By PAT GRAHAM
AP Sports Writer

DENVER(AP) -- The Colorado Rockies had their two best power
hitters out of the lineup with stiff backs.

So Eric Young Jr. took it upon himself to provide a little pop,
hitting his first career homer in a 3-1 victory over the
Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.

With Troy Tulowitzki and Ian Stewart both out with back
ailments, the Rockies went with a makeshift infield. Part of
that included Young stepping in at second base.

He certainly stepped up at the plate, not only hitting a solo
homer, but also scoring after a leadoff double in the first.

"That's why they put me at the top of the lineup, to get
something going and hopefully ignite the rest of the lineup,"
said Young, whose father, Eric, hit the franchise's first home
run at old Mile High Stadium. "After the double the team was
excited, and after the home run everyone was excited for me. It
made it even more special for me."

The win was the fifth straight by the Rockies, and moved them 19
games above .500 (79-60) for the first time in franchise
history.

It also helped the NL wild-card leaders move three games in
front of San Francisco, which lost to San Diego 4-3 later
Tuesday.

Mixing up his sinker and slider, Jason Marquis (15-10) kept the
Reds off-balance all night. He allowed one run and four hits
over 7 1-3 innings. Marquis struck out a season-high seven -
mostly with his slider - and got 12 groundball outs with his
trademark sinker.

"This was quite a step-up performance by Jason tonight," Rockies
manager Jim Tracy said. "He had a terrific slider."

And kept using it, waiting for the Reds to adjust.

"I'm a guy that's going to let the game dictate how I pitch,"
said Marquis, who matched his career-high in wins. "Until they
made the adjustment, I wasn't going to make the adjustment."

When they didn't, he stayed with the slider.

"He usually throws a lot more sinkers, but he had his slider
working and he'd throw it at any time," Reds manager Dusty Baker
said. "Marquis threw an excellent game and that's why he's a
15-game winner, especially in this ballpark."

Marquis ran into trouble in the eighth, giving up leadoff
singles to Drew Sutton and Drew Stubbs. After Paul Janish moved
the runners up with a dribbler, Marquis was replaced by Randy
Flores, who got Joey Votto to hit into a run-scoring groundout
for the second out.

Rafael Betancourt entered the game and enticed Brandon Phillips
to hit an inning-ending flyout. Franklin Morales then made it
five straight saves filling in for the injured Huston Street by
closing out the ninth.

Todd Helton and Carlos Gonzalez each drove in a run with a
sacrifice fly, while Yorvit Torrealba's single in the second
extended his hitting streak to a career-best 16 games.

Clint Barmes moved from second over to short to fill in for
Tulowitzki, while Garrett Atkins played third in Stewart's
absence.

Atkins made a diving stop in the fourth, snaring a grounder in
the hole and throwing out Craig Tatum by a half-step at first.

Barmes saved the Rockies a run with his glove in the sixth. With
a runner on third, Barmes stopped a grounder up the middle,
pirouetted and threw to first to just get Phillips.

Matt Maloney (0-4) was recalled from Double-A Carolina before
the game, joining the team for a third stint this season. The
left-hander lasted five innings, giving up one run and four hits
before leaving with a blister on his middle finger.

"Just decided to come out before it would rip off," Maloney
explained. "The most frustrating part is it's probably the best
I've thrown since I've been up here."

Pedro Viola made his major league debut in relief of Maloney in
the sixth, giving up Young's homer - a solo shot to left.

"As soon as it hit the bat I knew it had the distance," Young
said. "When I came into the dugout and saw my teammates excited
for me, Yorvit was at the top step and gave me a hug, moments
like that, when teammates embrace you, it's a special moment."

NOTES: The Rockies are 24-10 against the NL Central. ... Rockies
RHP Ubaldo Jimenez tweaked his hamstring running the bases
Monday, but he said it was feeling better and doesn't expect to
miss a start. ... The Reds announced after the game that RHP Kip
Wells will start Thursday against Colorado. ... Reds RF Wladimir
Balentien was ejected in the ninth after striking out.