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Marquis shuts down Padres in Rockies' win

May 30, 2009 - 5:15 AM By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer

DENVER(AP) -- Jim Tracy put his fingerprints on his new team by tweaking the lineup and turning to seldom-used players for late defensive help.

Jason Marquis pitched eight sharp innings, making Tracy's debut as the Rockies manager a success in a 3-0 win over the San Diego Padres on Friday night.

"I'm anxious to find out exactly how good this team is," Tracy said. "Tonight for me is a step in the right direction."

Tracy was promoted to interim manager Friday following the firing of Clint Hurdle, who had been in charge of the Rockies since three weeks into the 2002 season.

Tracy said his first managerial win with Colorado was rewarding yet bittersweet because it came at Hurdle's expense.

For the players, Tracy's promotion was viewed as a new beginning.

"The way I look at it is we're 1-0 right now," Troy Tulowitzki said. "Try to build off that and see where it can take us."

Tracy juggled the lineup, putting the slumping Garrett Atkins back into the cleanup spot and sliding Tulowitzki down to seventh. His intention is to keep the lineup pretty much in tact.

"I'd like to stabilize some things," Tracy said. "I sat over on the other side of the field in this ballpark for a number of years and I watched Garrett Atkins drive in over 200 and some odd runs over the course of a couple of different seasons. If we're going to turn some things around, he needs to be in the middle of our order."

Atkins, who saw his average dip to .191 after an 0-for-3 night, put some good swings on the ball, just had nothing to show for it.

"He just needs to find some green grass," Tracy said.

Late in the game, Tracy inserted Omar Quintanilla at third for defensive help. The slick-fielding infielder doesn't play all that often.

Now, he may see more time.

"He can flat catch the ball," Tracy said.

Behind a six-hit performance from Marquis, the Rockies snapped a three-game skid. Marquis (7-3) struck out a season-high six to pick up his third straight win.

He wanted to finish off the game, but Huston Street came on instead and pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save.

"I felt good enough to go out there," Marquis said. "It's the manager's decision. I'm fine with that."

Yorvit Torrealba had two hits, including an RBI single in the second. He also bounced a two-out, bases loaded grounder that third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff mishandled, allowing two runs to score.

It was Kouzmanoff's first error of the season.

"I thought the ball took a bad hop," Chris Young said. "Kuz has saved more runs than he's cost us."

Young (4-3) allowed just Torrealba's two hits and one earned run in six innings. He also walked a season-high six batters.

"Sometimes you have to tip your hat to the other guy. You have to tip your hat to Marquis," Young said. "He outpitched us. I got outpitched."

With his team slumping, Hurdle was relieved of his duties Friday after seven-plus seasons in Denver. He led the Rockies to their only World Series appearance in 2007, where the team was swept by Boston.

This is Tracy's third stint as manager in the big leagues. The 53-year-old Tracy took over the Rockies after going 562-572 as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers (2001-05) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2006-07).

Tracy inherited a squad that resides in last place in the NL West.

Although the managerial move was made, Marquis said he didn't detect anymore energy in the clubhouse.

"Whether it's Tracy at the helm or Hurdle, we should expect 100 percent, full energy every time we step on the field," Marquis said. "I try to take the same approach every game, whether it's Game 1 of a World Series or Game 15 of the season."

Notes: Padres OF Cliff Floyd (right shoulder strain) flew in Friday and worked out with the team. "We will make a decision (Saturday) what to do with him," Padres MGR Bud Black said. ... The win Friday snapped a five-game home losing streak.