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 Their futility in the clutch ended during a stunning four-run rally
against Arizona Diamondbacks closer Brad Ziegler that resulted in a
5-4 win for the Rockies.
Pinch hitter Ben Paulsen capped the uprising with a game-winning,
two-run single off Matt Reynolds on an 0-2 pitch.
The only left-hander in the Arizona bullpen, Reynolds relieved
Ziegler, who has converted 22 consecutive save opportunities, and
got the left-handed-hitting Paulsen to swing and miss at two
fastballs.
"On the last pitch, I was trying to expand with a fastball and
didn't quite get it out there enough," Reynolds said. "You get him
in a situation there, you have some opportunities to get the ball
out of the zone and hopefully he goes after one, takes a poor swing
on one. Just didn't make the pitch."
The game-winning rally began when pinch hitter Daniel Descalso
grounded a single to right-center to open the ninth against Ziegler
(0-3).
With one out, shortstop Jose Reyes grounded a double through the
hole at second base, moving Descalso to third.
Third baseman Nolan Arenado lined a two-run single off the top of
the left field wall with one out, cutting Arizona's lead to 4-3.
Arenado's hit ended the Rockies' longest single-game drought with
runners in scoring position since they went 0-for-15 in those
situations against the San Diego Padres on June 8, 2013.
After Ziegler got right fielder Carlos Gonzalez to fly out, second
baseman DJ LeMahieu hit a bouncer off Ziegler's glove. The reliever
ran for the ball, threw while falling down, and the ball sailed over
first base, putting runners on second and third for catcher Nick
Hundley, who walked.
"That was definitely the worst pitch I threw," Ziegler said of the
ball Arenado hit. "But even then, I had a chance on the chopper back
to me and lost it in the lights, believe it or not. Then when I went
to pick it up, I rolled my left ankle, so I tried to spin and throw
on one foot. It probably wasn't the smartest decision. I should've
just ate the ball and kept it first and second."
After the walk to Hundley, Ziegler gave way to Reynolds, who began
his career in the Colorado organization and made his fifth
appearance in the majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery in
September 2013.
Paulsen was 3-for-12 as a pinch hitter with no RBIs before lining
his game-winning hit up the middle against Reynolds. It was
Paulsen's second career walk-off hit, both this season.
"A big situation, you just want to slow everything down, just try to
see strikes and put good swings on them," Paulsen said. "I dug
myself a hole. He left one up, and I handled it."
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Arizona rookie left-hander Robbie Ray was on the verge of winning
for the first time in nine starts since July 7. He has lost six
straight decisions, winding up with a no-decision Monday after
allowing one run in 5 2/3 innings.
Center fielder A.J. Pollock hit a two-run homer in Arizona's
three-run third, hammering an 0-2 changeup deep into the left fields
stands for his 14th homer. Right fielder Ender Inciarte and left
fielder David Peralta each had run-scoring singles, Inciarte in the
third and Peralta with two outs in the fifth, as the Diamondbacks
built a 4-1 lead.
That damage came against starter Chad Bettis, who allowed a
career-high 11 hits and four runs in six innings but got 11 outs on
ground balls and had four strikeouts and no walks.
Three relievers followed Bettis to the mound for three innings, the
final one Simon Castro (2-0), who retired the six batters he faced
to earn his second victory in three appearances since the Rockies
brought him up from Triple-A Albuquerque on Aug. 23.
"It was a win we felt like we should've had," Pollock said. "We
could've scrapped (for) more runs. You never want to go that many
innings without scoring runs. It just didn't feel great going into
that last inning, and it came back to haunt us."
NOTES: Diamondbacks INF Phil Gosselin, acquired from the Braves in
July, was reinstated from the 60-day disabled list and started at
second base in his Arizona debut. He was out due to a fractured left
thumb. ... RHP Allen Webster was optioned to Triple-A Reno, and
Arizona designated minor league RHP Kevin Munson for assignment to
clear space for Gosselin on the 40-man roster. ... RHP Silvino
Bracho, who made his major league debut Sunday, became the 27th
pitcher to appear for the Diamondbacks this season, one shy of the
club record set in 2010. ... Rockies RHP Kyle Kendrick, out since
Aug. 1 due to right shoulder inflammation, will be activated to
start second game of the doubleheader Tuesday. He is expected to
throw 60-70 pitches. ... Rockies 1B Justin Morneau (concussion
symptoms/cervical strain) will remain on a rehab assignment with
Double-A New Britain through Thursday before being re-evaluated.
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