PHOENIX – Jonathan Sanchez's return to the National League was little better than his work in the American League this season.
Still, it wasn't good enough for a win.
"I was over the plate more than I'm used to," Sanchez said after giving up five runs on six hits and four walks over four innings in the Colorado Rockies' 6-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday.
Sanchez was acquired by the Rockies on Friday from Kansas City after managing only a 1-6 record and 7.76 ERA with the Royals. The left-hander was 7-6 against the Diamondbacks while with the San Francisco Giants but had little success in his return to the NL.
Sanchez (0-1) allowed a bases-loaded triple to Arizona starter Ian Kennedy, along with a home run to Paul Goldschmidt and an RBI double by Willie Bloomquist.
"I didn't know what to expect because it's been a long time since we've seen him," said Colorado manager Jim Tracy. "He had some trouble during the course of his time with Kansas City but we saw some good breaking pitches from him."
Goldschmidt's leadoff homer in the second put the Diamondbacks up 1-0.
Arizona appeared ready to squander a scoring opportunity in the fourth when Justin Upton and Goldschmidt failed to advance from second and third on Miguel Montero's single that bounced off the right-field fence on one hop. Tyler Colvin threw out Montero easily as he retreated to first after looking up to see Upton returning to second with Goldschmidt only a handful of steps past third.
"I didn't know how close he was to me," Goldschmidt said. "From where I was I thought he was going to run it down. I was just thankful someone drove me in after I made that mistake."
After Chris Young popped up for the second out, Sanchez intentionally walked Ryan Roberts to get to Kennedy, who entered the game with one hit in 28 at-bats.
But the right-hander lined a drive into left-center, clearing the bases with a triple to give the Diamondbacks a 4-0 lead. Bloomquist followed with his RBI double.
"It was supposed to be a fastball away but it ran back over the middle," Sanchez said. " It would be a different game and we would have had a chance to win it if not for that one mistake."
Josh Rutledge hit his first career home run and doubled, and Carlos Gonzalez also homered for the Rockies, losers of five of six.
Kennedy (8-8) scattered five runs over eight innings, allowing two runs and striking out seven en route to his second straight win.
Kennedy has lasted eight innings in each of his past two starts, giving up three runs on 13 hits across the 16 innings.
After Mike Zagurski gave up a long home run to Gonzalez leading off the ninth and walked Michael Cuddyer, J.J. Putz entered and finished for his 18th save.
Rutledge homered with two outs in the fifth and scored on Dexter Fowler's single to center with two outs in the eighth for the Rockies' two runs.
Upton scored on a sacrifice fly by Roberts in the eighth.
NOTES: Kennedy became the seventh Arizona pitcher and first since 2007 to hit a triple. ... Kennedy is the first Diamondbacks pitcher to strike out at least seven without issuing a walk in consecutive starts since Dan Haren in 2009. ... Eight of Rutledge's 14 hits this season have been for extra bases. ... Aaron Hill's modest 13-game hitting streak, the longest current streak in the majors, ended on an 0-for-5 night. ... Fowler has 28 RBIs in 59 career games against the Diamondbacks. ... Diamondbacks LF Jason Kubel, who had hit four homers in his past two games, finished 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. ... LHP Joe Saunders will start for the Diamondbacks on Tuesday against a pitcher to be announced sometime before game time. LHP Drew Pomeranz, who had been slated to start for the Rockies on Tuesday, played catch on Monday afternoon but will sit out Tuesday night with soreness in his left arm. Saunders is 2-1 with a 3.79 ERA in his past three home starts.
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