Murphy’s two-out, pinch-hit solo home run in the eighth inning was the big hit in the Colorado Rockies‘ 6-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night.
The Rockies overcame an early three-run deficit for their season-high seventh straight win. Colorado moved past Arizona into second place in the NL West and clinched its sixth consecutive series win against a team over .500, the first time in franchise history the Rockies have done so.
Murphy drove the first pitch he saw from Arizona’s Yoshihisa Hirano (2-2) over the left-field wall.
”I just went up there ready to hit a fastball again, made sure I didn’t miss this time,” Murphy said. ”It’s a great feeling, especially in a tight ball game like that when you can help the team win.”
Hirano, a top setup man, was into his second inning of work, which isn’t typical of his role.
”We asked a little bit more of Yoshi today,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. ”He just made a mistake to a hitter that squared up a split in the middle of the zone.”
Scott Oberg (6-0) got the win in relief for the second night in a row, though he gave up Nick Ahmed’s tying RBI single in the bottom of the seventh. Adam Ottavino pitched the eighth and Wade Davis, who was out Friday due to an illness, escaped a jam in the ninth for his 28th save.
”Contributions from everywhere,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. ”So many guys at different points of the game doing their thing. We’ve talked about it all year. We have our core guys, but it’s going to take all 25-plus.”
Diamondbacks starter Zack Godley had a three-run lead and a no-hitter through four innings, but the Rockies scored two runs on three hits, a walk and a wild pitch in the fifth.
Steven Souza Jr. – hitting .185 coming in – had three hits and two RBIs, including a run-scoring single in the bottom of the fifth that pushed Arizona’s lead back up to two. But the Diamondbacks lost another high-scoring, close game at home to the surging Rockies.
”These are tough losses. These are grinding losses,” Lovullo said. ”These are the ones that really test your character and your togetherness and your belief in one another.
In the sixth http://www.patriotsauthorizedshop.com/authentic-danny-shelton-jerseyy , Godley threw wide on a bouncer back to the mound for an error before losing track of Ian Desmond at first base and allowing a stolen base. Desmond had driven in a run with a single, and reliever Silvino Bracho’s wild pitch allowed Trevor Story to score the tying run, making it 4-4.
Andrew Chafin relieved Bracho and got pinch hitter Raimel Tapia, the hero of Friday night’s win, to hit into a pitcher-to-third double play to end the inning.
Godley pitched five-plus innings and gave up three runs with six strikeouts and four walks.
The Diamondbacks struck for three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Colorado answered with Desmond’s triple to lead off the fifth, Garrett Hampson’s double and Charlie Blackmon’s two-out ground-rule double to make it 3-2.
Rockies starter Kyle Freeland lasted five innings and allowed four runs and five hits.
SOLID DEBUT
Hampson, called up before the game, made his major-league debut, playing second base. He turned in a nice play ranging far to his right to throw out Chris Owings at first base in the second inning, and his first major-league hit was a run-scoring double in the fifth.
Hampson also stole a hit from Jon Jay with a diving stop and throw in the eighth.
”Once that first pitch was thrown, my nerves calmed down pretty good,” Hampson said. ”You step right into intense games. Every pitch matters. That’s what you play for.”
A POWERFUL PITCH
Eight-year-old Hailey Dawson threw out the ceremonial first pitch wearing a 3-D printed robotic hand. She has a condition from birth that caused her to have a missing right pectoral muscle and only two underdeveloped fingers on her right hand.
Hailey’s goal is to throw a first pitch at every Major League Baseball stadium. Eight ballparks remain on her list, which is expected to be completed by mid-September.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rockies: 2B DJ LeMahieu was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left oblique strain. Manager Bud Black said the two-time All-Star could miss a few weeks.
Diamondbacks: Pitcher T.J. McFarland (neck) threw 15 pitches off a mound Saturday and could come of the disabled list as soon as Monday. … OF Jarrod Dyson (groin) is doing baseball activities but not running the bases as yet.
UP NEXT
Rockies: RHP Antonio Senzetela (3-2) is set to be reinstated from the disabled list to face Arizona after missing a turn in the rotation with a blister on his right middle finger.
Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Greinke (10-5) makes his first start since before the All-Star Game after not pitching for the NL last Tuesday.
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MINNESOTA (1-0) at GREEN BAY (1-0)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
OPENING LINE - Packers by 3
RECORD VS. SPREAD - Minnesota 1-0, Green Bay 0-1
SERIES RECORD - Packers lead 60-53-2
LAST MEETING - Vikings beat Packers 16-0, Dec. 23, 2017
LAST WEEK - Vikings beat 49ers 24-16; Packers beat Bears 24-23
AP PRO32 RANKING - Vikings No. 3, Packers No. 6
VIKINGS OFFENSE - OVERALL (15), RUSH (15t) 49ers Cassius Marsh Jersey , PASS (17).
VIKINGS DEFENSE - OVERALL (12t), RUSH (9), PASS (18).
PACKERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (10), RUSH (28), PASS (7).
PACKERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (6), RUSH (24), PASS (7).
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Vikings swept season series last year, first time since 2009. ... QB Kirk Cousins 20 of 36 for 244 yards, two TDs in Vikings debut last week. ... RB Dalvin Cook had 95 total yards in first game back since knee injury in Week 4 last year. ... WR Stefon Diggs has 18 catches for 271 yards and three TDs in last three games vs. Packers. ... WR Adam Thielen had 102 yards receiving last week, eighth career game over 100-yard mark. ... TE Kyle Rudolph has four TDs in past four road games. ... DE Everson Griffen has five sacks, two forced fumbles in past six games against Green Bay. ... S Harrison Smith has four INTs, eight pass deflections and 1 1/2 sacks in last five divisional games. ... First-round pick CB Mike Hughes had three tackles, three pass deflections and 28-yard INT returned for TD in debut. Hughes was first Vikings rookie to return INT for score since Smith in 2012. ... Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has 19 TDs, four INTs and 111.8 rating in nine career home games vs. Vikings. ... Rodgers only player to have four games with four-plus TD passes and no INTs against Minnesota. ... RB Jamaal Williams averaging 72.7 yards over past three home games. ... WR Davante Adams has TD in last four games against Vikings. ... WR Randall Cobb tied for ninth in franchise history with 22 receiving TDs at home. ... Jimmy Graham's 44 receiving TDs most among tight ends since 2013. ... DL Kenny Clark had career-high two sacks in last meeting. ... LB Nick Perry with four sacks in three career games at Lambeau against Vikings. ... S Kentrell Brice led team last week with career-high nine tackles and had first career sack. ... Fantasy tip: Rodgers threw three TD passes in fourth quarter against Bears after returning from knee injury despite being limited to pocket. Expect him to play as Packers face another formidable defense, though Rodgers is masterful running no-huddle attack with quick, precision passing.
