Rockies waste big inning and lose 11-6 to Diamondbacks
PHOENIX (AP) — The Colorado Rockies put together another big inning against an Arizona starter. This time it wasn't enough.
The Rockies scored six runs off Shelby Miller in the fourth, but none after that as the Diamondbacks stormed back from a four-run deficit for an 11-6 victory Tuesday night.
"We are going to be a good offensive club," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. "It was unfortunate we had those two really ugly innings. That game got away from us. We've got to put that game away."
Paul Goldschmidt drove in four runs with a solo homer and a bases-loaded triple to lead Arizona's 15-hit outburst.
Trevor Story hit the third home run of his two-game major league career to start the big inning for Colorado, but Arizona pitchers blanked the Rockies over the other eight innings.
Nick Hundley hit a three-run homer and DJ LeMahieu had a two-run shot off Miller, acquired by Arizona in an offseason trade with Atlanta.
Arizona's Jean Segura drove in three runs with a homer and a triple. Nick Ahmed added a pair of RBI singles.
Miller threw two hitless innings after the six-run fourth.
"That was huge, saved the bullpen as well," Goldschmidt said. "I know he was probably frustrated, but to me those were probably the biggest innings when he went back in there the fifth and sixth and put up zeros."
The Rockies led 6-2 after their big inning but Arizona came back with three in the sixth and six in the seventh. Ahmed singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh and Chris Owings brought another home with a pinch-hit single before Goldschmidt cleared the bases with his triple to deep left-center off Jason Gurka.
"They kept battling. They kept grinding," Arizona manager Chip Hale said. "We expect that because that's sort of what they've identified they want to be — the team that never quits."
Tyler Clippard (1-0) threw a perfect seventh to get the victory in his Diamondbacks debut.
Christian Bergman (0-1) allowed four runs in one inning to take the loss.
"I didn't locate the ball," Bergman said. "It's as simple as that. Not really a whole lot more to add."
Things didn't look good for the Diamondbacks early when Miller had an outing that greatly resembled the one teammate Zack Greinke turned in the previous night. Greinke gave up six runs in the third inning of a 10-5 season-opening Colorado victory.
But Diamondbacks pitchers retired 14 of the last 15 batters while the Arizona offense turned it on.
ALWAYS ON
Goldschmidt has reached base in 37 straight games against the Rockies. That's one shy of the club record for any opponent, set by Luis Gonzalez, also against Colorado, from June 25, 2000, to Sept. 21, 2002.
ROSTER MOVE
The Diamondbacks optioned RHP Silvino Bracho to Triple-A Reno and selected the contract of RHP Kyle Drabek from Reno.
HE'S SORRY
Before the game, Hale apologized to reporters for insinuating Monday night that they had overhyped the season opener.
"I didn't mean to be harsh in any way," Hale said. "I was just stating a fact that even some players talked to me about — that you lose that first game, with the team we believe we can be, and it's almost 'the sky-is-falling' type of attitude. ... I didn't want those guys to feel that. I didn't mean to put it on you guys.
"We also think we're a pretty good team, too. There was disappointment."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Diamondbacks: OF A.J. Pollock underwent surgery to repair his broken right elbow. The team issued a statement saying the operation went well. A plate was inserted on the tip of the elbow. The team said there is no timetable for his return. Pollock was placed on the 60-day DL.
UP NEXT
Rockies: Colorado has an afternoon game before finally getting to go home after two-plus months in Arizona, counting spring training. RHP Tyler Chatwood will make his first major league appearance in nearly two years after undergoing two Tommy John surgeries.
Diamondbacks: LHP Patrick Corbin gets his first start of the season. Corbin was treated cautiously last year after undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the 2014 season, but has no restrictions going into this season.