Denver, CO – The Arizona Diamondbacks plated two runs in the top of the ninth inning to end Colorado's eight-game winning streak by taking a 5-4 victory over the Rockies in the finale of a three-game set at Coors Field.
With Colorado closer Rafael Betancourt needed to pitch the previous two games, Wilton Lopez (0-1) was summoned upon to try and lock down the save in the ninth.
"He's got a number of saves in the National League, he's been in that situation before. I like the way he's throwing the ball," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said of Lopez.
He was unsuccessful after surrendering a single to Didi Gregorius and a double to A.J. Pollock before Arizona pulled even on pinch-hitter Alfredo Marte's grounder to third.
Pollock moved to third base on the play and scored on a sac fly from Gerardo Parra to put the D-backs in front, 5-4.
J.J. Putz put runners on first and third in the bottom of the ninth, but was able to register his third save when he got Eric Young to ground out to end the game.
Heath Bell (2-0) picked up the win with a perfect eighth.
Gregorius contributed a solo homer off Colorado starter Juan Nicasio earlier in the contest. Nicasio was chased after 4 1/3 innings of work, surrendering two runs on three hits with three walks.
"He sees the ball well," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said of Gregorius. "He's a tough out."
Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Ross each had an RBI in the victory for Arizona, which handed the Rockies their first home loss of the season. They had won their first eight contests at Coors field.
Diamondbacks starter Brandon McCarthy lasted six innings and surrendered three of his four runs allowed in the third, which gave Colorado the early advantage.
Nicasio started the rally with a base hit, moved to second on Young's single and then scored on Jordan Pacheco's soft liner into center. Pacheco took second on his hit when the ball was thrown to third, and Carlos Gonzalez then provided a two-run single to center for a 3-0 lead.
Nicasio didn't allow a hit until Gregorius led off the fifth with a solo homer. He then gave up a single to Pollock and a double to Parra, and with his pitch count at 96, was replaced on the mound by Adam Ottavino.
Ottavino got Martin Prado to ground back to him, and was able to get Pollock out at home. He then surrendered an RBI base hit to Goldschmidt, however, which brought the D-backs within 3-2.
Troy Tulowitzki restored a two-run Colorado advantage in the sixth by homering to center to begin the frame, but Arizona pulled back within 4-3 in the eighth on Ross' RBI double off the center-field wall.
Game Notes
Arizona will continue its nine-game road trip in San Francisco for a three- game set with the Giants starting on Monday ... The Rockies will host Atlanta for a three-game set beginning on Monday ... Earlier on Sunday, Colorado placed starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain. To fill the roster spot, the Rockies recalled pitcher Rob Scahill from Triple-A Colorado Springs.
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