Diamondbacks 7, Rockies 8: Sweep denied

Another series, another chance to secure a sweep. Robbie Ray took the mound looking to build on a decent performance last time up in Miami. Facing Ray was Chad Bettis, who last faced the D-backs earlier in the month, giving up 3 runs over 6 innings of work.

The D-backs started things off well, with Jean Segura doubling to lead off the game but inexplicably tried to take 3rd on the play and was thrown out easily. That seemed to kill all the momentum, as the team would have no answers for Bettis as he kept them scoreless through the first half of the game.

Robbie Ray was adequate through the first couple innings, allowing 2-out hits in each but quickly escaping to end the threat both times. His pitch count was creeping up with long at-bats, but the contact was weak and no damage was done. The 3rd was where things took a turn for the worst.

Bettis struck out to start the inning, but Charlie Blackmon hit a deep fly into right field that just cleared the elevated wall for a home run, giving the Rockies a 1-0 lead. Trevor Story followed with a single, and stole second after Chris Hermann stumbled as he was trying to throw down. Nolan Arenado walked, and Mark Reynolds singled to right, scoring Story from second and doubling the lead to 2-0. Ray escaped the inning though, getting a pop out and strike out to strand two runners.

The 4th was more of the same for the Rockies, with Gerardo Parra leading things off with a single. A grounder into the hole was booted by Lamb, and by the time he recovered, Dustin Garneau was safe for an error. Bettis sacrificed, moving both runners up and Blackmon again delivered, singling to right to score both runners and make things 4-0. Story struck out for the second out, but Arenado doubled to shallow right, with Blackmon just beating the throw home, 5-0 Rockies. Mark Reynolds struck out but the damage was already done.

The 5th saw the D-backs threaten, with a Yasmany Tomas single ending a streak of 12 straight Dbacks retired. Phil Gosselin reached on an infield single to put a runner in scoring position with 1 out, but both Chris Hermann and Chris Owings struck out, ending the inning.

With a dangerously high pitch count, Ray needed a quick inning and was successful in that, grabbing two quick strikeouts of Raburn and LeMahieu, but a Parra single and Garneau walk ended the day for Robbie Ray. Ray again was unlucky, with Rockies hitters finding holes to score runs and not having a sharp defense behind him. He finished the day with 4 2/3 IP, 9 H, 5 R with 3 earned, while walking 3 and striking out a career-high 9. On the double switch, Ahmed came in the game at SS with Segura moving to 2nd and Evan Marshall on the mound. He quickly retired Bettis with a strikeout to end things.

The offense finally awoke from their slumber in the 6th. Nick Ahmed doubled to lead off the inning. Two quick outs followed but not before Paul Goldschmidt lined a double to center to score a run, 5-1. Lamb struck out to end the inning.

It was more of the same in the 6th, as Blackmon reached on an infield single before Marshall grabbed two quick outs. With the shift employed, Reynolds grounded one right to Ahmed. Ahmed went to 2nd base but with Segura out of position, he fumbled getting the out and Blackmon hustled to be safe at 2nd. Raburn made the mistake pay, with a deep double into right center, scoring both runners to give the Rockies a 7-1 lead.

Like last inning, the D-backs kept the bats rolling. Tomas singled, and pinch hitter Rickie Weeks Jr. grounded a ball that Story couldn't hang onto and it trickled into short centerfield for a hustle double. Hermann lifted a ball deep into right center, scoring both Tomas and Weeks Jr to cut the lead to 7-3. Owings grounded out, moving Hermann to third and Ahmed knocked him in with a single to make it 7-4. That unfortunately was the last of the scoring for that inning, as Segura and Drury struck out and flied out respectfully.

Zac Curtis kept his scoreless streak alive with a quick 1-2-3 inning, getting a ground out, strike out and fly out to end the 7th.

Again the D-backs would respond, with Goldy doubling to right field to lead things off. Lamb moved the runner to third with a grounder, and Tomas drilled a double to deep center, scoring Goldy easily. Hermann tripled in Tomas, and Owings beat out a ground ball off the plate for an infield single, tying things up at 7-7! We've got a new ballgame!

That new ballgame was quickly erased however. Tyler Clippard came on and was excellent for the first two batters, but Nolan Arenado crushed a ball down the left field line for a homer, giving the Rockies a 8-7 lead, which turned out to be the winning run after the D-backs went down in order in the 9th. Close but not close enough for the D-backs.

Here's the Game Graph.

Source: FanGraphs

Swiffer Sweeper - Chris Owings (+12.1%)

Old Broom and Dustpan - Tyler Clippard (-18.7%)

Tough one today for D-backs fans, as they saw a comeback fall just short. Comment of the Thread was this masterpiece by hotclaws.

The Giants head to town as they face this D-backs squad. Come by tomorrow!