DENVER (AP) — In a sixth-inning jam Dallas Keuchel Jersey , German Marquez received a visit from his manager and a little advice: Don’t do too much. Stay in the moment. Execute.Bud Black might as well have been talking to his entire team as Colorado chases after its first division title. Trevor Story hit a three-run homer during a six-run fifth inning, Marquez struck out 11 over seven masterful innings and the NL West-leading Rockies gained more separation with a 13-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night.The Rockies increased their lead to 1 1/2 games over the Los Angeles Dodgers, who lost 10-6 at Cincinnati. The Diamondbacks now trail by 3 1/2 games. This is the latest the Rockies have been alone atop the division since 1995.“The magnitude of these games is maybe a little bit enlarged because of where we are in the season and the amount of focus on this part of the season. But our guys are responding,” Black said. “They’re focused. They know what’s going on. They’re aware of what’s around them. It’s a group that understands where they are.” David Dahl put the game out of reach with his first career grand slam in a seven-run seventh. Arizona has allowed 10 or more runs four times this season — three of those to Colorado.Story provided the big blow with his 32nd homer on a fastball from Silvino Bracho after the reliever took over when starter Zack Godley (14-9) struggled with his command.Marquez (12-9) had his blazing fastball and breaking ball working in recording his third straight double-digit strikeout performance. The hard-throwing righty now has 44 strikeouts spanning his last four starts, breaking the team record of 42 set by Pedro Astacio in 2000.“Kind of expect that these days,” Dahl said. “Feels like he strikes everyone out.”Marquez’s confidence level is at an all-time high. Still, Black had a little talk with him in the sixth — just to settle him down. It worked as he struck out Steven Souza Jr. to end the threat.“He’s not doing anything special. He’s being German Marquez,” Black said. “He’s repeating his delivery. He’s hitting his spots. He’s got good stuff. He’s pitching with conviction.”Charlie Blackmon, Tony Wolters and DJ LeMahieu each had three hits for Colorado, which bounced back after dropping two of three to the Dodgers over the weekend.Paul Goldschmidt celebrated his 31st birthday with a single and an RBI on a ground out. Goldschmidt has now reached base in 46 straight road games. His team has dropped three in a row.“Frustration is high right now. It has been for several days,” Diamondbacks Torey Lovullo said. “We are going to press on.”Godley was cruising along until the fifth when he kept trailing off to the side of the mound on his delivery maybe a little more than usual. With the bases loaded, he issued a four-pitch walk to LeMahieu that ended of his night.“This was one of those games where somebody needed to step up,” Godley said. “I did not do that.”TRAINER’S ROOMRockies: 3B Nolan Arenado has been getting treatment on his sore throwing shoulder. “There’s only so much they can do and only make me feel so good http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-jeff-bagwell-jersey ,” said Arenado, who went 0 for 4 with an RBI. “(Healing) comes with rest. There’s no time to rest right now.”DESMOND MILESTONEOn Sept. 10, 2009, with Washington, Ian Desmond made his major league debut. On his nine-year anniversary, he hit a double to lead off the fifth and start the big rally.“He was a young dynamic player with a skill set that you see present today,” Black said.GOOD BUDDIESArenado remembers competing against Goldschmidt in 2009 when he was at Casper of the rookie league and Goldschmidt with Missoula.“I was playing third base with him hitting and I was terrified,” Arenado said. “I was 18 and he was raking then, too. I was super scared.”FAMILIAR NAMEMarquez said he knows Astacio, who offers Marquez advice from time to time.“It means a lot to me,” Marquez said.UP NEXTDiamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (13-9, 3.08 ERA) faces a Rockies team Tuesday night he’s beaten twice this season. The Rockies will throw RHP Antonio Senzatela (4-5, 4.92). NEW YORK (AP) — These terrific at-bats by rookie Jeff McNeil Lance McCullers Jersey , maybe it’s the bat.A most unusual bat.Swinging a strange-looking stick with no knob, McNeil homered in getting three more hits to lead the New York Mets over the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 Monday night in a matchup of struggling teams.“Definitely getting a lot more confident up there,” McNeil said.McNeil’s 34-inch, 31 1/2-inch Dove Tail bat features a style virtually unseen in the majors. His bat simply flares out at the end — he started using it a couple of years ago in the minors, saying he likes the way it feels so balanced.“To me, it’s just a normal bat,” he said.Go tell that to other big leaguers. Put it this way: None of his new teammates have asked to try it.“No, not up here,” he said, laughing.The 26-year-old second baseman is 12 for 33 (.364) with two homers in 12 games since making his major league debut this season. He was batting a combined .342 with 19 homers at Triple-A and Double-A when he was called up.“He’s going to have a chance to really show us what he can do,” manager Mickey Callaway said.McNeil has eight hits in his last 12 at-bats. He singled during a three-run first inning against Homer Bailey (1-9), singled in a two-run fourth and hit a solo homer into the second deck in right field in sixth.Wilmer Flores, playing on his 27th birthday http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-mike-scott-jersey , and Austin Jackson each had three hits and Kevin Plawecki homered in backing Noah Syndergaard.Reds star Joey Votto got two hits and drew a bases-loaded walk. But the Reds first baseman admittedly was moving rather slowly because of general soreness, and is unlikely to start Tuesday night.“I thought I would be fine. I took batting practice. Usually that tells me a lot about my legs,” he said. “But then I started playing during the game and I couldn’t turn it over, I couldn’t really get it going.”Both clubs had lost five of six going into the series opener. Before it began, Reds pitcher Matt Harvey was honored with a video tribute, with the former Mets ace drawing a mix of cheers and boos in his first game at Citi Field since being traded to Cincinnati in May.“I remember a lot of cheers,” he said before the game. “I do remember some boos.”McNeil’s homer made it 6-0, and Syndergaard (7-2) seemed to be in complete charge when he retired the first batter in the seventh. But he then hit the next two batters with pitches and the Reds went on to rally for four runs on a hot, humid evening.“I think I just kind of ran out of gas,” Syndergaard said.Jose Peraza’s RBI single finished Syndergaard, and reliever Bobby Wahl walked Votto with the bases loaded. Eugenio Suarez looped a two-out, two-run single off Robert Gsellman that made it 6-4, but Mason Williams struck out with two runners on base.Jerry Blevins pitched ninth for his first save of the season Alex Bregman Jersey , and the sixth of his 12-year career.Syndergaard’s streak of 13 straight starts of allowing no more than three runs ended. Bailey faced only 21 batters and gave up a season-high 11 hits.STATS-N-STUFFJackson’s RBI single in the first was the Mets’ first hit with two outs and a scoring position since July 26, the Elias Sports Bureau said. The Mets had been 0-for-29 in those situations. The club record was an 0-for-31 skid in 2014. … Votto was 0 for 11 lifetime vs. Syndergaard before singling his first two times up. He’s reached base in 23 straight games against the Mets. … The Mets have won 20 of 25 vs. the Reds since 2014.TRAINER’S ROOMReds: OF Preston Tucker was hit in the left foot by a pitch in the seventh, scored a run and left the game. He’ll get X-rays Tuesday.Mets: Longtime Mets 1B Ed Kranepool, in need of a kidney transplant and searching for a donor, threw out the first ball. The 73-year-old made his big league debut at 17 with the expansion 1962 Mets. The popular New York native played 18 seasons in the majors, all with the Mets.UP NEXTReds: RHP Sal Romano (6-9, 5.12 ERA) makes his second career road start against the Mets. Born on Long Island and a prep star in Connecticut, the 24-year-old had hundreds of fans in the stands when he pitched at Citi Field last season.Mets: LHP Jason Vargas (2-7, 8.23) is 0-4 in his last five starts.