DENVER — The Rockies’ missing mashers returned Tuesday night and led their team to a 7-6 win over Texas at Coors Field.
First baseman C.J. Cron, mired in a deep slump since the All-Star break, cranked a three-run, opposite-field homer in the seventh inning for the deciding runs.
Catcher Elias Diaz, who came off the injured list Sunday, hit a three-run homer to left off starter Dane Dunning in the second inning. It was Diaz’s seventh homer of the season but his first since July 25.
Cron, who entered the night hitting .171 with just two home runs and 11 RBIs in 26 games since playing in his first All-Star Game, drove lefty Brock Burke’s first-pitch fastball into the fourth row in right field.
Daniel Bard returned to form and closed out the game for his 26th save in 29 chances. He gave up a one-out double to pitch-hitter Jonah Heim, but struck out pinch hitter Brad Miller and induced Marcus Semien to ground out to third to finish the game.
The Rockies won despite a poor performance from starter German Marquez, who gave up six runs on eight hits over six innings, leaving him with a 5.22 ERA.
The game marked another chapter in Marquez’s inconsistent, disappointing season.
The right-hander had taken positive steps forward over his previous seven starts, posting a 3.30 ERA while limiting opponents to a .247/.294/.410 slash line. He had allowed just four home runs over those seven games.
The Rangers jumped him for three runs in the first inning on a leadoff homer by Semien, a single by Corey Seager and a two-run homer by Nathaniel Lowe. All of that before Marquez recorded an out.
Marquez has given up 23 home runs in 24 starts, 17 of them coming at Coors. His career-high for home runs allowed is 29, in 28 starts in 2019.
The right-hander settled in after that, until the Rangers’ three-run third put them ahead, 6-3. Bubba Thompson singled, stole second, and scored on Semien’s triple into the right-field corner. Then Marquez walked Seager — ill-advised — before Lowe hit a chopper to first that scored Semien and allowed Seager to take second. Adolis Garcia singled through the left side of the infield to score Seager.
Colorado scored a run in the fifth to cut Texas’ lead to 6-4. Wynton Bernard led off with a single, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Charlie Blackmon’s single.
The Rockies and Rangers complete their quick, two-game series Wednesday afternoon and then the Rockies embark on a 10-day, 11-game road trip that begins Thursday in New York against the Mets.
