Karros homers, then exits win over D-backs after collision with Tovar

PHOENIX -- After breaking a scoreless drought for the Rockies and tying the game with a home run Tuesday night, third baseman Kyle Karros left the 3-2 win over the D-backs early following a scary collision on the infield.

In the bottom of the sixth inning at Chase Field, Arizona’s Ketel Marte rolled a one-out grounder to the space between Karros and Colorado shortstop Ezequiel Tovar. As both infielders angled for the ground ball, they collided and both went down as Marte reached safely.

Replays appeared to show that the right shoulder of Tovar may have collided with the face of Karros, who spun to the ground in pain. It appeared that had either player given way, the grounder looked playable.

Karros eventually walked off the field under his own power, being replaced at third base by TJ Rumfield. Tovar stayed in the game.

A half-inning earlier -- just 15 minutes of actual clock time -- Karros had blasted a two-run home run to deep left-center for his 10th homer of the season to tie the game 2-2 and snap the Rockies’ 15-inning scoreless streak. His homer scored Tovar, who had reached on an infield single.

In the top of the seventh, a sacrifice fly off the bat of Mickey Moniak plated Hunter Goodman to give the Rockies their first lead on the night and in the series in Phoenix, one the bullpen would go on to preserve.

Meanwhile, Colorado starter Tomoyuki Sugano settled down impressively after a rocky first inning in which he gave up homers to Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte. From there, he held Arizona scoreless over the next six frames. The veteran right-hander allowed just three hits after the opening inning and repeatedly worked out of traffic, including escaping a sixth-inning jam with a double-play grounder from Arenado, keeping the Rockies in position to complete an unlikely comeback.