Rockies 14, Diamondbacks 12: The bats come alive in the desert

The Rockies scored 14 runs on 19 hits in cathartic road victory

It was a classic showdown in the desert between the Colorado Rockies (8-37) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (24-22) as the bats were hot, and the pitchers just tried to survive.

The two offenses combined for 26 runs on 34 hits and set a season-high for MLB with 36+ hard-hit balls in the game. The 14-12 victory for the Rockies handed Arizona their first loss in franchise history when they have scored 12 or more runs in a game, making them 151-1 in that category.

It also marked the first major league victory for interim manager Warren Schaefer.

First Inning ambush

The Rockies started the game off in style against Zac Gallen. On the first pitch of the game, Jordan Beck launched a solo home run to give the Rockies a quick lead. Two batters later, Hunter Goodman blasted a two-run home run to make it a 3-0 lead for the Rockies.

It was the first time since September 20, 2019, that the Rockies hit two home runs in the first inning on the road. Additionally, Beck’s home run was the first leadoff home run on the first pitch by a Rokcies since Ezequiel Tovar on August 12, 2023. Coincidentally, both of those instances last came against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Pitching gauntlet

Unfortunately, the lead didn’t last long as the Diamondbacks rallied for three runs of their own in the bottom half of the first, setting up the back-and-forth affair for both offenses.

Germán Márquez struggled on the hill for Colorado as he lasted just three innings, giving up seven runs (five earned) on seven hits with three walks and a strikeout. Márquez threw 82 pitches, the most through three innings in his career. He only gave up two extra-base hits, a double and triple, but he was singled to death, and errors behind him didn’t help.

Angel Chivilli didn’t fare well in the fourth, as he ended up throwing 35 pitches, giving up three runs on four hits, including two solo home runs. Jake Bird followed with two decent innings, but he also allowed one run on two hits. After a scoreless inning by Zach Agnos, Tyler Kinley gave up a run on two hits in the eighth. Thankfully, Seth Halvorsen locked things down with a spotless ninth inning to secure his second save of the season

The Diamondbacks’ pitching didn’t fare much better. Gallen ended up going five innings, allowing six runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Jalen Beeks replaced Gallen for the sixth and recorded just two outs, allowing four runs on two hits while allowing three walks against his former team. Ryan Thompson then started the seventh inning and allowed three runs on five hits while recording just two outs. Juan Morillo tossed 1 ¹⁄₃ scoreless innings, but the Rockies managed to tack on a run in the ninth against Kendall Graveman.

Comeback kids

Trailing 6-3 heading into the top of the third, the Rockies didn’t stop hitting. They rallied for three runs that inning to tie the game 6-6. The Diamondbacks kept the pressure and built up the 11-6 lead heading into the sixth inning. However, the Rockies rebounded against the bullpen for four runs in the sixth and tacked on three more in the seventh, thanks in part to a crucial double by Michael Toglia to tie the game at 11.

The key was that the Rockies were patient and also aggressive early in the counts. They jumped on fastballs and put the ball in play with authority. It’s been well documented how much they have struggled on the road and just offensively in general with those types of things.

Offensive explosion

A major aspect of the game was the number of home runs that propelled the offense. The Rockies clubbed four home runs against Gallen, with Ezequiel Tovar hitting his first of the season alongside Kyle Farmer, who hit his second home run of the season in as many days.

Beck ended up with the team home run lead after clubbing his eighth home run in the seventh inning, his second of the game. The Rockies in total had 10 extra-base hits, including the five home runs, three doubles, and two triples.

Beck went 3-for-5 with three RBI and four runs scored. Tovar went 5-for-5 with two RBI, and finished a double shy of the cycle in the first five-hit game of his career. Goodman drove in four as part of his three-hit game and Kyle Farmer went 2-for-5 and drove in four runs.

The Rockies went 5-for-12 with RISP and, more importantly, struck out just seven times while drawing five walks.

Up Next

The Rockies will finish up the road trip against the Diamondbacks tomorrow. Chase Dollander (2-4, 6.88 ERA) will toe the rubber following an excellent start in Texas and face off against Merrill Kelly (4-2, 3.71 ERA).

That game begins at 2:10pm MST. See you then!

★ ★ ★

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!