Márquez becomes 1st Rockie to record 1,000 strikeouts with club

KANSAS CITY -- Germán Márquez became the first pitcher to achieve 1,000 strikeouts while pitching for the Rockies. He couldn’t fully enjoy the milestone, however, because of the millstone that’s affecting his performance.

“Baseball is hard -- and I’m putting too much pressure on myself to be good,” Márquez said.

Márquez’s third and final strikeout, of Vinnie Pasquantino to end the fourth inning of a 7-4 loss to the Royals in the first game of a doubleheader, was a brief respite from another day of struggle. A 6-2 loss in the second game dropped the Rockies to 4-20, extending their road losing streak to a club record-tying 13 games (also May 10-June 2, 2008).

In the broader picture, Márquez’s milestone confirms his place in club history. Current Rockies Márquez, Kyle Freeland and Antonio Senzatela, with the help of Jon Gray (Rangers) and Tyler Anderson (Angels), once led a young rotation that lifted the Rockies to the postseason in 2017 and 2018 -- the only time the club has made the playoffs in consecutive seasons.

“It’s difficult to get to 1,000 strikeouts,” Márquez said.”But it’s hard right now. I can’t celebrate it with the loss. I’m not doing very well right now.”

Márquez, 30, surpassed Jorge De La Rosa for the club lead in strikeouts last July 14, which turned out to be his only start of the season. Márquez had undergone Tommy John surgery in his right elbow in 2023, and was shut down after that first start because of a stress reaction in the elbow area. Health returned this season, although he has to stay on top of his between-starts routine.

But on Thursday, Márquez (0-4, 9.30 ERA) walked the first two batters to open the fifth, and finished the day charged with six runs on eight hits. This came after he gave up seven runs while managing but two outs in his previous start, an 8-7 loss at Dodger Stadium.

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The culprit is a lack of command on his fastball, whether it’s the four-seamer or the sinker. The Royals utilized both fastball types on Thursday. He had brief periods of success with the breaking pitches, although his mistakes were hit.

“I feel like I’ve been rushing a lot,” Márquez said. “I’ve been working a lot, but I haven’t gotten a result yet. It’s more mental. I’m trying to do too much. I’m trying to be perfect. I’m a pitcher that likes to attack the hitter, but right now I’m a little wild. I have to keep working on that stuff.”

Manager Bud Black said Márquez’s front shoulder is turning early, which takes direction away from his motion. He and Márquez have been together for nine seasons. Pitching coach Darryl Scott began working with Márquez in the Minors, after the Rockies acquired him from the Rays before the 2016 season. Familiarity should help.

“There have been periods of time that he has been really good,” said Black, whose team got home runs from Jordan Beck and Hunter Goodman but managed no hits after the fourth inning. “There’s still a little bit of rust in there. Hopefully, each time he goes out, he gets a little better. But I also think he’s putting a lot of pressure on himself to help his team turn it around.

“Like all these guys, he’s trying a little bit too hard to be a little bit too fine with his pitches. He’s just in a spot of frustration. He’ll bounce out of it.”