Tulo, CarGo power Rox past D-backs
PHOENIX -- Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez each homered as the Rockies beat the D-backs, 6-4, and avoided a four-game sweep on Sunday at Chase Field.
The Rockies rattled off six straight hits to open the game, which included a three-run blast by Tulowitzki, to take a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning against D-backs starter Rubby De La Rosa, who allowed six runs on eight hits in five innings in the loss. Gonzalez's homer off De La Rosa proved big when the D-backs surged late.
"You look at any team, when you look at the middle of their lineup and both guys hit, the team's record is probably real good," said Tulowitzki, who hit his ninth. Gonzalez hit his 11th.
Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa gave up two runs on five hits in six innings for his first career win at Chase Field. Yasmany Tomas homered and drove in three runs for the D-backs, who couldn't reach .500 in their 12th chance since April 24.
"It's not something we're really concerned about, but we keep hearing about that," D-backs shortstop Nick Ahmed said. "We'll get there, we'll get over the hump and keep going."
The D-backs had two on and one out in the ninth against closer John Axford, but Gonzalez helped stop a big inning with a diving catch in right field of Pollock's line drive.
Video: COL@ARI: CarGo dives to rob Pollock of a hit
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
'Tulo' from the get-go: Tulowitzki's three-run homer in the first inning, plus a single later, added to a stunningly successful offensive performance on the Rockies' 3-7 road trip. The homer extended Tulowitzki's hit streak to 18 games and his on-base streak to 33. He finished the trip 12-for-32 (.375).
"I hope the power stroke shows up," Tulowitkzi said. "In 'BP' it's been a little bit better. I'm hitting some balls, getting backspin. If that's the case, maybe every once in a while I'll take some shots."
Video: ARI@COL: Tulo opens scoring with three-run tater
Rubby avoids early exit: After allowing six straight hits to open the game, Rubby De La Rosa got Brandon Barnes to ground into a double play. That started a stretch of 14 straight batters retired by the D-backs' right-hander, which ended with a leadoff single by Tulowitzki in the sixth and then Gonzalez's two-run home run.
"He settled down and had four beautiful innings, as good as you can pitch," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "Rubby had a tough go today, that's definitely not a step forward."
No longer Chase-ing a win: Jorge De La Rosa had never won in nine starts at Chase Field, and after receiving the four-run, first-inning lead it seemed more bad luck was on the way when Tomas' homer led off the second and runners were at second and third with one out. De La Rosa, however, forced groundouts from Chris Owings and Rubby De La Rosa, and coasted. He is 4-1 with a 1.67 ERA in five road starts this season.
"Finally, I got my first win here -- everybody was telling me about it," said De La Rosa, who said his chronically sore left middle finger bothered him in the fifth. "I threw some good games here but I never got the luck to win a game here. Today was my first one, and I hope to win more when I come here."
Goldy crushing the Rockies: D-backs first baseman Paul Goldschmidt went 1-for-4 with an RBI double, reaching base for the 29th straight game against Colorado. He is batting .414 during that stretch against the Rockies.
Video: COL@ARI: Goldschmidt doubles home Pollock in 8th
QUOTABLE
"You have to realize with that mindset, you're going after it like you're pitching the seventh game of the World Series every outing. We'll get you out of there when you look tired. He has to get that. He has to get the eye of the tiger, I guess," -- Hale, on Rubby De La Rosa's inconsistency
Video: COL@ARI: Hale on loss, D-backs' effort
"It's hard when we lose a lot of games. The only thing I try to do is give the team the best chance to win, keep games close and wait for the guys to start hitting." -- Jorge De La Rosa, who earned two of the Rockies' three wins on the road trip
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
After righty relievers Scott Oberg and Tommy Kahnle struggled during the D-backs' two-run eighth, lefty Boone Logan struck out David Peralta to quell the rally. Logan's last 11 road appearances have been scoreless.
UMPIRE LEAVES
Home plate umpire Fieldin Culbreth (mild concussion) left the game with one out in the bottom of the second inning after he was hit by a foul tip earlier in the game. Jim Reynolds took over behind the plate for the remainder of the game, operating with a three-man crew.
WHAT'S NEXT
Rockies: The Rockies are off Monday, then right-hander Chad Bettis (4-3, 3.67 ERA) will try to regain his form against the Angels on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. MT. The Angels will start lefty Andrew Heaney (1-0, 1.38).
D-backs: After an off-day on Monday, the D-backs open a five-game road trip, which closes the first half of the season, with a pair of Interleague games against the Rangers on Tuesday at 5:05 p.m. MST. Robbie Ray takes the mound for the D-backs having lost four of his last five starts. The left-hander has been solid this season, posting a 2.55 ERA in seven starts.
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