Arizona Diamondbacks vs Colorado Rockies Box Score on Sep 02, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 3, 2017

DENVER -- The Arizona Diamondbacks accomplished their weekend objective early. They made an early lead stand up Saturday night and beat the Colorado Rockies 6-2.

The victory was their ninth straight and assured the Diamondbacks of winning the key weekend series that has October implications. The Diamondbacks have a 5 1/2-game lead over the Rockies for the top National League wild-card spot with a chance to sweep the series Sunday. Arizona last won nine consecutive games from Aug. 23-31, 2011.

Colorado remained 1 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee for the second wild card.

J.D. Martinez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the first off Jon Gray (6-4) and singled home a run with two outs in the ninth when the Diamondbacks scored a second run on a wild pitch. Arizona tacked on an unearned run in the sixth.

The Rockies have lost three straight and nine of their past 13 games, and have scored three or fewer runs in eight of those 13 games. After going 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position while losing 9-5 to the Diamondbacks on Friday, the Rockies went 0-for-7 in such situations Saturday while being held to four hits.

Diamondbacks starter Patrick Corbin (13-11) left after issuing a one-out walk to DJ LeMahieu in the sixth when the Rockies scored an unearned run without benefit of a hit. Right fielder Martinez misplayed Nolan Arenado's line drive for a two-base error. Mark Reynolds' ground out netted a run to make it 4-2, but J.J. Hoover stranded a runner at third when Ian Desmond took a third strike.

Corbin gave up two hits and two runs (one earned) in 5 1/3 innings with three walks and four strikeouts in his 96-pitch outing. In his past five starts, Corbin is 5-0 with a 0.50 ERA (two earned runs, 35 2/3 innings), eight walks and 33 strikeouts.

David Hernandez gave up two two-out singles in the seventh, but left-hander Andrew Chafin came on and struck out Charlie Blackmon. Five Arizona relievers combined to hold the Rockies scoreless for the final 3 2/3 innings, giving up two singles in that span.

The Diamondbacks scored an unearned run in the sixth without hitting the ball out of the infield and took a 4-1 lead. With one out, Arizona loaded the bases on an infield single, walk and third baseman Arenado's error on Corbin's sacrifice. Chris Rusin fielded Daniel Peralta's hard one-hopper and got the forceout at home only to then throw a wild pitch.

The Diamondbacks scored two runs on one hit in the ninth. Martinez's fourth RBI came when he singled up the middle against Tyler Chatwood, who came on after Mike Dunn issued consecutive one-out walks. Chatwood struck out Paul Goldschmidt, who went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts, but lost his encounter with Martinez and then threw a wild pitch that brought home a run.

Martinez' homer came with two outs in the first. He connected on Gray's flat 2-2 slider and drove it an estimated 449 over the wall in center for his 14th home run with the Diamondbacks and 30th overall this season.

The homer ended Gray's string of 18 2/3 innings without allowing a home run.

Gray gave up five hits and just those three first-inning runs in five innings. He threw 100 pitches with a season-high-tying three walks and six strikeouts.

Notes: Arizona RHP Jimmie Sherfy, 25, was recalled from Triple-A Reno where he went 2-1 with 20 saves and a 3.12 ERA in 44 games and began his second stint with Arizona this season. ... Rockies RHP Chad Bettis will start Monday against San Francisco with RHPs Tyler Chatwood, Antonio Senzatela and LHP Chris Rusin scheduled to pitch Tuesday against the Giants in an order to be determined. ... The Diamondbacks have scored at least one run in the first inning in five consecutive games, their second-longest streak of the season. They scored a run in the first in six straight games from April 21-26. The Diamondbacks have scored two or more first-inning runs in four of the past five games. ... Rockies 2B DJ LeMahieu extended his hitting streak to 10 games.