The Arizona Diamondbacks got another stellar start in this series. Coming on the heels of Zack Greinke last night, first year Snake Taijuan Walker shut down the Colorado Rockies in a 4-3 Arizona win to take the series.
The Rockies battled back but in the ninth but their offense was ultimately not good enough to keep up with their division foes.
Walker went seven, allowing just two runs on six hits and one walk. More impressive is he stranded several Rockies as Walker had to deal with three D-Backs’ errors. The Rockies left six on base during Walker’s performance and hit into tow double plays, continuing their anemic production of the past two weeks.
Aside from the loss the Rockies also lost Ian Desmond in this game to a right calf cramp.
German Marquez vs. Walker turned out to be a pretty good pitching matchup. The two combined to deal a scoreless first three frames.
In the fourth Desmond walked to start it off for the Rockies. Raimel Tapia bounded an easy grounder to Brandon Durry at second but he misplayed it and Colorado was cooking with two on. Trevor Story took advantage and signed home Desmond to open the game’s scoring. One was all the Rockies got.
The D-Backs answered back quick. Marquez fired four balls in the zone to all-world hitter Paul Goldschmidt but it was ruled a walk and Arizona took advantage. Chris Owings sneaked one just over the wall and the Snakes flew to a 2-1 lead.
The Rockies got the run back in the next inning on three straight singles by the top of the order saw Nolan Arenado drive in Charlie Blackmon.
Colorado did nothing in the sixth but Arizona did, eventually knocking out Marquez after he struggled to get the third out. He let up a two-out single to Jake Lamb, walk to Owings then Durry got his run back with a double that knocked in Lamb as the home team took a 3-2 lead.
Marquez’ final line was 5.2, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB and 6 Ks. A solid performance that you will take from almost any pitcher, let alone a 22-year-old rookie Antonio Senzatela backed his buddy up with two scoreless innings of work in relief.
Ruby De La Rosa took over in the eighth for Arizona, he and Jorge De La Rosa combined to set the Rockies down in the penultimate frame.
Fernando Rodney who has rejuvenated his career took over in the ninth, he hadn’t blown a save in over a month, no hits in that same time and had not allowed a run since April, 29. Back to back one out singles by Ryan Hanigan and Tony Wolters started it and Tyler Chatwood pinch ran for Hanigan as the Rockies were left with none on the bench. The big hit belonged to Charlie Blackmon as he singled driving in Chatwood to tie it at threes. That’s all the Rockies would get in the ninth as they played for extras.
Charlie Blackmon ties it at threes in the ninth pic.twitter.com/V1vGN3gQKe
— Jake Shapiro (@Shapalicious) July 2, 2017
But it quickly ended in the ninth as the D-Backs picked up two straight hits off of Adam Ottavino and the game winner from Ketel Marte off of Chris Rusin.
The Rockies are now 1-9 in their last 10 games and return home Monday reeling after a really rough road trip. These are their final games before the All-Star break which comes at just the right time.
