This was the kind of game that slipped through the Rockies’ fingers so many times this season.
But not this time.
The Rockies combined seven solid innings of pitching from German Marquez, clutch hits from Garrett Hampson and Connor Joe and another save from Daniel Bard to win at Arizona, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon.
Colorado took three of four games in the series, marking the first time in franchise history that it won a four-game series at Chase Field. The Rockies also moved climbed out of the basement and into a fourth-place tie with the Diamondbacks in the National League West. Both teams are 38-48.
Bard, who has a chance to be called to the all-star team as a substitute, pitched a perfect ninth, striking out two, to claim his 18 save in 20 chances.
The Rockies were blanked for 5 2/3 innings by Tyler Gilbert before rallying against right-handed reliever Keynan Middleton in the seventh. Ryan McMahon sparked the rally with a one-out single and advanced to third on a sloppy throwing error by Arizona third baseman Josh Rojas on Jonathan Daza’s grounder. Instead of being erased by an inning-ending double play, the Rockies had an opportunity.
Middleton fanned Brian Serven for the second out but Hampson hit a two-run double off the center-field wall, scoring McMahon and Daza and tying the game, 2-2. Joe Mantiply relieved Middleton and Joe ripped an RBI single to left to score Hampson for the go-ahead run.
Marquez, in fits and starts, is beginning to resemble the all-star pitcher he was a year ago. Sunday, he limited the D-backs to three hits while striking out four and walking two.
Ketel Marte gave Arizona a 1-0 lead in the first when he hammered Marquez’s two-out, 3-2 sinker over the center-field wall. Marquez has served up 18 homers, just five on the road.
Marquez retired the next 12 hitters he faced and didn’t run into any sort of trouble until the sixth when he issued a leadoff walk to Jose Herrea and a single to Rojas. A wild pitch by Marquez, followed by Alez Thomas’ forceout grounder to Joe at first, scored Herrera to put Arizona ahead, 2-0.
The Rockies finished their National League road trip with a 3-4 record — losing three games at Los Angeles and taking three of four at Arizona.
The Rockies open a seven-game homestand on Monday night against San Diego at Coors Field. Colorado hosts the Padres for four games before playing three against Pittsburgh before the all-star break.
