PHOENIX – The Colorado Rockies have been coming up with the big hits so far this season.
Five of the Rockies’ six runs in a 6-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks came with two outs. Troy Tulowitzki’s bases-loaded double in the fifth inning was the huge blow.
“Big-time hit by a big-time player,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said of Tulowitzki’s double. “We’ve done a nice job with runners in scoring position, and we’ve gotten the hit most of the time.”
Tulowitzki’s hit came with the Rockies trailing 3-2 against starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy and the Diamondbacks. Michael Cuddyer drove in two runs in the first inning with a two-out single, and Wilin Rosario hit his fifth home run of the season, a solo shot in the sixth.
The Rockies (15-8) remained in first place in the NL West with the victory.
Juan Nicasio (3-0) pitched long enough to earn the win, going five innings and allowing three runs on four hits. He struck out two and walked one.
McCarthy went six innings and allowed six runs on nine hits. He struck out seven but dropped to 0-3 on the season with a 7.48 earned run average.
The Diamondbacks took a 3-2 lead in the third when leadoff batter Gerardo Parra doubled and took third on a ground out. Then he evaded the tag and crossed home plate despite a risky decision to try and score on a groundball to shortstop, which Tulowitzki fielded but threw wide to home plate for an error.
Parra extended his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games and reached base for the 22nd of 23 games this season.
Cuddyer’s hit gave the Rockies the early lead after Jordan Pacheco and Carlos Gonzalez reached base on back-to-back singles, then each moved up a base on a long fly ball from Tulowitzki.
The Diamondbacks drew even on Eric Chavez’s solo home run and Alfredo Marte’s two-out RBI single to drive in A.J. Pollock in the second inning. Pollock had singled and moved to second on a throwing error, then advanced to third base on a wild pitch.
The Diamondbacks had a scary moment when shortstop Didi Gregorius was hit near the top of the helmet with a pitch from Rockies reliever Josh Outman in the seventh inning. He was down on his back for a few moments before sitting up and walking off the field. Cliff Pennington replaced Gregorius, entering as a pinch runner.
Gregorius suffered a contusion to the right temple of his head and will undergo further tests on the injury. His status is day-to-day, the Diamondbacks announced.
“They (trainers) brought him in, and he completed the written test; he passed that with flying colors,” Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. “It shows no neurological problems. They are doing a CT scan for precautionary measures. We will see what that shows, and there is a possibility of a seven-day DL (disabled list).”
Outman said he planned to look for Gregorius before Saturday’s game to apologize and admitted it still was on his mind after the game.
Arizona (13-10) loaded the bases in the inning, but reliever Matt Belisle got out of the jam by retiring Martin Prado on a pop out and striking out Paul Goldschmidt.
“That guy’s unbelievable. He does everything well,” Rosario said of Belisle.
“Matty was outstanding. Brought him in in a tough situation,” Weiss said. “You’re hoping right there he can maybe give up one, and he gets out of it without giving up anything.”
Rafael Betancourt earned his eighth save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning for Colorado.
Rockies rumpus
Jonathan Cooper, the Arizona Cardinals’ first-round draft pick from Round 1 of the NFL Draft, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game. ... OF Jason Kubel will appear as a designated hitter in a game at the team’s Scottsdale facility Saturday. Kubel is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left quadriceps. ... Country music duo Florida-Georgia Line took part in batting practice and fielded groundballs with the Diamondbacks during the pregame workout. The group recently was named New Artist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music.
