DENVER -- Ketel Marte showed Saturday night why he’s the leading vote-getter to start for the National League at next month’s All-Star Game.
Marte collected four hits, including a pair of doubles, to pace the offense as the Diamondbacks won their third straight, this one by a 5-3 margin over the Rockies at Coors Field.
Arizona will go for the sweep of the three-game set Sunday afternoon.
It was a scorching night in Denver again as the game-time temperature of 98 degrees tied for the second-highest temp at first pitch in Rockies history.
Marte has had an up-and-down relationship with Coors Field in his career. Early on, the altitude impacted him physically. He at times would have issues with his hamstrings there or with altitude sickness.
“Now I try to hydrate, drink a lot of water,” Marte said, “‘and the last couple of years have been good.”
Now it’s only the Rockies who feel ill when Marte comes to town.
“Covers it all -- inside, outside, low, up -- somehow gets to everything,” said Rockies starter Carson Palmquist, who gave up both of Marte’s doubles.
Said Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer, “Marte is a fantastic baseball player. He's been good for a very long time as a pro.”
In the series opener on Friday, Marte was 3-for-6 with two doubles, a homer and five RBIs. He was 4-for-4 with the two doubles and a walk Saturday. The four hits and five times reaching base matched his career highs.
On Sunday, he will rest.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo likes to give every one of his starters a day off in Denver if possible because of the impact the altitude can have on the body. He and Marte discussed before Friday’s opener that Marte would play the first two and sit the third.
“I think he went full throttle for the two games knowing he was going to get tomorrow off,” Lovullo said.
For his part, Marte said he enjoys playing at Coors Field. Well, not everything about it.
“I like this stadium,” Marte said. “I like this stadium for hitting. I don't really like running hard here, but I like hitting here.”
When the first round of All-Star fan voting was released, Marte was leading all other second basemen by a healthy margin. Should he wind up starting the game, it would be the third time he has done that, with the first coming in 2019 and the most recent last year.
It’s an honor that is important for Marte, who was hurt when he was left off the team in 2023.
“My fans are doing a great job [voting],” Marte said. “My family [too]. I would be happy to be with the other superstars over there in the National League. For me it is very special.”
Last year, Marte got to bring his family with him to the game, which made it extra special for him.
“My kid, we had fun,” Marte said. “And to be in the clubhouse with [Shohei] Ohtani and all the other superstars was fun.”
One person who will continue to vote and lobby for Marte is Lovullo, who managed last year’s NL team by virtue of the Diamondbacks getting to the 2023 World Series.
Marte also has the support of his teammates like Saturday’s starting pitcher, Merrill Kelly, who walked away with a win thanks to Marte’s offensive support.
“He makes our team go,” Kelly said. “He’s definitely a catalyst. When he goes, we go. He puts a lot of pressure on any pitcher he faces, he’s dangerous from both sides of the plate and he’s been really good defensively the last couple of years. When he’s locked in, he’s one of the best players in the league.”