The Colorado Rockies lost a tough game to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night. Antonio Senzatela battled Zack Greinke but gave up two key hits to allow four runs. That set the Diamondbacks on their way to holding off late rallies from the Rockies to earn a 6-3 win at Coors Field.
Ketel Marte, Rockies killer
The annoying thing about the rallies that led to Marte’s killer hits on Tuesday night is that they felt avoidable. With the score tied 2-2 in the top of the sixth inning, Antonio Senzatela had two outs and nearly struck out Paul Goldschmidt to end the inning. He didn’t get the borderline call, however, and three batters later Marte was putting the Diamondbacks up 4-2 with a triple.
The Arizona rally in the eighth inning was even more annoying. Adam Ottavino issued a lead-off walk. With one out and David Peralta on second, Trevor Story froze on a grounder from A.J. Pollock when Peralta ran in front of him. That should be a baserunning mistake, but Story wasn’t quick enough to try and get him and consequently not quick enough to get Pollock at first. Such was the “rally” before Marte drove in two more with a single to right.
That’s to take nothing away from Marte delivering in those clutch spots with his team desperate to win and stay afloat in the National League West race. September has lots of heroes, and Marte was the hero tonight.
Missed opportunities
The Rockies had the bases loaded in the seventh inning. Matt Holliday started the rally by coming agonizingly close to tying the game with a solo home run off Zack Greinke with two outs. Two walks later and the bases were loaded for DJ LeMahieu. He grounded out, and it ends up being one inning that stands out among many in which the Rockies didn’t score runs on Tuesday night.
The bottom of the ninth inning started to hint at some LoDo magic, with Carlos Gonzalez doubling and Ryan McMahon bunting his way on to bring the tying run up with nobody out. The Diamondbacks turned to their one good reliever in Yoshihisa Hirano, and he answered by sitting down the next three men in order for the save.
Looking ahead
This series with the Diamondbacks continues on Wednesday with Jon Gray starting against Patrick Corbin.