The Colorado Rockies lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second consecutive night 6-4. The loss gives the Diamondbacks the series win and drops the Rockies to a 6-33 road record and an overall record of 37-50. Coming into the series, the Diamondbacks had one of the worst home record in the league but the road Rockies have managed to let Arizona dictate the series. This series loss hurts a little extra after the Rockies had such a strong home stand. It just goes to show that fans cannot expect momentum to carry onto the road this season.
D-Backs singles barrage
The Arizona Diamondbacks have not been good this season but it hasn’t been because of their inability to hit the ball in their own ballpark. Coming into today, the D-Backs ranked 13th in the majors in home batting average at .249. In the second inning of today’s game, they showcased that ability by stringing together four singles on Antonio Senzatela. Christian Walker got the first one then Pavin Smith followed suit which allowed Nick Ahmed to hit his own and bring in the first run. Daulton Varsho felt left out so he hit his own RBI single. Then finally, the starting pitcher Humberto Castellanos, who was making his first ever major league plate appearance, smoked the first pitch he saw to center field where Garrett Hampson was just able to make the catch. Ahmed tagged from third to score and make the game 3-0 but had Hampson not made the catch Daulton Varsho most likely would have scored from first.
Humberto is looking hitterish in his 1st big league start! #RattleOn pic.twitter.com/3Ux5npe8hh
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 8, 2021
Elias Díaz stays hot, hits one to Scottsdale
Elias Díaz continues his recent hot streak with another multi-hit game, his fifth in the last three weeks. He finished with a 2-for-4 night that included his seventh home run of the season, a deep bomb to left field.
Díaz Dinger
— RoxGifsVids (@RoxGifsVids) July 8, 2021
426 ft, 103.3 mph, 29° pic.twitter.com/SWasfYNuc6
After getting off to a rough start to the season, Elias Díaz is now hitting .205 on the season. It’s not an eye popping number but we should remember that Díaz’s average was as low as .109 just about seven weeks ago. In fact, since June 3rd, Elias Díaz is hitting .300 and has hit six of his seven home runs. He has looked so much more comfortable and confident at the plate and he makes the Rockies bottom half of the order a lot more dangerous.
Escobar hits number nineteen off Kinley
Fresh off being selected for his first career All-Star game, Eduardo Escobar showed off the reason he’ll be at Coors next week when he barreled his nineteenth home run off of Tyler Kinley in the seventh. It was a three run shot to give the D-Backs a 6-1 lead and it was ultimately what put the game out of reach. Lucas Gilbreath began the inning with a leadoff hit and a walk before getting his first out and being pulled for Tyler Kinley who’d go on to give up the home run to Escobar. He leads Arizona in home runs and is now tied for 13th in the MLB home run leaderboards.
That's our All-Star! @escobardelapica with an absolute no-doubter. pic.twitter.com/65LZWrgona
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 8, 2021
Rockies late inning rally falls short
It was another disappointing road loss for the Rockies but they do deserve some credit for continuing to fight and attempting a late inning rally. Charlie Blackmon sparked the comeback effort when he just about laid out pitcher Joe Mantiply on a foot race to first base. The Rockies benefitted from a couple of Arizona errors and were finally able to get a hit with RISP when Ryan McMahon hit a ground rule double and C.J. Cron singled to bring the game within two. Elias Díaz could not keep it rolling as he grounded into a double play to kill the comeback.
Up next
Today’s loss gives the Diamondbacks the series win and now the Rockies will look to avoid being swept by the Diamondbacks in the series finale tomorrow. It’ll be Chi Chi González (2-5, 5.52 ERA) going up against Jacob Faria (0-0, 5.25 ERA). First pitch is set for 1:40 P.M. MDT.