Arizona Diamondbacks vs Colorado Rockies Box Score on Sep 01, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 2, 2017

DENVER -- The surging Arizona Diamondbacks extended their winning streak to a season-best eight games Friday night as they started their key series against the Colorado Rockies with a 9-5 win.

The victory widened the distance between the teams in the National League wild-card race.

The Diamondbacks broke open a close game with a five-run seventh that was highlighted by a pinch-hit three-run homer by Daniel Descalso, who spent the previous two seasons with Colorado.

Arizona moved 4 1/2 games ahead of the Rockies in the race for the top NL wild-card spot. The Rockies, who have lost eight of 12 and 13 of their 20 past games, lead the surging Milwaukee Brewers by just 1 1/2 games in the chase for the second wild card.

Diamondbacks starter Taijuan Walker (8-7) allowed three hits in five scoreless innings with three walks and 10 strikeouts. He became the third pitcher in franchise history to not yield a run in an outing that lasted five or fewer innings and have at least 10 strikeouts.

In his past three starts, Walker is 2-0 with an 0.54 ERA. He threw 93 pitches, 31 in the first when he issued two walks, loaded the bases but struck out Carlos Gonzalez on a curveball to end the inning.

Three errors by the Rockies, two on the same play, jump-started the Diamondbacks' big seventh that gave Arizona a 9-2 lead. With one out, A.J. Pollock walked, stole second and took third on catcher Jonathan Lucroy's throwing error. Adam Ottavino fell behind Paul Goldschmidt and intentionally walked him. Ottavino then made a low pickoff throw to first. Pollock scored, and Goldschmidt took second on first baseman Mark Reynolds' wide throw home.

Jake Lamb singled home a run before Descalso jumped on Mike Dunn's 0-2 slider and hit his fifth career pinch-hit home run and second this season.

After Walker left, the Rockies finally broke through in the sixth against David Hernandez. Ian Desmond led off with a single and scored when Gonzalez doubled. He moved up on a ground out and scored to cut Arizona's lead to 4-2 on Trevor Story's sacrifice fly.

The Rockies were 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position before Story doubled home two runs with two outs in the seventh after the Rockies loaded the bases with no outs and scored on Gonzalez's grounder.

Pinch hitter Rey Fuentes lined a first-pitch single that gave Arizona a 4-0 lead in the sixth after J.D. Martinez opened the inning with a double.

Rockies starter Kyle Freeland (11-9) gave up five hits and three runs in four innings and is winless in his past five starts.

Martinez's sacrifice fly with one out in the third inning scored Pollock, who had tripled, and put the Diamondbacks ahead 3-0.

Arizona took a 2-0 lead in the second on pitcher Walker's infield single. First baseman Mark Reynolds wasn't near the base when he fielded Walker's grounder. Freeland didn't break off the mound, leaving Reynolds to dash to first. He opted not to run toward Brandon Drury, who was halfway down the third-base line and trap him in a rundown, and Drury scored when Reynolds tried unsuccessfully to beat Walker to first base.

Freeland gave up five hits and three runs in four innings with four strikeouts and three walks. He gave up back-to-back walks to begin the game, and Pollock grounded a run-scoring single to left. Center fielder Charlie Blackmon caught Goldschmidt's long drive on the warning track in right-center, and Freeland escaped by getting Martinez to ground into a double play.

The Rockies loaded the bases in the first on DJ LeMahieu's double and two walks, but Walker struck out Carlos Gonzalez on a curveball to end a 31-pitch inning.

Walker gave up a leadoff double in the fourth to Gonzalez, who moved to third on Story's fly to deep center. Pinch hitter Mike Tauchman drew a two-out walk. But Walker got Blackmon to fly out and end the inning.

NOTES: The Rockies recalled RHPs Carlos Estevez, Jeff Hoffman, LHP Zac Rosscup, C Tom Murphy, IF Ryan McMahon and OF Mike Tauchman from Triple- A Albuquerque. OF Raimel Tapia will be recalled Tuesday, the day after Albuquerque's season ends. ... The Diamondbacks recalled RHPs Silvino Bracho, J.J. Hoover and C John Ryan Murphy from Triple-A Reno and selected the contract of IF/OF Kristopher Negron from Reno. ... Diamondbacks RHP Rubby De La Rosa, who underwent his second Tommy John surgery Aug. 21, was released. ... Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (left knee surgery) will make his third and final rehab appearance for Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday or Monday before rejoining the Rockies. ... Diamondbacks C Chris Iannetta has reached base via a hit or a walk in 12 straight games.