PHOENIX, July 8 \u2014 Dom Nu\u00f1ez belted three of his club\u2019s 13 hits, including two doubles, as the Colorado Rockies crushed the Arizona Diamondbacks, 9\u20133, Thursday afternoon to avoid a series sweep.<\/p>\n
The Rockies took a 1\u20130 lead in the top of the second on a leadoff single by third baseman Ryan McMahon and a two-out RBI double by catcher Dom Nu\u00f1ez. They made it 2\u20130 in the fourth thanks to a two-out rally. Right fielder Yonathan Daza walked before Nu\u00f1ez advanced him to third on a single. Gonzalez followed with a single to help his own cause, plating Daza as Nu\u00f1ez advanced to third. The frame ended when center fielder Garrett Hampson grounded into a 6\u20134 force play.<\/p>\n
In the bottom of the fourth, the Diamondbacks cut the deficit to 2\u20131. A leadoff walk by third baseman Eduardo Escobar and follow-up single by right fielder Josh Reddick put runners on first and third for rookie center fielder Stuart Fairchild. Fairchild, who singled in his first major league at-bat Wednesday night, grounded into a run-scoring 6-4-3 double play to score the run without an RBI.<\/p>\n
The Diamondbacks took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. It came after a one-out pinch-double by Andrew Young, who scored on a two-out, two-run home run into the visitor\u2019s bullpen by the right-field corner by second baseman Josh VanMeter. This made the score 3\u20132 Diamondbacks after five.<\/p>\n
The Rockies regained the lead in the top of the sixth, although they only managed one hit in the frame. With one out, reliever Jordan Weems plunked first baseman C.J. Cron. A high chopper to short advanced Cron to third. After Nu\u00f1ez drew an intentional walk to bring up the pitcher\u2019s spot, pinch-hitter Charlie Blackmon \u2014 a Diamondback killer \u2014 reached on an RBI infield single up the middle. Nu\u00f1ez went first to third on the play. This proved important during the at-bat of the next hitter, Hampson, as he scored on a wild pitch to give the Rockies a 4\u20133 advantage.<\/p>\n
The Rockies took a commanding lead in the top of the seventh as they lit up reliever Riley Smith. Left fielder Raimel Tapia and shortstop Trevor Story led off with consecutive doubles before second baseman Brendan Rodgers reached on an infield single. McMahon followed with a single, scoring Story from second. That brought up Cron, whom Smith drilled in the helmet, forcing Cron out of the game. Up came Daza, whose double scored Rodgers and McMahon as pinch-runner Jon Gray took third. With the Rockies now holding an 8\u20133 lead, Smith finally got out of the inning without any further damage when Nu\u00f1ez grounded to second, pinch-hitter Josh Fuentes flied to right, and Hampson flied to center. The Rockies finalized the score in the top of the ninth on a two-out double by Nu\u00f1ez and RBI single by Fuentes.<\/p>\n
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo praised Jake Faria for his starting pitching job. \u201cHe gave us five quality innings and gave up only a couple of runs. When he left the game, we were ahead. That\u2019s what we ask our pitchers to do. What stood out to me was that he threw a 10-pitch fifth, came back into the dugout, and gave himself a chance to win a baseball game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daza had three hits, matching his combined total from the previous 10 games. About that, Lovullo said, \u201cI think we made some mistakes in his hot zone. We know what they are and what we have to do to have success against him. He counter-punched us \u2014 he was waiting for his pitch, and when he got it, he didn\u2019t miss it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chi Chi Gonzalez (3\u20135) earned the win for the Rockies. Jordan Weems (0\u20131) took the loss in his first outing with the Diamondbacks. The Rockies (38\u201350) head to San Diego for a Friday-Saturday-Sunday three-gamer with the Padres, while the Diamondbacks (25-64) head to Los Angeles for a three-gamer with the Dodgers. Taylor Widener, returning from injury, will start Game One for the Diamondbacks, while the Dodgers have yet to announce a starter. First pitch is at 7:10 Pacific.<\/p>\n
Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>