Diamondbacks 4/6, Rangers 5/Rockies 8

Record 20-6-3. Change on 2015: +6.5

The Diamondbacks had more losses this afternoon than they had from March 9-26 inclusive. But playing split-squad against major-league line-ups, and dropping one game by a single run, while forcing extra innings in the other is hardly a disaster. That said, there was cause for some concern as two pitchers who have struggled this spring continued to do so - time is running out for both Rubby De La Rosa and Josh Collmenter. Although one imagines neither have their roster spot in jeopardy, it doesn't look like they will have much confidence to take into the regular season.

Starting at Salt River Fields, De La Rosa still continued to struggle against left-handed batters. A three-run double keyed a five-run third inning for Colorado, and Rubby was slapped around to the tune of 11 hits and a walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out three and was charged with six runs, all earned, raising his spring ERA to 7.45. However, the Arizona bullpen were excellent: Daniel Gibson, Enrique Burgos, Tyler Clippard, Andrew Chafin and Myles Smith combined to retire the first 11 Rockies after De La Rosa left the game, until a Nick Ahmed error ended the streak with one out in the tenth inning.

The offense did a good job of getting back into the game. The Diamondbacks scored twice in the first on doubles by David Peralta and Yasmany Tomas, then after falling four behind, got it back to a one-run game in the fifth. Jean Segura drove one in with a single, and came home to score on Paul Goldschmidt's third home-run of spring. Then, in the ninth, Arizona tied it up with a Sean Jamieson RBI double, to force the game into extras. But Smith allowed two runs in the 10th, and the Diamondbacks were not able to come back one more time, despite getting the tying run on base with nobody out.

The unbeaten streak had already ended in Surprise. There, it was Collmenter whose spring struggles continued, being charged with all five runs the Rangers scored in his three innings of work - the big blow there was a three-run homer off the bat of Prince Fielder, as Josh's gopher-ball spring continued. But Collmenter allowed seven hits over three innings, without a walk or strikeout, and his spring ERA rose to 9.69. Yoan Lopez looked good starting though, with three scoreless frames against a tough line-up. He struck our four with four hits and a walk. Randall Delgado and Jake Barrett tossed scoreless frames of relief, the former fanning the side in the seventh.

Jake Lamb, Phil Gosselin and Colin Bray each had two hits for the Diamondbacks. Gosselin picked up his third home-run of spring, and also tripled, while Chris Owings had the other Arizona hit, his second homer. Peter O'Brien made an error in that contest. Tomorrow, it's the final evening game of the pre-season, with a contest against the Giants in Scottsdale that starts at 7:05pm. I presume it will be Robbie Ray taking the mound for Arizona.