Marquis wins major league-leading 11th game

[July 07, 2009]  DENVER (AP) -- Jason Marquis pitched eight innings for his major league-leading 11th win and Todd Helton's RBI double in the first provided the only run the Colorado Rockies needed in a 1-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Monday night.

It was the eighth 1-0 game in Coors Field history, and first since Sept. 17, 2008, when the Rockies beat San Diego.

Fresh off making his first All-Star team, Marquis was effective early and resourceful late, pitching out of bases-loaded jams in the seventh and eighth innings.

Huston Street threw a perfect ninth for his 20th save in 21 chances.

Marquis (11-5) scattered seven hits and struck out three.

He was coming off a two-hit shutout at Los Angeles on June 30 in which he threw only 86 pitches. This time, he needed 104 pitches through eight innings. He batted in the bottom of the eighth, before coming out of the game.

Rookie Craig Stammen (1-4) went a season-high seven innings, giving up five hits and the one run.

With two outs and the bases loaded in the eighth, Marquis got Josh Willingham to fly out to right.

In the seventh, he faced an even stickier situation after Adam Dunn led off with a double and Willingham followed with a single, advancing Dunn to third. Cristian Guzman hit a high comebacker to Marquis, who plucked it out of the air and picked off Dunn at third after he lurched too far down the line.

Josh Bard then singled to right, but third base coach Pat Listach held up Willingham, loading the bases.

Marquis made his best pitch of the game to Ronnie Belliard, who grounded into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.

The right-hander tied the franchise record of 11 first-half wins, sharing the mark with Aaron Cook (2008) and Shawn Chacon (2003).

Stammen pitched out of a two-on, one-out jam in the fifth, striking out Marquis and then getting Dexter Fowler to lift an easy fly to right.

The Rockies scored their only run in the first when Helton's double into the gap in left-center brought home Clint Barmes. It was Helton's 494th career double.

NOTES: Rockies reliever Manuel Corpas (right elbow bone spurs) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Monday without any pain. He said he'll get in some work Wednesday pitching for Triple-A Colorado Springs, take two days off and then pitch on consecutive days for the Sky Sox. He's hoping to be back after the All-Star break. ... Rockies special assistant to the GM Vinny Castilla hit the Nationals' first home run at home, on April 14, 2005. ... With the win, Colorado has beaten the Nationals four straight times.

[Associated Press; By PAT GRAHAM]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.