PHOENIX -- The Rockies spent much of Wednesday afternoon walking a tightrope, repeatedly pitching themselves into trouble before somehow finding a way out.
Colorado pitchers walked the bases loaded in three consecutive innings -- the fifth, sixth and seventh -- yet escaped each jam with minimal damage, carrying the Rockies to a 6-4 win over the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. The win secured the Rockies' first series win in Arizona since they won three of four against the D-backs from July 7-10, 2022.
It was a tale of two games for Colorado’s staff. Starter Ryan Feltner retired nine of 11 hitters after allowing an opening-inning run, but the command that defined his first four innings vanished as the game continued. After issuing just one walk through the first four innings, Rockies pitchers handed out six free passes over the next three frames, repeatedly inviting Arizona back into the game. Total, the Rockies allowed 10 walks.
The D-backs mounted their first serious threat in the fifth. With one out, Geraldo Perdomo singled. After Corbin Carroll popped out, Gabriel Moreno doubled to drive in Perdomo and consecutive walks to Ketel Marte and Lars Nootbaar loaded the bases. With former Rockie Nolan Arenado -- who hit a grand slam in Monday’s series opener -- representing the tying run, Feltner induced an inning-ending groundout to escape with the Rockies still leading, 6-2.
The sixth proved to be even more dramatic. Parker Mushinski came on in relief of Feltner. Mushinski couldn’t escape another jam after allowing a single and issuing consecutive walks to Ryan Waldschmidt and Corbin Carroll, prompting manager Warren Schaeffer to summon Juan Mejía from the bullpen. Moreno then extended the at-bat by successfully challenging two called strikes before Rockies catcher Brett Sullivan challenged a called ball of his own. Replay overturned the call to strike three, ending the inning with the bases still loaded and Colorado’s four-run lead intact.
Arizona wasn’t finished testing Colorado pitching. Mejía walked Marte and Nootbaar to begin the seventh before giving way to Jimmy Herget, who inherited yet another bases-loaded jam after Arenado also drew a walk. Although the D-backs forced home a run on Ildemaro Vargas’ bases-loaded walk, Herget minimized the damage by inducing a rally-killing double play.
The pressure continued into the eighth. With two aboard and two outs, Arenado again stepped to the plate representing the go-ahead run, this time against veteran left-hander Brennan Bernardino. Once again, the Rockies escaped, as Bernardino induced an inning-ending groundout to preserve Colorado’s slim 6-4 advantage.