Story hit his 10th homer of the season in the Rockies' 9-0 victory
over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday at Chase Field, tying
Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu's record for homers by a
rookie in April and also matching George Scott as the fastest to 10
homers in a major league season. Both had 10 in 21 games.
"I know he's broken a lot of records the first month," Colorado
manager Walt Weiss said. "It is a big deal. What a start to a career
the kid's had. That's as good as it gets."
Nolan Arenado also hit his 10th homer -- in his 22nd game -- and
Ryan Raburn and Nick Hundley added bases-empty homers as thje
Rockies broke a five-game losing streak.
Story has five homers in four games in Arizona.
"Maybe when it's all said and done it will be something cool to look
back on, but right now I'm just worried about winning games," Story
said of his expanding set of records.
"I feel like it's always good weather here. We play spring training
here, so it's a familiar place. I grew up playing in the heat, so
yeah, I guess you could say I feel comfortable here."
Colorado (10-12) has 14 homers in four games in Chase Field, which
has yielded a major league-high 5o homers in 15 games.
Right-hander Tyler Chatwood (3-2), back this season after missing
most of the last two following his second Tommy John surgery in
mid-2014, gave up five hits in 6 1/3 scoreless innings.
He struck out four and walked three for his second victory against
Arizona in as many starts this season.
"It's been a long road back, and I'm just grateful to have the
opportunity," Chatwood said. "That's the biggest thing. I'm having
fun. I'm getting to pitch again."
Story, Hundley, Charlie Blackmon and Gerardo Parra had two hits
apiece. Hundley drove in three runs and Parra drove in two.
Hundley had a two-run double in the seventh inning and Parra had RBI
doubles in the seventh and eighth innings.
Chris Owings had two hits, both doubles, and Arizona had five hits.
The Diamondbacks (12-13) had only one runner as far as third base
while losing for the fourth time in their last six games.
Colorado hit four homers off Arizona left-hander Robbie Ray in a
span of 25 pitches to break from a scoreless tie in the fourth. Ray
had not given up a homer in 21 1/3 innings this season.
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Raburn led off the fourth inning with his fourth homer of the
season, and Hundley hit his homer one-out later for 2-0 lead.
Raburn, a right-handed batter, is 6-for-15 with three homers against
lefties this season.
Blackmon opened the fifth with a single before Story hit the first
pitch for a two-run homer, his fifth at Chase Field this season.
Arenado followed with a homer on a 3-2 pitch, the ninth of his
at-bat. It was 5-0.
"He just wasn't locating any off-speed pitches, number one, and
number two the pitches they hit were up," Arizona manager Chip Hale
said of Ray.
"It's very simple. The obviously like swinging the bat in this ball
park. If you don't locate your pitches, they're going to hit them.
That's what happens with confident hitters."
NOTES: Colorado activated CF Charlie Blackmon (turf toe) from the
disabled list and optioned OF Brandon Barnes to Triple-A
Albuquerque. Blackmon hit .185 with six runs and three RBIs in the
first eight games of the season before going on the DL. Barnes was
hitting .191 with four RBIs. ... Rockies RF Carlos Gonzalez was held
out of the starting lineup, and, combined with Thursday's rainout,
had a two-day break. ... Arizona claimed LHP Edwin Escobar off
waivers from Boston and optioned him Triple-A Reno on Friday. The
Diamondbacks designated Reno RHP Matt Buschmann for assignment to
make room on the 40-man roster. Buschmann made his major league
debut with Arizona on April 10 after 10 minor league seasons with
six organizations. ... Arizona 2B Jean Segura opened Friday's game
at shortstop to give SS Nick Ahmed a start off. Ahmed has three hits
in his last 41 at-bats.
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