December 23, 2024

Marte, Pham key Diamondbacks’ 5-run 9th in 8-5 victory over Rockies

Diamondbacks Rockies Baseball

Colorado Rockies' Alan Trejo, left, hugs Brenton Doyle as he returns to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Luis Frias in the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

By MICHAEL KELLY Associated Press
DENVER (AP) — Ketel Marte had a two-run single and Tommy Pham added a go-ahead double in a five-run ninth inning, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies 8-5 on Tuesday night.
Christian Walker homered for Arizona, and Kevin Ginkel (6-0) got the victory. Closer Paul Sewald loaded the bases with one out in the ninth before retiring the final two batters for his 24th save.
Brenton Doyle homered and Nolan Jones and Elehuris Montero had three hits each for the Rockies, who used a three-run seventh to take a 5-3 lead.
The Diamondbacks flipped the script in the ninth when Alek Thomas singled and Geraldo Perdomo doubled on the first two pitches from closer Justin Lawrence (3-6). Marte singled to tie it and came home on Pham’s broken-bat double. Pham scored on Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s single.
“He threw me a slider first pitch and I was just looking for that two-seamer,” Marte said. “He threw me a two-seamer and I got the hit.”
Gurriel stole second and Jace Peterson singled off Tyler Kinley to make it a three-run game.
“The way we came back, the things we did the way we executed all the way until our final out in that ninth inning was great to see,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’re obviously battling some frustration and a little bit of anger but they were able to slow down and push that energy in the right direction and executed at the most critical time.”
Walker continued his assault on Colorado pitching with a two-run homer in the third inning to put Arizona ahead 2-0. It was his 26th on the season and second in two nights.
“He’s swinging the bat really well this year,” Rockies starter Ty Blach said about Walker. “You look at his average compared to years past, he’s hitting for a higher average with the same amount of power. He’s a good player and he’s got a good approach right now.
Colorado got a run back in the third with a walk, single and two groundouts.
The Diamondbacks went ahead in an error-filled seventh. Reliever Brent Suter threw wildly to first on Perdomo’s bunt single, Marte walked and both runners moved up on a one-out groundout.
Catcher Elías Díaz’s pickoff attempt to third went into left field, allowing Perdomo to come home but Jones threw out Marte trying to score on the play.
Colorado tied it in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double by Jones and Doyle’s two-run homer, his eighth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: RHP Zach Davies was slated to pitch five or six innings with Triple-A Reno on Tuesday night. He has not pitched for Arizona since July 18 due to inflammation in his lower back.
LIKE FATHER…
Arizona 2020 first-round pick Bryce Jarvis made his major league debut when he came on to pitch in the second inning. His father, Kevin, who pitched for 10 teams — including the Diamondbacks — in a 12-year career, was in attendance.
“There were some nerves in the pen for sure but they all kind of went away as soon as I stepped on the field and made that run in,” Jarvis said. “When I took the rubber it all kind of melted away.”
Jarvis allowed a run and struck out three in three innings.
UP NEXT
Arizona rookie RHP Slade Cecconi (0-0, 2.84) will make his second career start, while Colorado will send LHP Austin Gomber (9-9, 5.33 ERA) to the mound in the series finale Wednesday.