Godley, Goldy power Diamondbacks to win
Arizona takes series at Colorado
DENVER — Zack Godley got off to a rough start, quickly recovered and turned in a gem for the surging Arizona Diamondbacks.
Godley shook off a leadoff home run to throw well into the eighth inning, Paul Goldschmidt and Chris Owings hit three-run homers, and the Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies 10-3 on Thursday.
Goldschmidt finished with three hits and four RBIS to increase his season total to 64, tops in the majors.
Arizona took two of three in the National League West matchup and is tied with Colorado for second place in the division behind the Dodgers. The Diamondbacks have won 12 of 14 and are a season-high 19 games above .500 after a 7-1 road trip.
“We came in here and did what we needed to do,” Godley said. “More for ourselves than anybody, it showed we’re playing good ball. Keep trying to carry that over into the next day.”
Godley’s day started with Charlie Blackmon reaching down to send an 84-mph curveball into the Arizona bullpen, but he shut down the Rockies from there and retired 13 straight in one stretch.
Blackmon drew a walk in the third, and then Godley erased him with a double-play ball to end the inning.
He didn’t allow a hit after Nolan Arenado’s one-out single in the first and retired 19 of the next 20 batters before Raimel Tapia and Pat Valaika singled and doubled to lead off the eighth.
“He made a great swing on a good pitch. In that spot you have to tip your hat,” Godley said of Blackmon’s 16th homer. “Kind of settled in, and the defense played unbelievable behind me.”
Godley (3-1) allowed three runs on four hits and struck out eight in seven-plus innings. He also had an RBI single in the eighth.
“He did a great job, pitched into the eighth inning and did everything we needed him to do on a day like today,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “Teams play tired baseball on these day games, and our guys went out there with energy. Zack set the tone.”