Diamondbacks rally to beat Colorado Rockies in Game 2
DENVER – Recap: With a two-run double from PH Aaron Hill and a two-run homer by CF A.J. Pollock, the Diamondbacks rallied for four runs in the seventh inning to beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 and sweep a doubleheader at Coors Field.
It was the second time the Diamondbacks have swept a doubleheader in this ballpark this year. They also swept them on May 6.
RHP Rubby De La Rosa was shaky early but settled down to give the Diamondbacks six innings, handing the ball to RHP Enrique Burgos, who struck out the side in the seventh, and RHP Josh Collmenter, who got the final six outs for his first save of the season.
BOX SCORE: Diamondbacks 5, Rockies 3 | GAME 1 REWIND: Diamondbacks bounce back to beat Colorado Rockies
Hill hurting: Hill came off the bench to hit for De La Rosa in the top of the seventh inning with 2B Phil Gosselin (hit by pitch) and SS Chris Owings (walk) on base representing the tying runs.
Hill got a 1-2 slider from RHP Scott Oberg and drilled it into the left-field corner to bring home both runs and tie the game at 3.
But the double came at a cost: Hill, who was nursing a tender hamstring, appeared to further injure his leg on his trip around the bases, and immediately left the game for a pinch runner.
“It just grabbed,” Hill said. “I’ll be able to pinch-hit tomorrow.”
Pollock’s blast: Two batters after Hill’s double, Pollock got a two-strike slider from RHP Jairo Diaz and sent it out to right field for the go-ahead home run.
Pollock appeared to be out in front on the pitch but still was able to muscle it out of the park.
“I hit it on the barrel -- that was kind of the key,” Pollock said. “I think the good thing is I didn’t stop my path. I kind of knew it was a slider and instead of correcting your swing, I just kept the swing going.”
It was his second homer in as many days as Coors Field and made him 5 for 12 with a walk in three games in this series.
Funny mistake: The most memorable moment of the night for De La Rosa came on a play even he couldn’t explain.
With a runner first in the first inning, De La Rosa took his back foot off the rubber as if he were about to make a pickoff throw but then fired the ball toward home plate, way over the head of C Welington Castillo. He was charged with a balk.
“I don’t know what I was thinking, but I know it wasn’t a good idea,” De La Rosa said. “Castillo asked me if I saw somebody trying to steal home. I said, I guess? I don’t know what happened.”
De La Rosa was told the umpire appeared to be surprised.
“Yeah,” he said, “I was surprised, too. I was like, ‘What am I doing?’”
PHOTOS: Diamondbacks vs. Rockies
Wednesday’s game
Diamondbacks at Rockies
When: 5:40 p.m.
Where: Coors Field, Denver.
Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Chase Anderson (6-5, 4.22) vs. Rockies RHP Jon Gray (0-0, 6.00).
TV/Radio: FSAZ/KTAR-AM (620), KSUN-AM (1400).
Anderson has fared well in two starts since his short-lived demotion to the minor leagues. He tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings against the Reds in Cincinnati, then allowed two runs in six innings the Athletics at Chase Field on Friday. … Anderson did not allow a home run in either start. … Gray, the third overall pick in the 2013 draft, has made five starts so far in the big leagues, though the Rockies have kept him on a short leash. He did not exceed 77 pitches in his first four starts before getting up to 89 in his most recent outing, in which he lasted 4 1/3 innings against the Pirates. … He has averaged 94.6 mph on his fastball, per FanGraphs, and has mixed in change-ups and sliders.
Coming up
Thursday: Off.
Friday: At Chicago, 11:20 a.m., Diamondbacks TBA vs. Cubs LHP Jon Lester (8-10, 3.59).
Saturday: At Chicago, 11:20 a.m., Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (3-10, 3.72) vs. Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (17-6, 2.11).
Sunday: At Chicago, 11:20 a.m., Diamondbacks RHP Rubby De La Rosa (11-6, 4.46)* vs. Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks (6-6, 4.15).
* -- Statistics entering Tuesday.