NEW YORK (AP) — Germán Márquez outpitched Max Scherzer, allowing one hit over seven sparkling innings and denying the New York Mets’ ace his 200th career win as the Colorado Rockies eked out a 1-0 victory Sunday to prevent a four-game sweep by the NL East leaders.
Brian Serven’s sacrifice fly off Scherzer in the seventh gave the Rockies their second 1-0 win over the Mets. The other one came in August 2012.
Márquez (7-10) struck out five and walked two, improving to 2-1 with a 1.42 ERA in three road starts against the Mets. The right-hander threw a seven-inning complete game in his previous start at Citi Field on April 17, 2021.
Scherzer (9-4) gave up four hits and racked up 11 strikeouts over seven innings in his 110th double-digit strikeout game — tying Roger Clemens for third on the career list behind Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner was trying to join former teammate Justin Verlander (242) and Zack Greinke (223) as the only active pitchers with 200 wins.
The teams combined for just two hits through six innings — a bloop single by Charlie Blackmon for Colorado in the first and a single by Jeff McNeil for New York in the fifth.
The last-place Rockies broke the stalemate in the seventh, when they quickly loaded the bases on C.J. Cron’s single, Jose Iglesias’ bunt single and Randal Grichuk’s infield single. Serven delivered his sacrifice fly to deep right field on the first pitch after Sam Hilliard struck out.
Scherzer ended his afternoon by striking out Garrett Hampson with his 112th pitch — his most since throwing 119 for Washington on Sept. 20, 2020. The right-hander has a 2.10 ERA in 11 starts since being activated from the injured list on July 5.
Brett Baty singled with one out in the eighth against Rockies reliever Carlos Estevez and went to second on a wild pitch but was stranded when Estevez struck out pinch-hitter Starling Marte and Brandon Nimmo.
Daniel Bard gave up a one-out single to Pete Alonso in the ninth but struck out Eduardo Escobar and retired McNeil on a grounder to finish the three-hitter for his 27th save.
A GOLDEN FIRST PITCH
Jen Lee, a goalie on the United States ice sled hockey team that won the gold medal at each of the last three Winter Paralympics, threw out the first pitch. Lee went into a long windup and gripped his prosthetic left leg before delivering the pitch.
Lee, whose left leg was amputated above the knee following a motorcycle accident in 2009, also chatted with Mets manager Buck Showalter, who examined Lee’s gold medals in the interview room following Showalter’s pregame news conference.
SCHERZER STRIKEOUT COUNTER
In the fifth inning, SNY cameras caught injured Mets pitcher Carlos Carrasco leaning on the top of the dugout with a Scherzer strikeout counter bobblehead next to him. The bobblehead was given out at Friday’s game. Scherzer’s 11 strikeouts increased his career total to 3,168. He entered Sunday 14th on the all-time list, four behind Verlander, who also pitched Sunday for the Houston Astros.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rockies: RHP Alex Colomé (right elbow) was activated from the injured list after missing the minimum 15 days. LHP Lucas Gilbreath, who last pitched on Friday, was placed on the IL with a left elbow flexor strain.
Mets: Carrasco (left oblique) is scheduled to throw a simulated game Monday and could return next weekend. … RHP Drew Smith (right lat) threw a 15-pitch bullpen. Showalter said both Smith and RHP Tylor Megill (right shoulder) are progressing quickly.
UP NEXT
Rockies: Following an off day, RHP José Ureña (2-5, 5.98 ERA) will start the opener of a three-game series at Atlanta on Tuesday. Ureña allowed a career-high nine earned runs in just 1 1/3 innings against Texas on Wednesday.
Mets: After a day off, the 10-game homestand continues Tuesday night when RHP Taijuan Walker (10-3, 3.38 ERA) starts the opener of a three-game showdown against the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.
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