Veteran pitcher Jason Marquis moved around the Rockies’ clubhouse Sunday with a smile on his face. He loves watching football, ribbing teammates — he jumped all over Jason Hammel for his Dolphins shirt — and competition. Five weeks ago in Washington, Marquis played more than 20 consecutive games of Connect Four, taking on all comers. That also was the night of his last great outing.
“I need to do better,” he said after his most recent start, a loss to the Padres.
Marquis hopes recent side work in the bullpen has fixed his delivery, particularly on his sinker, as he faces Milwaukee tonight at Coors Field. He has been searching for his release point for the better part of seven starts, compiling a 5.49 ERA. Unable to throw his sinker for a strike on a consistent basis, batters have been teeing off on his breaking pitches.
Brave new world.
Ryan Spilborghs acknowledged this playoff push is entirely different than the one in 2007. The Rockies have watched the Braves practically match their magical run two years ago, with Atlanta shaving its wild-card deficit from 8 1/2 to two games since Sept. 9.
“In 2007, we had nothing to lose,” Spilborghs said. “There’s a different type of pressure. But we still like our position.”
The Braves and Rockies were even in their season series, but the Braves’ better division record would guarantee them a home play-in game if the teams end up tied.
Searching for power.
Yorvit Torrealba has hit .319 since Aug. 1, taken over the Rockies’ starting catching job and delivered consistently in the clutch. But he has just six extra-base hits over the past two months.
“All I do is hit singles,” said Torrealba, who did manage a triple during Sunday’s game.
Footnotes.
Aaron Cook was among a handful of players watching Sunday’s ending on the televisions in the Rockies’ clubhouse. Cook and others jumped up as second baseman Clint Barmes made his terrific defensive play. “We were like little kids, screaming for him to throw to first base,” Cook said. . . . Postscript on the catch: According to Huston Street, Cardinals infielder Julio Lugo did not tag up from third base, so he would not have scored had Albert Pujols remained at first. “He was 5 feet from the plate when I went to back up the throw,” Street said.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
