Rockies rally for first win for Warren Schaeffer as offense explodes for 14 runs

Rockies Report, Game 45:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: Colorado’s struggling offense came alive early against Arizona starter Zac Gallen and battered the Diamondbacks’ beleaguered bullpen, amassing 19 hits — including nine extra-base hits — and accumulating 14 runs as they snapped a four-game losing streak and got interim manager Warren Schaeffer his first win in a wild 14-12 triumph at Chase Field on Saturday.

One night after a meager two-hit output, Colorado exceeded that tally in the first seven pitches, bursting to a three-run lead in that span on the strength of a Jordan Beck leadoff home run, an Ezequiel Tovar single and a Hunter Goodman two-run homer to left field.

Arizona answered that with three runs of its own in the bottom of the first, but throughout the late afternoon and early evening, Colorado had the answers — a welcome departure from most of the season to date.

The answers came in bunches — three-run innings in the first, third, sixth and seventh innings.

Arizona stormed to an 11-6 lead after five innings, doing most of its damage at the expense of starter Germán Márquez and reliever Angel Chivilli, who pitched the fourth inning and allowed a pair of home runs.

But when the Diamondbacks turned to their bullpen in the sixth inning, Colorado pounced.

Jalen Beeks — a former Rockies reliever — was first out of Arizona’s bullpen, and the Rockies’ patience was rewarded. Michael Toglia and Beck drew walks, and then with two outs, Hunter Goodman singled, Ryan McMahon walked and Kyle Farmer doubled.

Goodman’s single and Farmer’s line drive each brought home two runs, whittling the Diamondbacks’ lead to one run.

Ryan Thompson was the victim in the seventh inning as the Rox finished the comeback. Toglia doubled to left to bring home Tyler Freeman, trying the score. Then Beck blasted his second homer of the night, putting the Rox in front, completing the stunning rally and stirring a cascade of boos from the frustrated home crowd.

Tovar delivered a five-hit night in his second game back after a month-long stint on the injured list; he notched a triple and his first home run of the season.

Goodman and Beck had three hits apiece; Beck had a pair of home runs and a triple; Goodman had a home run and a pair of singles. McMahon and Farmer each had two hits; Farmer notched a double and a home run.

The Rockies improved to 8-37.

ROCKIES STARTER’S REPORT

Colorado needed all the offense it could find because Márquez was unable to sustain the momentum from his start last Sunday against San Diego, falling into trouble quickly in the first inning and never recovering before being relieved after just three innings.

Márquez walked two of the first three Diamondbacks he faced; in between, Ketel Marte delivered an RBI single to right field. Two more runs came home in the inning.

The ball stayed in the park for Márquez, but little else went right; he allowed seven hits and three walks in just three innings. Seven runs came home; five were earned; a pair of throwing errors from Tovar and McMahon exacerbated matters.

Márquez’s ERA stands at 8.78 for the season.

Reliever Jake Bird got credit for the win; he pitched the fifth and sixth innings.

BITS AND PIECES

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: Seth Halvorsen got Pavin Smith to ground out with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on second in the bottom of the ninth, ending Arizona’s last chance to tie the game.


ROCKIES NUMBER TO NOTE: .417 — Colorado’s average with runners in scoring position Saturday as the Rox succeeded in an area that has bedeviled them for much of the year.

WHAT’S NEXT: Chase Dollander looks for another strong start to end the six-game road trip as he tries to get the Rox their first series win of the season. First pitch is at 2:10 p.m. MDT on Sunday.

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