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 The Colorado right fielder subsequently hit two homers, including a
go-ahead grand slam, and drove in a career-high seven runs Wednesday
night as the Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-4.
The Rockies earned a split of the four-game series -- breaking a
four-series losing streak at Coors Field -- and sent the
Diamondbacks to their eighth loss 11 games. Colorado matched its
season high with 18 hits.
Gonzalez's grand slam came with no outs in the seventh inning on a
1-1 slider from Keith Hessler, a left-hander who was recalled
earlier in the day from Triple-A Reno and was brought in to face
Gonzalez. It was Gonzalez's fourth career grand slam and second this
season.
In the first inning, Gonzalez made a sliding catch of center fielder
A.J. Pollock's drive. The grab resulted in a sacrifice fly to end an
11-pitch at-bat after starter Jon Gray found himself with no outs
and runners on first and third to begin the game.
The catch became almost an afterthought thanks to Gonzalez's
slugging exploits.
"He made a heck of a play early in the game," Rockies manager Walt
Weiss said. "He's one of those guys, one of the freaks in the league
that can do something to wow you on any given night. He certainly
did tonight."
The Diamondbacks took a 4-3 lead in the sixth. Shortstop Chris
Owings, who had three hits and two RBIs, doubled home a run against
Gray, stole third and scored when left fielder Ender Inciarte
grounded out against Christian Friedrich.
The Rockies loaded the bases in the seventh against Randall Delgado
(5-4) on singles by pinch hitter Cristhian Adames and center fielder
Charlie Blackmon and a walk to shortstop Jose Reyes.
Gonzalez had never faced Hessler, and all he knew came from the
scouting reports -- a lefty with a 95 mph fastball and a slider.
"In that situation, I didn't want to get jammed," Gonzalez said,
"(and wanted to) get the barrel out. He decided to go with all
sliders. It was a good pitch, but I was able to throw my hands in
and put it in the seats. It was going down and going away from me,
but I got the barrel out front."
Matt Reynolds, Arizona's only other left-handed reliever, was
unavailable. He pitched the previous two days, his fifth and sixth
appearances for the Diamondbacks since undergoing Tommy John surgery
in September 2012, so the team turned to Hessler. In nine
appearances with Arizona totaling 5 1/3 innings, Hessler has now
allowed three homers.
"He's just going to have to get the ball down and hit his spots
better," Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. "He got the swing and
miss on the first breaking ball down and away (to Gonzalez), and
then he just hung it.
"It's inexperience. It's hard to put him in that situation, knowing
that when we sent him down he'd had a hard time with (allowing home
runs), but Matt Reynolds was not available today ... (and we) wanted
to match up. It just didn't go well."
After Reyes singled with two outs in the eighth, Gonzalez belted his
33rd home run to tie teammate Nolan Arenado for the National League
lead.
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Arenado hit his 33rd homer in Colorado's three-run first, a two-run
shot that followed Gonzalez's sacrifice fly and gave Arenado 100
RBIs for the season. The third baseman is the first Rockies player
to drive in 100 runs since Troy Tulowitzki had 105 RBIs in 2011.
Arenado has homered in three straight games, tying the longest
streak of his career. He also homered three games in a row this
season from May 30 to June 1.
"He's 24 years old," Weiss said. "There's a lot of good stuff
coming. Pretty special player."
The winning pitcher was Brooks Brown (1-2), who was recalled
Wednesday and pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings. Justin Miller, who
retired the final five batters, earned his first career save.
Gray, who is on an innings limit, left after throwing 79 pitches in
5 1/3 innings. He allowed a career-high 10 hits and four runs with
two walks and one strikeout. Gray threw first-pitch strikes to 19 of
26 batters but never retired the side in order.
"It wasn't very good," Gray said of his outing. "I just didn't have
the feel for anything. Still, I tried to battle and strand as many
runners as possible."
NOTES: Diamondbacks 1B Paul Goldschmidt flew back to Phoenix after
Tuesday night's game to be with his wife for the birth of their
first child. He will rejoin the team in Chicago but could miss
Friday's game against the Cubs. ... Arizona RHP Zack Godley will be
recalled from Double-A Mobile to start Friday at Chicago. ...
Diamondbacks LHP Kevin Hessler was recalled from Triple-A Reno. ...
The Rockies recalled RHPs Brooks Brown and Justin Miller from
Triple-A Albuquerque. ... Diamondbacks RHP Jeremy Hellickson
(strained left hamstring) threw 67 pitches Tuesday in a simulated
game in Scottsdale, Ariz. ... Arizona swept doubleheaders from
Colorado on May 6 and Tuesday to become the first team to sweep two
doubleheaders from the same opponent in one season since 2012, when
Minnesota swept two doubleheaders against Kansas City. ... In his
first rehab start since undergoing Tommy John surgery July 24, 2014,
Rockies RHP Tyler Chatwood pitched two innings for Class A Modesto
and allowed three hits and one run in two innings.
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