Diamondbacks 6, Rockies 2:
Colorado now 1-7 on road trip that ends Sunday
Colorado falls to 1-7 on nine-game road trip that wraps up Sunday.
PHOENIX» The Rockies fizzled out on fireworks night at Chase Field on Saturday, losing 6-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Smothered most of the night by Arizona ace Zack Grienke, Colorado climbed back into the game in the seventh inning on a two-run homer by Trevor Story, cutting the Diamondbacks’ lead to 3-2.
Then came one of the Rockies’ ugliest, and most costly, innings of the season.
It began with a throwing error from shortstop by Story, followed by an RBI triple by Mike Mathis to center off Colorado starter Tyler Chatwood. Ketel Marte then hit what should have been a sacrifice fly to left, but Mike Tauchman dropped it for a two-base error.
A run-scoring double by David Peralta off Chatwood capped the Diamondbacks’ three-run inning and the Rockies were on their way to another loss, their ninth in the last 10 games. They continue to slide farther behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers and secondplace Diamondbacks in the National League West race.
Greinke won an American League Cy Young Award with Kansas City in 2009. He finished second for the NL Cy Young Award as a member of the Dodgers in 2015.
Saturday, Arizona’s $206.5 million man displayed his exquisite talent again. He pitched seven innings, giving up two runs on three hits, striking out eight and walking none.
The balance of the game changed quickly, if only momentarily, in the seventh. Nolan Arenado roped a single to center and two batters later, Story lifted his two-out homer over the left-field fence. What was shaping up to be a shutout for Grienke was suddenly a 3-2 game. Story’s homer was his 11th this season, and his fourth off Grienke in 21 at-bats. Then the rally caved in. Chatwood pitched well early, though the Diamondbacks tagged him for two triples that led to runs, one by Daniel Descalso in the first and another by Paul Goldschmidt in the fourth.
By the end of the night, however, Chatwood’s line was not very good: 6L innings, six runs (four earned) on seven hits. He walked three and struck out six.
The Rockies, 1-7 on their road trip, will try to win the series Sunday afternoon at Chase Field.