Arenado's MLB-leading 13th HR lifts Rockies over D-Backs 8-7

Denver — Chad Bettis was well on his way to one of his best outings ever but ran out of gas in the seventh, finishing with 6.1 innings pitched and a career-high tying eight strikeouts. He didn’t walk a batter.

After Jean Segura reached base on a double to open the game, and was subsequently thrown out at third trying to advance on a ball in the dirt, Bettis sat down 11 in a row.

Charlie Blackmon put the Rockies on the board with his second home run of the season which was also the 500th hit of his career — a towering shot that cleared the “Bridich Barrier” and landed in the Rockies bullpen. Trevor Story followed up with a single and Nolan Arenado walked which set it up for a Mark Reynolds RBI single.

In the fourth, Gerardo Parra led things off with a single, part of a three hit day for Parra despite the left-on-left matchup. Dustin Garneau then reached on a fielding error and Bettis was able to help his offense by laying down a perfect sac bunt, setting the stage for a two-RBI single from Blackmon, who appears to be heating up. Of note on the play is that right-fielder Brandon Drury has been playing almost warning-track deep all series to the Diamondbacks benefit but it burned them on this play, allowing two runs to score on a ball that dropped in front of him.

Arenado drove in the fifth run of the game on his seventh double of the season. At 30, he is one RBI behind Yoenis Cespedes for the top spot in the National League.

Some shaky D-Backs defense and a Ryan Raburn double in the bottom of the sixth extended the Rockies lead to 7-1.

But the Diamondbacks struck back, adding three runs to the one they grabbed in the sixth against Bettis, pulling to 7-4. Carlos Estevez allowed a double to Paul Goldschmidt to begin the eighth and was replaced by Boone Logan who did his job in retiring the left-handed Jake Lamb.

Then Chad Qualls entered the game and the Diamondbacks finally found a Rockies pitcher they could square up with regularity. Yasmany Tomas promptly scalded a double to center, scoring Goldschmidt. Rickie Weeks then drove a ball to the deepest part of the park for an out before Chris Herrmann tripled to almost the same spot when Blackmon misplayed the ball.

Still with the lead in tact, Qualls was left in to face Chris Owings who hit a weak bouncer off the plate that popped into the air for too long for DJ LeMahieu to be able to make a play, securing the infield single and tying the game at seven.

But Arenado’s MLB-leading 13th home run of 2016 put the Rockies back on top with two outs in the eighth, essentially winning the game. If not for Bryce Harper, he could be the clear choice for the Most Valuable Player in the NL so far.

Jake McGee worked a clean ninth to secure his ninth Save of the season.

Turning Point

When the best player on your team hits a go-ahead home run with two oits in the eighth, that’s pretty much the turning point

Quote of the Game

“When Nolan hit that home runi just said ‘alright we’re going to win this game.'” -Jake McGee