The Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks produced 75 outs between them before a run crossed the plate in Sunday’s series finale at Chase Field. Daniel Descalso scored a second one just for good measure, and because he could, to give Arizona a 2-0 win and salvage a single game in a series that pitted the top two teams in the National League West through the season’s first month.
Descalso deposited a Jordan Lyles curveball in the bottom of the 13th inning into the swimming pool in right-center field to end a pitcher’s duel the likes of which we’ve seen but once in Rockies franchise history. Five Colorado pitchers, including Lyles, held Arizona scoreless over 12 innings, scattering nine hits and striking out 13 before the former Rockie, Descalso, ended it with one on and no outs in the 13th. German Marquez went six innings, striking out eight and walking one in his second outing of the year. Colorado’s only other game to go 12-plus scoreless innings was the marathon 2008 contest between Colorado and San Diego. Each team scored a run in the 14th before the Rockies went on top for good in the 22nd inning.
Arizona matched Colorado frame for frame on Sunday afternoon, led by 6.1 scoreless innings from Patrick Corbin. Randall Delgado earned the win for Arizona, striking out four over three scoreless innings. Colorado’s Charlie Blackmon had his 14-game hitting streak snapped with an 0-for-6 day at the plate. The Rockies struck out 17 times in the game; Dustin Garneau‘s double in the third inning was Colorado’s only extra-base hit. The Rockies loaded the bases with none out in the fifth, but could not plate a run.
Colorado closes out April with a 16-10 record, a half game up on the Diamondbacks for the lead in the division. It is the Rockies’ best start through the month of April since 2011 when they went 17-8. Colorado continues its road trip on Tuesday with the first of a three-game series in San Diego.