches Monday for Triple-A New Orleans in what could be his last game before being activated. ... Marlins RHP Jose Fernandez (torn right ulnar collateral ligament) will throw about 60 pitches for high Class A Jupiter in his first official rehab game since undergoing Tommy John surgery May 16, 2014. ... Marlins RHP Jarred Cosart (vertigo) will throw up to 75 pitches Saturday in an extended spring training game. ... Marlins RHP Henderson Alvarez (right shoulder inflammation) will resume throwing next week. He is on the disabled list for the second time this season.