Diamondbacks 3, Rockies 4: So close, and yet...

Unsurprisingly the Diamondbacks took the loss in the game, though they made it close, and nearly won, before the Rockies eventually walked it off in the bottom of the ninth,

The Diamondbacks went down quick in the top of the first, with Ketel Marte, Pavin Smith, and Eduardo Escobar each grounding out.

Taylor Widener walked the first batter he faced, and then after a pop up, plunked the next two batters to load the bases, but got a strikeout for the second out of the inning, and then a fly out to end the inning.

Widener walked a batter, and with two outs, Josh Rojas made an error on what should have been an easy play, putting runners on the corners, instead of ending the inning. Trevor Story, the next batter, then laced a single into right, scoring the runner at third. Taylor Widener was injured, and had to be taken out of the game, with Joe Mantiply relieving him. It was “right groin discomfort” for him, so we’ll see what that means for Taylor.

Mantiply then struck out Charlie Blackmon to end the inning. Madison Bumgarner pinch hit for Mantiply in the bottom of the inning, with the Dbacks going down quietly. MadBum was then relieved by Caleb Smith. Smith got a strike out, then a fly out, but then gave up a double to Josh Fuentes. Fortunately Yonathan Daza flew out to right field to end the inning.

The Dbacks went down quietly in the top of the fourth. Raimel Tapia singled off of Caleb Smith in the bottom of the inning, but aside from that, the Rockies went down quietly too.

Peralta singled to lead off the fifth, but Rojas, Reddick, and Leyba then struck out, flew out, and grounded out respectively. Bottom of the inning Charlie Blackmon singled, and later scored on a Josh Fuentes double.

In the top of the sixth Daulton Varsho walked to lead off the inning, and Andrew Young followed with another free pass, with Varsho advancing to third. Ketel Marte hit a sacrifice fly which scored Varsho, and PAVIN! Smith then hit a two run home run to put the Dbacks up 3-2.

Alex Young replaced Caleb Smith in the bottom of the inning, and pitched a scoreless inning. Josh Rojas doubled to lead off the top of seventh, but the Diamondbacks could not capitalize on it, with Josh Reddick lining out, Domingo Leyba grounding out, and Daulton Varsho striking out.

Young got the first two outs in the top of the eighth inning, before being relieved by Joakim Soria, who got a pop up to end the inning.

Taylor Clarke relieved Soria in the top of the eighth inning. Clarke allowed a single to Ryan McMahon, and David Peralta made an error on the play, allowing McMahon to advance to second. Yonathan Daza on a fielder’s choice, which allowed McMahon to score, and tying the game up at 3-3. Dom Nunez walked, and Garrett Hampson doubled, but Nunez was thrown out at the plate ending the inning.

In the top of the ninth, after an Eduardo Escobar strikeout, David Peralta doubled to left. The Rockies challenged the tag on the play, but Peralta was ruled safe. Josh Rojas then drew a walk, but - and stop me if you’ve heard this one before - the Diamondbacks were unable to bring the lead-off double home. Josh Reddick and pinch hitter Stephen Vogt struck out to end the rally.

Stefan Crichton took over in the bottom of the ninth, but it was all over in just two pitches, as Trevor Story homered to give the Rockies the lead and ending the game. It was Arizona’s eighth defeat in a row, and their thirteenth consecutive loss on the road. Their record is now 18-30, as they have lost a startling seventeen of their last twenty - almost a repeat of the 2020 slump.

Bells and whistles, by Jim

Hey, at least the Suns won, amIrite? Given that, quite surprised the Gameday Thread was as active as it was, with 360 comments in total. Present therein were: AzDbackfanInDc, AzRattler, C.Wesley Baier, GuruB, Jim McLennan, Justin27, Keegan Thompson, Makakilo, Michael McDermott, MrMrrbi, NikT77, Snake_Bitten, Xerostomia, edbigghead, gzimmerm and since_98. Nothing turned Sedona Red though. We may not see anything do so while the losing streak continues.

The good news is, I can say for certain, it won’t be extended tomorrow. That’s because the D-backs have an off-day. They will resume on Tuesday, back in Phoenix, opening up a nine-game homestand against the Giants (who just got swept at home by the Dodgers), Cardinals and Mets. It won’t be easy. The defeat also means the team will go a full calendar month between road wins, with their next game away from Chase not until June 3rd. Their last road victory was April 25. Thanks to Wes for recapping this one!