Rockies 6, D-backs 3: Castillo, Weeks homer in defeat
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Arizona Diamondbacks' Welington Castillo, left, is congratulated after hitting a home run against the Colorado Rockies during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game in Scottsdale, Ariz., Thursday, March 31, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Mark Reynolds and Charlie Blackmon homered, Nolan Arenado collected his major league-high 31st hit of spring training and the Colorado Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-3 on Thursday.
Welington Castillo and Rickie Weeks hit solo home runs in the fourth off Rockies prospect Kyle Freeland. Paul Goldschmidt went 2 for 3.
Arenado's RBI double off prospect Braden Shipley in the first inning was his 16th extra-base hit in 20 games. Arenado also was hit by a pitch and flied out, leaving him at 31 for 55 (.564).
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Reynolds, the former Diamondbacks third baseman, hit a 422-foot solo shot to left and Blackmon added a two-run homer in a three-run second off Shipley. Blackmon later doubled in a preview of the teams' season-opening series starting Monday.
STARTING TIME
Diamondbacks: Shipley, a 2013 first-round pick, allowed five runs and eight hits in five innings in his first spring start.
Rockies: Freeland, the eighth pick in the 2014 draft, gave up three runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings while throwing 91 pitches. He was helped by Arenado starting a nifty double play at third and left fielder Gerardo Parra throwing out a runner at the plate.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}MINOR LEAGUE DAY
Rockies right-hander Chad Bettis and Diamondbacks left-hander Patrick Corbin pitched in minor league games so they wouldn't face their first regular-season opponent. Bettis starts Tuesday and Corbin is scheduled to pitch Wednesday.
TWO CATCHERS
The Diamondbacks optioned Tuffy Gosewisch to Triple-A after the game, meaning they will start the season with two catchers: Castillo and Chris Herrmann.
Arizona also released infielder Joaquin Arias, leaving 31 players in camp.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FITZ ON THE HILL
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Monday's opener.
"What pitch should I throw? Uncle Charlie or the Heater?" Fitzgerald tweeted during the game.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: RHP Rubby De La Rosa starts Friday night in the opener of a two-game series with Kansas City at Chase Field.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Rockies: RHP Christian Bergman starts Friday night against Seattle.