The nasty blister on Jason Marquis’ right middle finger hasn’t gone away, but it’s healed enough to allow him to make his next start.
The Rockies’ all-star pitcher will be on the mound in front of friends and family Tuesday night against the Mets at Citi Field in New York.
“I had to round up about 40 tickets,” said Marquis, a proud resident of Staten Island, N.Y. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Marquis threw a crucial bullpen session Sunday. It wasn’t overly painful, so he’s good to go.
“It didn’t affect my delivery, and that’s the biggest thing,” he said. “We’ll see how it goes from here. It’s not 100 percent, but I think I can pitch. I threw my sinker for the first time in two weeks with my usual grip, so that was a good sign.”
Marquis threw his side session with the finger covered in gauze, but he won’t be allowed to wear the gauze Tuesday night. The Rockies are hoping the wear and tear of a full game doesn’t exacerbate the problem.
Marquis (12-6, 3.49 ERA) is tied with the Giants’ Matt Cain for the National League lead in victories.
Field work.
It’s no secret second baseman Clint Barmes is in a batting slump. He went 0-for-5 Sunday and saw his average dip to .263. He was 3-for-22 (.136) on the just-completed homestand.
But Barmes hasn’t let a cold bat affect his fielding. In the fourth inning, he started a key double play. Then he got the final out, diving for John Bowker’s smash and throwing out Bowker by a step. If Barmes hadn’t made the play, Pablo Sandoval would have scored from third.
“Obviously, Clint is not swinging the bat right now the way Clint likes to swing it,” manager Jim Tracy said. “And yet, you watch him go out there and save us a run with his defensive play. That’s what makes him very, very special.”
Footnotes.
Starter Aaron Cook picked off Fred Lewis at first to end the third inning. It was Cook’s third pickoff of the season, tied for second among major-league right-handers. . . . Cook doubled in the fourth inning for his first extra-base hit this season. . . . The Rockies hit the road, where they are 16-5 since June 4, the best record in the majors during that span.
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
