Miley cruises against Rockies

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Brandon Drury's two-run double in the eighth inning lifted the D-backs to their second win on Wednesday, 6-4, over the Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.

It was a split-squad day for both clubs. Earlier Wednesday, the Rockies defeated the Reds, 3-2, and the D-backs beat the Dodgers, 9-2, in Glendale.

Drury's double, off Raul Fernandez, broke a 4-4 tie.

Miguel Montero's homer to right-center off Wilton Lopez in the sixth inning gave the D-backs a 4-1 lead. The Rockies' Paul Janish answered in the bottom of the seventh with his first homer of the spring, a solo shot off right-handed relief prospect Jimmie Sherfy. The Rockies tied it with two more runs against Sherfy. Corey Dickerson singled and later scored on a wild pitch, and Drew Stubbs added an RBI single.

The biggest news of the night just might be a false alarm. D-backs starter Wade Miley hit Rockies star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki on the lower left leg with a pitch in the fourth inning. The Rockies announced that Tulowitzki had a left calf contusion, X-rays were negative, and his availability is day to day. Injuries to Tulowitzki -- a right groin issue that required surgery in 2012 and a broken rib last season -- played a big part in the club finishing last in the National League West the last two seasons.

"I was just trying to get it in," Miley said of his wayward pitch. "I was trying to go in in his first at-bat, and he crushes it. I wanted to make sure I got it in, and I cut it off a little bit."

Miley, who has a spot secured in the D-backs' starting rotation, struck out five and held the Rockies to one run and four hits in five innings.

"It felt good. I'm making progress," Miley said. "I feel like it's easier to get up and down five times, and that's kind of what you're looking for."

Aaron Hill gave the D-backs a 1-0 lead with a homer in the third inning off Rockies lefty starter Pedro Hernandez, who gave up three hits but no further run damage in his three innings.

Hernandez, 24, is in camp under a Minor League contract after appearing in 14 games, including 10 starts, with the Twins last season. He also made one appearance with the White Sox in 2012. Hernandez entered the night with no runs and six hits in four innings over three Cactus League appearances.

"I was surprised when Jimmy [Wright, the Rockies' pitching coach] told me I was going to start in the second game [Wednesday]," Hernandez said. "I was excited. Working down in the zone is what I need. It was a pretty good lineup with Diamondbacks."

In fact, D-backs manager Kirk Gibson played many of his starters because he wanted them to get the extra work with the regular-season start in Australia coming up March 22-23 against the Dodgers.

The D-backs scored once in the fourth off Tommy Kahnle, on a single from Chris Owings. It was Owings' answer in his competition for the starting shortstop job with Didi Gregorius, who went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI against the Dodgers earlier in the day.

Up next: The D-backs will send Archie Bradley to the mound against the Mariners on Thursday afternoon at Salt River Fields in a game that can be heard on an exclusive webcast at 1:10 p.m. MST. This will be Bradley's final start before he gets the ball against Team Australia in an exhibition game March 21 in Sydney.