*Photo from the San Diego Union Tribune*
Getting hit by a pitch is usually never painless, especially given how fast pitchers throw in the majors. But, this time for David Peralta, the pain hurts less. Eduardo Escobar hit an RBI double, Peralta got hit by a pitch to score the winning run, and the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Colorado Rockies 4-3 on Tuesday night, in walk off fashion.
The D-Backs are on a massive downswing, having won just 4 of their last 31 games. But, the 4 games they've won have been started by Merrill Kelly. Although he got the no decision tonight, Kelly still put together a solid outing for Arizona, allowing two runs on 6 hits, walking one hitter and striking out one in 5 1/3 innings pitched. It was Joakim Soria who got the win for Arizona, having pitched the top of the 9th inning.
D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo said of Kelly that "He’s been the guy that right now we’re turning to every fifth day, he's been that stopper. That’s what we need from starting pitchers. We want them to step up and say, 'I got you. I’m going to work deep into this game, do everything I can to keep you in this game and give you a chance to win.' That’s exactly what Merrill has been doing."
Asked about his outing, Kelly said "It was OK. Not my best. I didn’t feel great out there. I didn’t feel like the ball was coming out the way it has the last couple of games. But I was happy with the job I did based on how I felt. I was happy I was able to keep us in the game. I was happy with the results based on how I felt, that’s for sure."
Peralta got the scoring started in a 3 run first inning for Arizona, hitting an RBI double to score Josh Rojas and give the D-Backs a 1-0 lead. The next batter up, Escobar, also hit an RBI double to bring Peralta home, and Escobar scored on the very next at bat, when Christian Walker also hit an RBI double, and it was 3-0 D-Backs after one inning. They didn't score again until the 9th, when Peralta got hit by the pitch.
For the Rockies, Charlie Blackmon came around to score on an RBI double from Brendan Rodgers in the 4th inning, cutting the deficit to 3-1. In the 5th, an RBI single from Raimel Tapia scored CJ Cron to bring Colorado to a 3-2 deficit. They then tied it in the 7th inning, when Elias Diaz scored on a ground out from Yonathan Daza.
Daniel Bard, the closer in Colorado, took the loss for the Rockies, getting charged with the walk off run, getting just one out in the 9th inning. Jon Gray was the starter in this game, and put together a solid outing, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and one walk, racking up 8 strikeouts over 6 innings pitched. Jhoulys Chacin and Carlos Estevez also pitched.
Rockies manager Bud Black said "As the game went on, we got some hits, we fought back, tied the game. We couldn’t get the big blow to add on to the inning as the game progressed. We get a ball in the gap, we get a little more than what we got, the game is different."
The D-Backs and Rockies continue their series tonight, with Black giving Antonio Senzatela the start, and Humberto Castellanos starting for Arizona.
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