Colorado ends seven -game losing streak
LATE MONDAY: ROCKIES 3, DIAMONDBACKS 2
The Rockies desperately needed a victory, by any means necessary.
They got it by utilizing the triedand-true formula of solid starting pitching by rookie Ryan Castellani, shutdown work by the bullpen and a few timely hits to beat the Diamondbacks, 3-2, Monday night at Chase Field in Phoenix.
The Rockies’ win halted their seven-game losing streak and extended Arizona’s misery. The Diamondbacks have lost six straight.
“You can’t make this stuff up,” said Castellani, who graduated from Brophy College Prep in Phoenix and notched his first bigleague win in the ballpark he frequently attended as a teenager. “It was an emotional night and it was a lot of fun. It worked out and the bullpen made it happen in the end.
“I grew up going to games here and I’ve sat everywhere in this stadium, so it’s come full circle. To be on the mound and get my first win here is amazing. … It’s something I’ll cherish forever.”
The right-hander did his alma mater proud, pitching six strong innings and providing Colorado the kind of start it needed. Manager Bud Black was impressed with the poise the 23-year-old Castellani displayed on the mound.
“That’s the big difference with Ryan, going back to (spring training) at Scottsdale,” Black said. “There is just a different maturity we have seen this year compared to past years. I think it’s just personal growth.”
Raimel Tapia, who’s beginning to shine at the top of the order, produced the go-ahead run in the fifth, driving in Tony Wolters, who led off with a double. Tapia, 3-for-5 with a stolen base, is batting .306.
”‘Tap’ is doing a great job and he’s keeping the game simple,” said Wolters, who batted 3-for-4. “He’s hitting the ball where it’s pitched, he’s getting on base. He’s our sparkplug.”
Wolters departed the game with two outs in the ninth, replaced by Drew Butera, after Wolters caught a hard foul-tip off of his left knee. He said the impact gave him “dead-leg” for a short time, but he said he would be fine.
Right-hander Daniel Bard, back in the majors after a seven-year absence, threw a perfect ninth to notch his second save. Yency Almonte and Carlos Estevez combined to throw two scoreless innings.
Regarding his decision to use Bard in the ninth, Black said: “It’s a cumulative effect of what we have seen all year. We have talked a lot about our bullpen and how we are going to use it. We feel, right now, that Daniel is a great option for us in the ninth inning. It worked out tonight.”
Castellani allowed three hits, struck out two and walked three. He made two big mistakes and the D-backs made him pay for them. Kole Calhoun hit a hanging slider for a two-out solo homer to right in the third and Christian Walker hammered a high changeup to left for a solo homer in the fourth, tying the game 2-2.
But Castellani didn’t allow the misplaced pitches to affect him.
“That’s growth, for sure,” he said. “It happens in the minors. You make bad pitches and you just learn to not show any emotion. The second you show that your are (ticked) off, they’ve got you. I know that a solo home run is not going to beat you.”
Arizona’s fifth inning ended with a bizarre header worthy of Lionel Messi, and with the ejection of manager Torey Lovullo.
The Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte flew out to shallow left field where Raimel Tapia snared it for the second out. Tapia attempted to double up Calhoun at first but Tapia’s throw bounced by Daniel Murphy and Calhoun broke for second. But Rockies catcher Tony Wolters, backing up first, threw toward second and Calhoun intentionally turned his head into the ball’s path, essentially head-butting the baseball. Calhoun was called for interference and Lovullo got the thumb for arguing.
Trevor Story jumpstarted Colorado with a solo homer in the first, his ninth of the season. It was Story’s 20th homer in 70 games against Arizona. For his career, Story is batting .329 (87-for-264) with 23 doubles, two triples and 51 RBIs against the Diamondbacks.
It was not all good news. The Rockies continue having a difficult time turning big opportunities into big innings. That malady struck again in the third. The Rockies had the bases loaded with one out in the third, and although Daniel Murphy delivered a run with a sacrifice fly, that was it.
After going 1-for-17 with runners in scoring position while they were swept in Los Angeles by the Dodgers, Colorado was 1for-7 with runners in scoring position Monday night.