Rockies smack 3 HRs, but fall short in Arizona

PHOENIX -- Placed in catch-up mode by a rough start from lefty Tyler Anderson, the Rockies hit three home runs but fell short vs. the D-backs, 9-8, at Chase Field on Friday night.
Ian Desmond's two-run shot came in the second inning, after Anderson coughed up five runs in the first. In the fourth, Gerardo Parra's two-run homer and Charlie Blackmon's three-run shot tied the game at 7.
While the power showed the potential of the Rockies' offense, the result showed how hard it is to overcome a rough start. Anderson gave up seven runs on five hits, including Nick Ahmed's three-run homer in the first inning, and four walks while throwing 71 pitches in 2 1/3 innings.

The loss went to Antonio Senzatela, a starter by trade who made the team in a long-relief role. He allowed three well-placed singles as the D-backs scratched out two runs in the fifth.
"Tough to overcome five in the first, but we did it," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "Proud of our guys for coming back, tying that game and making a great run.
"I think the fastball command was really lacking tonight for Tyler. The back-breaker was the changeup to Ahmed, which sort of cut instead of faded, for whatever reason."
The three homers came off D-backs starter Robbie Ray, who was 9-2 against the National League West last season. The lefty starts the season with a win despite allowed seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and three walks in five innings.

The Rockies banged out 10 hits. Chris Iannetta went 2-for-3 (and is 5-for-7 this season), Desmond and Carlos González were 2-for-4, and Nolan Arenado was 2-for-5.
"This is a really good lineup," Iannetta said. "You're going to see a lot of that throughout the course of the season," Iannetta said.
Anderson, meanwhile, struggled with his command in Spring Training, and that continued in his first start.
"The feel wasn't great, and I threw a ton of balls. On top of that, I was falling behind and just trying to be too fine with things instead of being more aggressive in the zone early and often," Anderson said. "I felt like I was getting a lot better coming into the season, so just scratch it up and get back to the drawing board."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
In the Nick of time: After the Rockies tied the game at 7, Chris Owings and Jake Lamb led off the bottom of the fifth with singles off Senzatela. Ahmed fell behind 1-2 before lining a 96-mph fastball into right field to drive in the go-ahead run.
Blackmon's blast: Blackmon's first hit of the season was a big one. With two on and one out in the fourth, Blackmon delivered a home run off the batter's eye in center that capped the five-run inning and tied the game at 7.
THERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO SCORE
Gonzalez's seventh-inning RBI single, after Arenado had doubled, was the Rockies' first RBI that didn't involve a home run. Both runs in Thursday's opener came on solo shots from DJ LeMahieu and Arenado.

WHAT'S NEXT
Rockies: Saturday's series finale at Chase Field appears to be a good spot for Black to start Ryan McMahon, the Rockies' No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and No. 41 prospect overall. Righty Germán Márquez (11-7, 4.39 last year) will start for the Rox, opposing D-backs righty Zack Greinke. Game time is 6:10 p.m. MT.
D-backs: Greinke will make his season debut Saturday night. Greinke would have started Opening Night, but a right groin injury in mid-March delayed his preparation for the season.
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