The Diamondbacks vs Rockies matchup delivered another important result in the National League playoff race, with Arizona defeating Colorado 5-3 at Coors Field on Wednesday.
The victory kept the Arizona Diamondbacks alive in the postseason chase with only four games remaining in the regular season. Arizona took advantage of an early defensive mistake by the Colorado Rockies and built enough of a lead to hold on for the win.
Diamondbacks Take Advantage of Early Rockies Error
The Diamondbacks quickly put pressure on the Rockies in the first inning after Colorado left fielder Zac Veen committed an error.
Arizona turned the mistake into four unearned runs. Gabriel Moreno and Nolan Arenado each delivered an RBI single, while Corbin Carroll drove in two runs with a triple.
That four-run opening inning proved decisive as the Diamondbacks ultimately secured a 5-3 victory.
The early cushion also helped Merrill Kelly settle into the game.
“There’s four runs on the board before I even step on the mound,” Kelly said, explaining how the early offensive production made his job easier.
Corbin Carroll Makes MLB History
One of the biggest highlights for Arizona came from Corbin Carroll, whose first-inning triple added two runs to the Diamondbacks’ total.
The triple also added another notable achievement to Carroll’s young career. According to MLB, he became only the second player in league history to record at least 60 triples and 100 home runs within his first 640 career games, joining Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig.
Carroll’s contribution was especially important as Arizona continues to fight for a place in the National League Wild Card picture.
Merrill Kelly Gives Diamondbacks Valuable Innings
Merrill Kelly allowed two runs and four hits before leaving the game after a one-out, broken-bat single in the sixth inning.
Kelly had thrown 78 pitches when manager Torey Lovullo decided to turn the game over to Arizona’s bullpen.
Justin Martinez entered and retired the next two Rockies hitters to finish the inning.
Kelly felt he had pitched well enough to remain in the game, particularly after allowing only four hits, including two broken-bat singles.
However, with the Diamondbacks needing to win every remaining game, Lovullo opted to rely on a bullpen that has been one of Arizona’s strengths this season.
Diamondbacks Lean on Bullpen
The decision to remove Kelly reflected the importance of every remaining game for Arizona.
Lovullo has indicated that he plans to be aggressive with his pitching changes as the regular season reaches its final stretch. Against the Rockies, he again trusted his relievers to protect the lead.
“Merrill was real effective,” Lovullo said. “He did his job and handed it right over to the backend guys, and they executed.”
That strategy helped Arizona preserve its advantage and secure a crucial road win.
Diamondbacks Playoff Picture
The Diamondbacks entered the game facing a narrow route into the postseason. The victory ensured that Arizona could not be eliminated on Wednesday.
Losses by the Phillies and Cubs also moved Arizona to within three games of the third National League Wild Card spot with four games remaining.
The Diamondbacks now have little room for error. After finishing their series against the Rockies, Arizona will travel to San Diego for three games against the Padres to close out the regular season.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia has one game remaining against Milwaukee before hosting Tampa Bay for three games, while Chicago will face Miami once before finishing the season with three games against Boston.
Arizona also needs favorable results elsewhere because the team does not completely control its own postseason destiny.
Diamondbacks vs Rockies Result
The final score was:
Arizona Diamondbacks 5, Colorado Rockies 3
Arizona’s four-run first inning provided the foundation for the victory, while the pitching staff did enough over the remainder of the game to keep Colorado from completing a comeback.
The result means the Diamondbacks remain alive in the playoff race heading into the final games of the regular season.
What Comes Next for Arizona?
The Diamondbacks’ path is now straightforward in one sense: they need to continue winning while monitoring the results of the teams ahead of them in the Wild Card race.
Arizona’s final three regular-season games will come against the Padres in San Diego, making every remaining game critical.
For now, the Diamondbacks vs Rockies matchup has given Arizona another opportunity to stay in contention. The 5-3 victory did not guarantee a postseason berth, but it ensured the Diamondbacks would have another day to fight for one.
Leave a Reply