Jason Marquis pitches 8 strong innings to lead Rockies to 6-1 win over Padres

Marquis goes 8 strong innings, lifts Rockies

SAN DIEGO — Jason Marquis threw eight strong innings and drove in two runs to become the majors’ first 12-game winner, leading the Colorado Rockies to a 6-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

The win spoiled the major league debut of San Diego right-hander Mat Latos (0-1), the club’s top pitching prospect, who allowed two runs on three hits, struck out four and walked one in four innings.

Ian Stewart and Brad Hawpe hit solo homers for Colorado, which won for the 30th time in 40 games since June 4.

Marquis (12-6) was never seriously threatened by San Diego, last in the majors in runs scored and batting average. The right-hander was selected to the All-Star team for the first time, but did not pitch in the game Tuesday. He allowed only two runners to reach second base through six innings.

Marquis gave up one run on five hits as he got 16 ground ball outs. He struck out three and did not walk a batter.

The 21-year-old Latos regularly threw his fastball in the mid to upper 90s but got himself into trouble in the first inning when he needed 25 pitches to get out of the inning, including Todd Helton’s 12-pitch at-bat. Latos was on a pitch count because of past shoulder problems and left after throwing 75 pitches.

He allowed a run in the third after Carlos Gonzalez led off with a bunt single, was sacrificed to second, stole third and scored when the throw from rookie catcher Jose Lobaton sailed into left field.

Stewart, who returned after missing Saturday night’s game with soreness behind his left knee, hit a 430-foot home run in the fourth for a 2-0 lead.

Hawpe added his 15th home run in the sixth when the Rockies scored four times, capped by Marquis’ two-run double.

Latos, a combined 8-1 with a 1.38 ERA at Double-A San Antonio and Single-A Fort Wayne and selected to the Futures Game during All-Star weekend in St. Louis, was the Padres’ 11th-round draft pick in 2006.

Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh for the Padres, who scored one or fewer runs for the fifth time in seven games. San Diego has the worse record in the majors since June 1 at 12-30.

NOTES: At 21 years, 222 days, Latos is the fifth youngest Padres pitcher to make his major league debut. … Lobaton got his first major-league hit with an eighth-inning single. … Colorado’s starting pitchers have not allowed a home run in nine straight games. … San Diego was attempting to win consecutive home games for the first time since taking nine straight May 15-24.