The Colorado Rockies managed to secure a series victory versus the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday night at Chase Field, winning 6-4.
The Rockies received contributions all throughout the lineup and clutch pitching from Jon Gray en route to the victory.
Ahead are takeaways from the win.
Rockies stay selective at the plate
The Colorado Rockies did a phenomenal job being selective at the plate, swinging at strikes and taking balls in game two of their series versus the Diamondbacks.
The Rockies were efficient at the plate, scoring six runs on 14 hits while getting contributions all throughout the lineup. Every starting position player recorded at least one hit as Colorado hit a lofty .500 with runners in scoring position. Most importantly, Rockies’ hitters struck out just four times and left just one runner in scoring position with two outs.
Diamondbacks starting pitcher, Zack Greinke, weaved around the Rockies’ lineup throughout the early portion of the ballgame, but Colorado slowly chipped away at Arizona’s lead.
Daniel Murphy put the Rockies on the scoreboard in the fourth inning, blasting a two-run home run to tie the game at two runs apiece.
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— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) June 20, 2019
The Rockies continued to keep the pressure on Greinke and broke through in the seventh inning, plating three runs on six hits. While the heart of Colorado’s lineup put runners on the basepaths, Ryan McMahon and Tony Wolters delivered the clutch hits.
The Rockies managed to knock Greinke out of the game with a line of seven innings pitched, allowing five runs on 11 hits, the most the club has ever tallied against him in his home ballpark.
McMahon continues to thrive
Youngster Ryan McMahon continued to justify the Rockies’ decision to send Brendan Rodgers down to Triple-A. Since re-taking the reigns as the starting second baseman, McMahon has been red-hot at the plate and is currently riding a career-high six-game hitting streak.
McMahon is hitting .500 (13-for-26) with three doubles and nine RBIs over that span.
His latest RBIs came at a clutch moment of Wednesday’s ballgame. With runners on first and second, McMahon ripped a two-RBI double in the gap in left field to break a tie game, pushing the Rockies ahead 4-2.
McMahon pushed another run across the plate in the eighth inning, poking a single through Arizona’s infield for his third RBI of the game, a run that turned out to be the deciding score.
Jon Gray deals in the desert
Starting pitcher Jon Gray had another impressive outing on the mound versus the Diamondbacks.
Arizona put pressure on Gray early in the game by establishing runners on the corners with no outs in the second inning. The hurler managed to get Nick Ahmed to hit a weak dribbler to McMahon at second, but he was unable to field the ball smoothly, allowing a run to score while failing to record an out.
Gray then buckled down to get Carson Kelly to fly out to centerfield with Greinke coming to the plate. With two on and one out, Gray managed to induce a groundball off Greinke’s bat. The Rockies attempted to twist a double play, but Greinke managed to leg out the throw to first base, allowing another run to score to establish a 2-0 lead for Arizona.
Once Gray escaped the second inning, he settled into the game nicely.
Gray departed after six innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out four batters.
Gray’s start qualified as a quality start as the victory improved the Rockies’ record to 21-3 in games the starting pitcher registers a quality start.
Story leaves with an injury
The Rockies were presented with quite the scare when shortstop Trevor Story was forced to leave the game in the sixth inning after suffering an injury to his right thumb when diving head-first into second base.
Stroy’s thumb appeared to get jammed when he was trying to beat throw down to second base. Upon sliding, Story immediately grimaced in pain, shaking his hand which forced to the Rockies’ training staff to check on him.
The injury forced Story from the game, but initial reports are that x-ray’s on the finger have returned negative. Updates are sure to come after all measures have been exhausted in ensuring the youngster’s health.