Reynolds wrap: Rockies rally to top D-backs
PHOENIX -- Mark Reynolds homered in the sixth and delivered a two-run single to tie the game in the ninth, and D-backs closer Fernando Rodney uncorked a wild pitch that allowed the Rockies to score the go-ahead run in a 7-6 victory Saturday night at Chase Field.
Rodney (1-2) entered 6-for-7 on save chances, but has blown two in a row. He has had just two appearances with no baserunners in his 12 appearances. Because the Rockies got to him in the ninth -- and their own closer, Greg Holland, improved to 11-for-11 on save chances -- the Rockies will finish April in first place the National League West.
"Anytime you come from behind in the ninth, especially against a guy like Rodney, it's huge," said Reynolds, who leads the Rockies in home runs with eight. "Our bullpen has been great.
"When we get just enough runs and those guys do their job, it's fun to be a Rockie right now."
With the Rockies trailing by two to start the ninth, pinch-hitter Pat Valaika singled. Walks to DJ LeMahieu and Carlos Gonzalez loaded the bases for Reynolds, who lifted his RBI total to 23 with a single through the left side. Rodney's wild pitch, his second of the inning, let Gonzalez score. More >>
"It was a little bit of tough ending of a game I thought went very well for us," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. "Zack [Greinke] threw the ball exceptionally well and set us up perfectly to maneuver through the bullpen. Offensively, we swung the bats very well and did enough to win the ballgame. Unfortunately, that didn't happen."
Rockies lefty Tyler Anderson pitched his team into a 6-2 hole, in part because he yielded three homers -- solo shots to Brandon Drury and Jeff Mathis in the second inning, and a Statcast-estimated 481-foot, two-run job to Jake Lamb in the fifth. The Rockies had solo shots by Trevor Story to open the third, Reynolds to begin the sixth and Alexi Amarista to open the seventh -- all off starter Zack Greinke, who fanned nine.
But the homers -- Amarista's was his first in 251 at-bats -- kept the Rockies close. Now they're 8-0 in one-run games.
"These wins, these types of wins, leave a real good taste in your mouth," Rockies manager Bud Black said.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Getting CarGo's back: Gonzalez, a three-time Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner, flubbed Yasmani Tomas' leadoff line drive in right for a three-base error to open the eighth. But Carlos Estevez (3-0) made sure it didn't hurt by forcing a Drury liner, a Nick Ahmed foul pop and a Mathis fly ball to left. More >>
Parra with the glove: After David Peralta's leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth, Holland wild-pitched Peralta to second. Chris Owings laced a liner to left, only to see Gerardo Parra break his heart with a diving grab. Holland fanned Paul Goldschmidt looking to end it. It was a 5-start catch with 24 percent catch probability and he needed to cover 36 feet in 2.9 seconds.
"What a great play by Parra, after a tough night at the plate," said Black, noting Parra's 0-for-5, four-strikeout offensive performance. More >>
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Despite six straight losing seasons going into this season, being at the top of the division through April is not unfamiliar for the Rockies. Last year they were in a virtual tie with the Dodgers despite being 11-12. In 2013 they were a game ahead of the Giants at the end of April.
SMILING, BUT SEARCHING NONETHELESS
Anderson's struggles -- nine home runs in 30 1/3 innings, after holding opponents to 12 in 114 1/3 last season as a rookie -- linger as as a concern. He said he needs to "be ahead in the count more often -- it's like I'm behind all the time, which makes it tough to pitch."
Anderson said he appreciated the lift from teammates but he knows he has to correct the issues that have led to a 1-3 record and 7.71 ERA.
"It seems I keep going back to the drawing board because it's happened six times in a row now," he said. "There are some thoughts, for sure."
WHAT'S NEXT
Rockies: After pitching through temps that dipped into the 30s in his first 2017 start, Rockies righty German Marquez won't have to worry about that in a dome in the desert. Marquez will face the D-backs on Sunday at 2:10 p.m. MT.
D-backs:: Arizona closes the 10-game homestand with a 1:10 p.m. PT game, Left-hander Patrick Corbin is on the hill. In Corbin's last outing Tuesday night in a 9-3 win over the Padres, he was more like the Corbin of old, allowing two runs on nine hits, while walking two and whiffing nine in seven innings.
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