Merrill Kelly gave Arizona the kind of short, steady start the club needed Wednesday night at Coors Field, and the Diamondbacks rode a four-run first inning to a 5-3 win over the Rockies that kept their postseason hopes from going dark.
The result
Arizona moved within three games of the third National League Wild Card spot with four games remaining after both the Phillies and Cubs lost. The Diamondbacks still face a tight route into October, but the victory ensured they could not be eliminated in Denver.
The decisive swing of the game’s early momentum came on a first-inning error by Colorado left fielder Zac Veen. Arizona turned that opening into four unearned runs. Gabriel Moreno and Nolan Arenado each brought home a run with singles, then Corbin Carroll cleared the bases further with a two-run triple.
Carroll’s triple also put him in rare company. Within his first 640 major league games, he has reached at least 60 triples and 100 home runs, becoming only the second player in MLB history to do so. Lou Gehrig is the other.
Kelly allowed two runs before manager Torey Lovullo made another quick call to his bullpen. After a one-out broken-bat single in the sixth, Kelly’s night was over. Justin Martinez entered and retired the next two Colorado hitters to close the inning.
That has been the shape of Arizona’s season on the mound. The bullpen has been a strength, a notable change from recent years, and Lovullo has made clear that he will not wait around when a starter’s turn appears to be ending.
| Final | R |
|---|---|
| Diamondbacks | 5 |
| Rockies | 3 |
Arizona will finish the Colorado series before heading to San Diego for its final three regular-season games against the Padres, who remain in the Wild Card picture as well. Philadelphia has one game left against Milwaukee before hosting Tampa Bay for three, while Chicago finishes with one against Miami and three in Boston.
