DENVER (AP) — A weekend trip to hitter-friendly Coors Field has sparked Arizona’s offense.
Paul Goldschmidt doubled and tripled and had two RBIs to finish off a dominating series and the Diamondbacks earned an 8-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.
Goldschmidt homered twice in each of the first two games against the Rockies. He was 8 of 13 with four home runs and nine RBIs in the three-game sweep.
“This is definitely a good weekend,” Goldschmidt said. “We had a stretch of where our offense was really struggling, maybe longer than that. This weekend was definitely a step in the right direction.”
Ketel Marte had three hits and three RBIs for Arizona on Sunday. The Diamondbacks scored 29 runs in Colorado after having just 10 in a three-game series in San Francisco.
“You win three games here the way we did against this type of team, this atmosphere, you’re doing a lot right,” Arizona manager Torey Luvollo said.
Marte led off the second inning with his fourth home run of the season off Kyle Freeland and added an RBI single in a three-run sixth.
Freeland (6-6) allowed four runs and struck out eight in six innings for Colorado. The Rockies have lost seven straight at home for the first time since April 23 to May 10, 2016 to fall below .500 for the first time since April 11.
“You don’t want to fall below .500 now, but you know there is still a lot of time to get things going and make runs like teams have already done,” catcher Chris Iannetta said.
Colorado scored twice in the bottom of the sixth inning on Ian Desmond’s two-run single that chased Zack Godley (6-5). Godley allowed two runs and five hits and struck out eight in 5 2-3 innings.
Arizona added three runs in the seventh. Goldschmidt tripled off Jerry Vasto to drive in two, and he scored on Marte’s double to left.
“For us to add on was big,” Goldschmidt said. “A two-run ballgame, anything can happen.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: C Jeff Mathis was placed on paternity leave and OF Christian Walker was recalled. ... RHP Shelby Miller (Tommy John surgery) was scheduled to throw 85 to 90 pitches for Double-A Jackson on Sunday.
Rockies: OF Carlos Gonzalez (rib) has shown improvement and was available to pinch-hit on Sunday. He could return to the lineup Tuesday in Philadelphia. ... RHP Adam Ottavino (left oblique strain) felt fine after a 20-pitch bullpen session Saturday. “Thinks are pointing in the right direction,” manager Bud Black said. ... RHP Scott Oberg was put on the 10-day DL with a back strain, retroactive to Friday.
EXTRA EXTRA
Marte’s home run gave him 10 straight hits for extra bases, which tied a club record. His sixth-inning single ended the streak.
“I never think about it,” Marte said. “After the game somebody told me.”
ROSTER MOVE
The Rockies promoted Vasto from Triple-A Albuquerque and designated right-hander Jairo Diaz for assignment to make room for Vasto on the 40-man roster. Vasto and fellow left-hander Sam Howard made their major league debuts. It was the first time in club history two players made their debuts in the same game.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: LHP Patrick Corbin (6-2, 2.87 ERA) will open a three-game home series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.
Rockies: RHP Jon Gray (6-6, 5.66) will start Colorado’s six-game road trip against Philadelphia on Tuesday night.
