Sugano works around traffic to keep D-backs at bay

DENVER – Tomoyuki Sugano turned the tide on a rough couple of starts with a steady performance Saturday to earn his 150th win in his combined campaigns with the Nippon Professional Baseball League and Major League Baseball, leading the Rockies to even the series with a 4-2 win over the D-backs to set up Sunday’s rubber match.

Sugano pitched through traffic in each of his five innings on the hill, leaving with two runs (both earned) on seven hits, two walks and a hit batsman while striking out one.

The Rockies struck early, taking a two-run lead in the first frame and never letting it lapse. Willi Castro, Brenton Doyle, and TJ Rumfield opened the inning with three straight hits, including Doyle’s two-bagger. Rumfield’s single to left plated Castro and Mickey Moniak singled to left-center to bring Doyle home.

Arizona put a straight number on the scoreboard in the top of the second, executing a double steal that saw Lourdes Gurriel Jr. steal home with the D-backs first run, cutting Colorado’s lead in half.

The Rockies tried the tactic again, opening the second with three straight hits, all to left, including a double from Kyle Karros, a run-scoring single from Jake McCarthy (who was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double) and a single from Castro.

The Rockies added on in the eighth, loading the bases on a pair of singles and a walk before Brandyn Garcia hit Moniak to send Doyle home with an insurance run.

Antonio Senzatela came on to close out the ninth, securing his third save in as many opportunities and setting the stage to take a series from the D-backs in Sunday’s finale.