D’backs outslug Rockies

Relief pitcher Archie Bradley hit a stunning tworun triple in the seventh inning, one of four three-baggers by Arizona that sent the Diamondbacks past the Colorado Rockies 11-8 in the National League wild-card game last night in Phoenix.

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Paul Goldschmidt launched an early threerun homer and the Diamondbacks built a 6-0 lead before ace Zack Greinke faltered. Colorado climbed back into it and cut it to 8-7 when Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story hit consecutive homers in the eighth off Bradley, perhaps exhausted from hustling around the bases.

But then A.J. Pollock knocked in two runs with Arizona’s fourth triple, this one off closer Greg Holland, as the Diamondbacks scored three times in their half of the eighth to finally put a wild game away.

Arizona moves on to a best-of-five Division Series against the NL West champion Dodgers, a team the Diamondbacks beat the last six times they played. Game 1 is tomorrow night in Los Angeles.

Arizona became the first team with four triples in a postseason game since the Boston Americans (now Red Sox) twice hit five during the first World Series back in 1903 against Pittsburgh.

Cubs pick Hendricks

Kyle Hendricks will start the playoff opener for the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs.

Manager Joe Maddon said Hendricks will go in Game1 of the NL Division Series against the Nationals tomorrow in Washington.

Maddon also announced Jon Lester will pitch Game 2 in Washington, with Jose Quintana and Jake Arrieta starting Games 3 and 4 at Wrigley Field.

Hendricks was 7-5 with a 3.03 ERA in the regular season. He missed time in June and July with a finger injury but had a 2.19 ERA in 13 starts after the All-Star break.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said no decision had been made on when two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer will start against the Cubs in the playoffs. But Rizzo said Scherzer (hamstring) will definitely pitch in the NL Division Series.

Asked whether it’s safe to assume that Stephen Strasburg will pitch in Game 1, Rizzo said that hadn’t been confirmed.

Fielder release

Prince Fielder was released by the Texas Rangers, more than 15 months after playing his last game and still owed about $72 million over the next three seasons. The Rangers reached a settlement with the company that insured the first baseman’s contract.

Fielder had to quit playing in July 2016 after his second cervical fusion in his neck in just over two years.