After being on the wrong end of superb pitching performances in the last few games, the Colorado Rockies received a strong start from Jason Hammel (2-1) in their 3-1 victory over the Florida Marlins on Saturday night. Hammel was mixing up his fastball and slider to keep the Marlins off all night. He allowed a Chris Coghlan sac fly to center in the third for the Marlins' only run of the game. He finished his night with 6 2/3 innings pitched and four strikeouts.
After Troy Tulowitzki singled in Dexter Fowler in the top of the first inning, the Rockies' bats went silent until the sixth inning. Back-to-back doubles by Todd Helton and Seth Smith put men on second and third for Ty Wigginton, who hit a sacrifice fly to right field to put the Rockies in the lead, 2-1. After Jose Morales was intentionally walked, Hammel helped his own cause when he put down a sac bunt along the first base line, scoring Seth Smith.
Javier Vazquez struggled for the Marlins through six innings. He wasn't locating his pitches well and walked five to go with his five strikeouts. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez went 0-for-4 to continue his early struggles. But the Rockies' Carlos Gonzalez is also in a funk right now. In four plate appearances he walked and went 0-for-3. He hit into a double play in the seventh inning.
Helton's double was the 532nd of his career, putting him two behind Lou Gehrig for 31st all-time. Huston Street pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his seventh save of the season.
The Rockies (14-6) and the Marlins conclude this series on Sunday afternoon at 11:10 p.m. MT. Ubaldo Jimenez will face Josh Johnson in a duel of the aces.