Good execution yields poor results

DENVER -- D-backs manager Kirk Gibson went back and looked at the video from Saturday night's play in which the Rockies' DJ LeMahieu scored from first on Carlos Gonzalez's single to right to try to see if there was anything his defense could have done to prevent it.

Gibson's verdict? No.

"They pressed the issue and they did a heck of a job on it," Gibson said of the fifth-inning hit that gave the Rockies a 5-4 lead they would not relinquish in a 9-4 win.

The play was a perfect storm of sorts with LeMahieu running on the pitch and Gonzalez hitting the ball through the defensive shift the D-backs set up.

Right fielder Gerardo Parra had to run to his right to field the ball and then turn his body and fire to shortstop Chris Owings at second.

Owings was positioned to make a tag at second in case Gonzalez was trying for a double on the play, meaning that he had to turn his body to throw to the plate.

In the end, despite on target throws from Parra and Owings, LeMahieu was safe even without catcher Miguel Montero dropping the ball.

"We got to the ball as quickly as we could, took our time, made sure we made a good, strong, accurate throw," Gibson said. "Owings did a pretty good job, made a good throw. It was right there and LeMahieu would have beat it anyway, I believe."

Rockies third-base coach Stu Cole, who made the aggressive decision to wave LeMahieu home, had a little different take on the play.

"When I noticed that Parra was kind of taking his time getting to that ball in the gap, and then he threw the ball to second, I knew we had to try," Cole said. "And DJ did a great job because he was running hard all the way. And once [Parra] threw to second base, I was sending him all the way. DJ gets a lot of credit because he never slowed up. And with him being off on the pitch, it put things in motion."