The Sports Xchange
Jul 2, 2017
PHOENIX -- Arizona shortstop Ketel Marte singled in the winning run over a five-man infield in the ninth inning and the Diamondbacks extended their franchise-best start with a 4-3 walk-off victory over the Colorado Rockies ono Sunday at Chase Field.
Brandon Drury singled with one out in the ninth against Adam Ottavino (1-3), and Chris Iannetta doubled to put runners on second and third before Chris Rusin entered and the Rockies went to a five-man infield.
Marte lined a single to deep left-center field for his first career walk-off hit, the Diamondbacks' sixth walk-off of the season.
Colorado tied the score at 3 on singles by Ryan Hanigan, pinch-hitter Troy Wolters and Charlie Blackmon in the top off the ninth off closer Fernando Rodney (3-2).
Rodney had not given up a hit since May 26 and had not alllowed an earned run since April 29. He has converted 21 of 25 save chances. Despite blowing the save, Rodney wound up with the win.
Chris Owings hit a two-run homer and Taijuan Walker gave up two runs (one earned) in seven innings as the Diamondbacks (52-31) remained one game ahead of the franchise-record pace set in 2001.
Blackmon and Nolan Arenado each had two hits and an RBI and DJ LeMahieu had two hits for Colorado (48-36), which has lost 10 of 11.
Drury and Marte had two hits apiece for Arizona, which is 32-13 at home.
Colorado's Ian Desmond walked with one out in the fourth inning and took second on an infield error before scoring on Trevor Story's single to center field to break a scoreless tie. Walker got out of the inning on a double play.
Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt walked to open the fourth inning off German Marquez and scored on Owings' one-out homer, his 12th of the season, for a 2-1 lead. Owings' previous career high for homers was six.
The Rockies tied it at 2 in the fifth inning on consecutive singles by Blackmon, LeMahieu and Arenado. Walker got another double play grounder to end that threat.
Marquez gave up three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked three.
NOTES: Arizona LF Ian Desmond was removed from the game with right leg cramp suffered while catching a Brandon Drury line drive for the second out in the last of the fourth inning. The play before, Desmond had extended far over the left field fence in an attempt to catch RF Chris Owings' homer. ... Arizona OF Yasmany Tomas (groin/hip) suffered a setback when he was forced to leave a rehab game Saturday when feeling discomfort while sliding into second base on a double. ... Colorado has seven games remaining against Arizona and the Dodgers, the top two teams in the NL West. Arizona has 12 left against the Dodgers and will begin a three-game series at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday.