The Colorado Rockies capped a wild, 7-6 comeback victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks thanks to a wild pitch. Trailing 6-1 after five innings, Colorado scored three runs in the top of the ninth off Arizona closer Fernando Rodney to with their eighth one-run game of the season. Colorado is 8-0 this year in games decided by a single run.
The first half of the game tilted heavily in Arizona’s favor, as lefty Tyler Anderson had another uneven start for Colorado. Anderson allowed all six Arizona runs, surrendering three walks and three home runs over five innings. Jake Lamb hit a monster 481-foot blast in the fifth that seemed to spell doom for Colorado.
But the Rockies chipped away at the 6-1 Arizona lead with a pair of solo home runs off starter Zack Greinke – one in the sixth by Mark Reynolds and another on an Alexi Amarista home run in the seventh. D.J. LeMahieu knocked in another run in the seventh off reliever J.J. Hoover to bring Colorado within a pair. Reynolds inflicted more damage in the ninth with a two-run single to tie the game. Carlos Gonzalez and Reynolds each moved up a pair of bases, including Gonzalez scoring the go-ahead run, on a pair of wild pitches by Rodney to cap a second straight comeback win for Colorado.
Four Colorado relievers combined for four innings of one-hit relief in the victory. Carlos Estevez picked up the win pitching a perfect eighth inning. Greg Holland allowed a leadoff single, but some slick glove play by Gerardo Parra and a strikeout of Paul Goldschmidt to end the game secured Holland’s 11th save in as many tries.
Colorado (16-9) concludes its three-game series in Arizona (15-11) looking for a sweep on Sunday afternoon. German Marquez (0-1, 18.00) will hope for better results than his first start this season for Colorado. Patrick Corbin (2-3, 2.79) will start for Arizona. Ian Desmond, the Rockies’ big offseason acquisition is expected make his first start of the year. Desmond suffered a broken hand in a Cactus League game in March and is expected to start in left field on Sunday.