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Nolan Arenado's two-run error in the top of the third was a heart-breaker. What was inches away from being a step-on-third-throw-to-first double play that would have bailed Brett Anderson out of the inning became the worst kind of defensive gaffe as the Diamondbacks took a 2-0 lead.
Things weren't looking so bad for Anderson going into the fifth. Despite having allowed some traffic and the Diamondbacks having put three runs on the board, he had only given up one earned run until a single from Martin Prado was followed by a mammoth home run from Mark Trumbo; and the snakes were up 5-0.
His stuff was up in the zone for most of the day and it cost him, including giving up two hits (one for an RBI) to his counterpart Wade Miley. Miley was Blackmon-esque on the day, grabbing another single later against Wilton Lopez, going 3-3 at the plate on the day.
LIne on #Rockies Anderson: 6 inn. 10 hits, 5 runs (3 ER) 3 BB, 1 K. 90 pitches, 54 strikes
— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) April 6, 2014
Nice to see him go six but it definitely looked like Anderson lacked his best stuff today.
Charlie Blackmon had the only early offensive highlight of the day in the first inning when he kept his torrid hitting streak going, reaching base on an infield hit that had to be overturned on replay -- he was initially ruled out. For those wondering, this was a rare example of a time when a slide into first base is a good idea as he had already outpaced the pitcher to the bag but would have been tagged had he not hit the dirt.
The Rockies finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth after a Wilin Rosario oppo-double, a wild pitch, and a Drew Stubbs sacrifice fly; his first RBI as a Colorado Rockie. Nolan Arenado sandwiched a walk in there but as was the custom of this game he did not make it to second base as D.J. LeMahieu grounded into the fourth double play for the Rockies on the afternoon.
The Rockies managed to scratch out another run in the seventh when Troy Tulowitzki singled, Wilin Rosario doubled (his second of the day to go with a walk) and Nolan Arenado got another sacrifice fly. Unfortunately, neither Drew Stubbs nor D.J. LeMahieu could bring in Rosario.
Rockies fans everywhere cringed when Wilton Lopez came into the game in the seventh but he worked two clean innings. Then those who thought we had dodged a bullet with Lopez probably panicked again when Beslisle was introduced in the ninth. But he, too worked around a hit and kept the score where it was; 5-2.
The Rockies threatened in the ninth. Carlos Gonzalez started things off with a single and a stolen base and Troy Tulowitzki had an excellent at-bat that ended in a walk. Home plate umpire Randy Fletcher, who -- in my opinion -- had a floating strike zone all day -- gave closer Addison Reed a pretty favorable low strike early in the count to Wilin Rosario in the ensuing at-bat.
He hung in well and got a pitch to hit and hit it hard. But there is a reason sweeping teams is so difficult, because sometimes you hit it right at guys. Rosario grounded into the fifth infuriating double-play of the day and the rally was dead.
Nolan Arenado got similar strike-zone treatment from Flethcer as well an popped out to end the game.
But the day belonged to Wade Miley. His final line: 8.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER. The Rockies did a lot of early swinging and didn't make him work much out there. Coulda had this one, but still a very competitive opening home series for your Colorado Rockies.
Source: FanGraphs