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Rox, D-backs wrap up Wild Card showdown

By Jarrid Denney / MLB.com | September 14th, 2017 PHOENIX -- The Rockies will pit Chad Bettis against the D-backs' Zack Godley on Thursday afternoon in Phoenix in the

finale of a four-game series featuring the National League Wild Card leaders. Arizona snapped Colorado's six-game

winning streak on Wednesday and has a four-game lead on the top spot.

Bettis' start on Saturday against the Dodgers brought him his first win of the season and his first since his Aug. 14 return

from his battle with testicular cancer.

Bettis (1-2, 4.98 ERA) will try to make it two wins in a row when the Rockies take on the D-backs at Chase Field on

Thursday. The 28-year-old right-hander held the Dodgers to three earned runs on six hits in his victory. It was the second

time in a row that he had held an opponent to three runs. In nine career appearances against the D-backs, Bettis is 1-1

with a 7.30 ERA in 37 innings.

Godley (7-7, 3.18 ERA) held the Padres to two runs on four hits over seven innings in a no-decision on Saturday in his

last start. Godley has just three wins in eight starts since the start of August, but he has held opponents to four runs or

fewer in each of those starts.

Things to know about this game

• Godley piled up nine strikeouts against the Padres on Saturday, and each of those came via his nasty curveball. Only

two pitchers this season have struck out more batters in a single game with curves. Godley ranks third in the Majors with

94 curveball strikeouts this year.

MEDIA CLIPS – September 14, 2017

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• In two career starts against the Rockies, Godley is 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA (4 ER in 13 innings) and 15 strikeouts.

• Bettis has held D-backs All-Star third baseman Jake Lamb to a .071 average (1-for-14) with seven strikeouts in his

career.

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Rockies’ win streak halts at six

By Jarrid Denney and Thomas Harding / MLB.com | September 14th, 2017 PHOENIX -- Patrick Corbin turned in a stellar performance and A.J. Pollock went 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs to

lead a 16-hit attack as the D-backs snapped the Rockies' six-game winning streak and padded their National League Wild

Card lead with an 8-2 victory on Wednesday night at Chase Field.

With the win, the D-backs pushed their lead for first place in the NL Wild Card race to four games. They also clinched a

season-series win over the Rockies, which could pay dividends in the coming weeks. If the two teams end up tied in the

standings at season's end, the first tiebreaker is decided by head-to-head record. Colorado still leads for the second NL

Wild Card spot, by three games over Milwaukee and 3 1/2 games over St. Louis.

After getting roughed up in his previous start, Corbin held the Rockies to four hits and one run over 6 2/3 innings while

striking out seven.

"It was kind of reminiscent of his [Aug. 1] Cubs outing in Chicago," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. "He comes back

his next outing and then has four or five real good outings that were strung together. It was a little bit of the same; it was

fastball command. The pressure that he was putting on the hitters by executing a great game plan and setting up the

fastball. The Colorado Rockies are a very good offensive team -- we know that. When you go 6 2/3, 105 pitches and allow

one run, you're doing something very, very special."

German Marquez has been a solid presence in the Rockies' rotation most of the season, but the right-hander lasted just

four innings in his previous outing and was lifted after 3 2/3 innings on Wednesday. The D-backs taxed Marquez for 11

hits, scoring single runs in each of his four innings.

"With the lack of a breaking ball, it became a fastball-dominated repertoire for him," Rockies manager Bud Black said.

"They squared some balls up."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Mr. 1,000: The D-backs scored single runs in each of the first five innings. In the third, Paul Goldschmidt smashed a

double off the center-field wall and scored on an ensuing J.D. Martinez double to left. With the double, Goldschmidt

joined Luis Gonzalez (1,337) as the only players in franchise history to record 1,000 hits in a D-backs uniform. Since

Goldschmidt made his big league debut on Aug. 1, 2011, he has the 14th most hits in the Majors.

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"I went to congratulate him, and he just kind of pushed me aside," Lovullo said. "I said, 'Hey, you know this is a pretty

incredible accomplishment. I know one day you're gonna appreciate this. I know right now you want to win this game, and

we will, but when you think about what you've done, a thousand hits at the Major League level is an incredible

accomplishment.' For those of us who have been around him all year long, he takes it right in stride, but I think it will hit

him at some point that he's reached an incredible milestone."

Corbin keeps calm: The Rockies had their best chance at a comeback in the sixth inning, when DJ LeMahieu hit a one-

out homer to left-center to make it a 5-1 game. Corbin then intentionally walked Nolan Arenado, and Trevor Story roped

a single to center. With the tying run on deck, Corbin buckled down and escaped the jam by striking out Mark Reynolds

looking at a fastball and getting Carlos Gonzalez on a groundout to first.

"He located the fastball when he needed to, but it was more about the slider," Black said. "We struggled against him. We

needed one hit or two to get back in the game."

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Jake Lamb went 2-for-5 with two RBIs, giving him 101 on the season. This is the first time Lamb has reached the century

mark, and he joins Goldschmidt (112) to give the D-backs two players with 100-plus RBIs for the second time in franchise

history, joining the 1999 club that had four: Jay Bell (112), Steve Finley (103), Gonzalez (111) and Matt Williams (142).

WHAT'S NEXT

Rockies: Right-hander Chad Bettis (1-2, 4.98 EA), making his seventh start since returning from a bout with testicular

cancer and coming off his first win, will face the D-backs on Thursday at 1:40 p.m. MT as the Rockies attempt to win the

four-game series at Chase Field.

D-backs: The D-backs will close out their four-game set with the Rockies at 12:40 p.m. MST Thursday at Chase

Field. Zack Godley (7-7, 3.18 ERA) will get the start as he aims to pick up his third win against Colorado this season.

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Marquez forced to rely on fastball

By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | September 14th, 2017 PHOENIX -- The problem for Rockies rookie right-hander German Marquez was that his fastball -- which was all he had -

- was not good Wednesday night.

The result was his second straight short outing. Marquez yielded 11 hits, including five doubles, in 3 2/3 innings of an 8-2

loss to the D-backs at Chase Field.

"My breaking ball was not really sharp," said Marquez (10-7). "My breaking ball was not really sharp, and I became a one-

pitch pitcher, pretty much."

Marquez's rough night ended the Rockies' win streak at six games. The Rockies are in the lead for the second National

League Wild Card spot and trail the D-backs, who hold the top spot, by four games. Even more, Wednesday's result

meant the D-backs clinch the season series, which means the Rockies will have to overtake them in the standings outright

to host the Wild Card Game, as head-to-head record is the first tiebreaker. The Rockies are three games ahead of the

Brewers and 3 1/2 ahead of the Cardinals -- their closest NL Wild Card competitors.

According to Statcast™, Marquez threw fastballs on 77 percent of his 70 pitches on Wednesday -- his highest rate this

season. All but one of the hits came on a fastball. Of those fastballs for hits, just two were on the border of the strike zone;

the rest caught too much of the plate to be effective.

J.D. Martinez doubled off a third-inning curve, which hung in the strike zone and helped convince Marquez that he had to

throw fastballs and hope.

"You can get away with throwing all fastballs if you locate and you move it around the zone, but from my vantage point,

there were some balls thigh high and a little bit higher, and it looked like they were out over the plate," Rockies manager

Bud Black said.

Is this a pattern for Marquez, who is 22 but for much of the year has pitched as if he's been around longer?

This is his second straight abbreviated start. He went just four innings Friday and yielded four runs (two earned) and six

hits in the Rockies' eventual 5-4 victory. While there was something to be said for giving up just four runs despite the

heavy hit total Wednesday, the concern is that a pattern is developing.

The D-backs went 5-for-14 on decision-pitch fastballs. Opponents' batting averages against the fastball were .264 in April

and May, .280 in June and July and .350 since Aug. 1. Of course, if he has his curve and changeup he can use those as

put-away pitches.

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Marquez said his problems are based in execution, not fatigue -- even though this is his first September as a rotation

member and he's pitching in a playoff race.

"I just haven't gotten it done," he said. "It's as simple as that."

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Oberg returns to form at the right time

By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | September 13th, 2017 PHOENIX -- Rockies righty reliever Scott Oberg has had plenty of rough performances -- enough that he was sent down

to Triple-A Albuquerque for two weeks in August. But interestingly, the last difficult game was the catalyst for his current

hot streak.

Oberg is back with the Rockies, and the 27-year-old has found his form at the most important time. His last seven outings

have been scoreless, and two of his last three outings have come in close Rockies wins. He went 1 1/3 innings -- the

eighth and the first out of the ninth -- in Tuesday night's 4-2 victory over the D-backs.

However, Oberg points to Aug. 20, when he gave up two runs on two hits in a 6-2 loss to the Tigers at Coors Field, as the

game that let him know he was headed in the right direction.

The Rockies sent Oberg down on Aug. 5, partly because they noticed him putting pressure on himself. But they also gave

him a specific instruction -- make sure his slider, which can be formidable, dives to the dirt with two strikes. During that

game against the Tigers -- his second back in the Majors -- he had the right idea.

"I actually didn't get a couple of sliders to the dirt, and ended up giving up two hits that scored," Oberg said. "But I left the

game believing my thought process was in a good spot. I was in a good place. I didn't put any added pressure on myself

or any negative thoughts in my head, like [I did] a few weeks prior. I just didn't execute the pitch the way I wanted to."

The lesson was don't apply pressure, simply think of executing the pitch. Sometimes it doesn't work. Every time since that

game against the Tigers, it has.

"Before I got sent down, I think things had gotten to the point where they were starting to speed up a little bit, so the timing

of it was good," Oberg said. "And it helped to have specific instructions. Now it's like I have a plan. I can formulate it,

figure out what I need to do physically and mentally to be able to attain those goals. So by the time I came up I was able

to say, 'I've been given a specific task, and I executed that task.'"

Oberg's improved command means manager Bud Black can give primary right-handed setup man Pat Neshek a break if

necessary. Neshek (and closer Greg Holland) had pitched in three of the four game before Tuesday. With the Rockies in

the midst of 17 games in as many days, it helps for Black to trust other relievers. Righties Adam Ottavino and Carlos

Estevez, both of whom have had ups and downs this year, also figure to be called upon.

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It's a strong statement for Oberg, who underwent right shoulder surgery in 2014, but he returned to the Majors the next

year for 64 appearances because the bullpen was that thin. Oberg had a 5.12 ERA in 88 Major League appearances from

2014-15.

This year his overall ERA is at 4.99, but he's pitching much better than that during a playoff chase.

"He's been pretty crisp, thrown the ball really well," Black said. "There's been a growing confidence. When you throw the

ball well, get results, your mindset becomes more aggressive. The ability to pound the strike zone becomes a little bit

more of a pattern."

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Rockies are hoping CarGo remains CarGo

By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com | September 13th, 2017 PHOENIX -- The Rockies have been waiting all season for Carlos Gonzalez to re-emerge. And the veteran right fielder

got it going at precisely the right time.

Personally, he's a free agent at the end of the World Series, so an offseason of intense negotiations looms ahead of him.

As far as the team is concerned, its success in the race for a National League Wild Card berth and beyond depends on a

productive CarGo in the middle of the lineup.

"All along we thought our best team was Carlos Gonzalez being Carlos Gonzalez," said Bud Black, who's finishing his first

season managing the left-handed hitter and the club. "Hitting in the middle of the lineup with Nolan Arenado three-four,

whatever that combination is."

That combination has worked to perfection for the Rockies, who have won the first two games of a key four-game series

against the D-backs at Chase Field this week in the race for the NL's top Wild Card spot. The winner hosts the NL Wild

Card Game on Oct. 4.

On Monday night, Arenado's three-run eighth-inning homer proved to be the difference in a 5-4 win. On Tuesday, CarGo

hit a pair of two-run shots, the second coming in the seventh inning, snapping a 2-2 tie and giving Colorado a 4-2 win.

Gonzalez, who will turn 32 on Oct. 17, had been hitting .239 through August. Now he's roaring at .438 with four of his 12

homers and 11 of his 52 RBIs in September's first 10 games.

Nothing more illustrates the depth of his early problems than this comparative stat: He had a .637 OPS the first half of the

season and .902 mark since. His overall figure has ballooned to .738 because of a 1.603 mark since the dawn of

September.

"I'm just trying to swing at a good pitch. If they give me a good pitch I'm trying not to miss it," said CarGo, when asked to

compare what's going on now with the recent past. "I'm trying not to do too much and just hit the ball hard. That's what I've

been doing lately, and it's finally paying off. It just feels good to contribute and drive in some runs for the team."

Black said it's more than that. He said there's a stark difference in the player who's competing now as opposed to the one

who batted .216 for the month of April and .172 for the month of June.

Black said Gonzalez looked lost at the plate and needed to retool his normally potent swing and approach at the plate.

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"There wasn't one specific thing, there was a collection of things," Black said. "He got off to a slow start and in his haste to

play catchup he was expanding the zone, trying to get hits. His swing got big trying to hit for power. And that sort of

compounded itself. He really couldn't dig himself out."

The pressure can get to anyone, pending free agency in the midst of a walk year.

"It's possible," Black said. "That's the kind of thing that can happen to a player."

Why does Gonzalez think he struggled?

"I struggled because I'm a human being," CarGo said. "Even the great players sometimes don't look good out there. The

stronger ones are the ones who always stay positive and play for each other."

In essence, CarGo is the only one who knows for sure how much the pressure to produce in his 10th big league season

affected him.

Certainly, there was little team pressure. The Rockies are one of Major League Baseball's feel-good stories this season

along with the D-backs, Brewers, Twins and Angels. None of them were expected to contend, but all five are vying for

either division titles or Wild Card spots.

Under Black, the Rockies went from last year's 75-87 to 80-65 entering Wednesday. They haven't been to the playoffs

since 2009 and are right on the brink of making it to the postseason for only the fourth time in the 25-year history of the

franchise.

Gonzalez has been with the Rockies for nine of his 10 seasons, and it's where he now calls home. Does his uncertain

future bother him?

"No, the only thing I care about is having the opportunity to play," he said. "I come from a different place. I always

dreamed about being [in the Major Leagues] so I'm already winning. I have 10 years in the big leagues. That's the one

thing I'm most proud of. I just want to keep playing ball, get the opportunity to put a uniform on and fight for my

teammates."

That's CarGo being CarGo. The Rockies can only hope that he remains in that mode for the remainder of the season.

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On and off field, Desmond motivates ‘mates

By Tracy Ringolsby / MLB.com | September 13th, 2017 The sun was just rising on Labor Day morning when Ian Desmond arrived at Coors Field with a mission to accomplish.

With the help of some of the clubhouse workers, Desmond rearranged the furniture in the Rockies' clubhouse before his

teammates showed up.

"I was trying to mix things up a little bit," he said. "I wanted to create an atmosphere in there where everyone is together,

not divided. I don't think [divided] is a feeling they tried to create, but before it was kind of hard to get around. You had

people over there, people over here and people over here.

"Now we have openness. It's a little fresh air. You start to see different groups of guys intermingling, and that's what good

teams do. There where communication starts."

That afternoon, the Rockies, who had lost 15 of their previous 22 games, pulled out a 4-3 victory against the Giants,

touching off a stretch in which, after Tuesday night's 4-2 victory against the D-backs in Arizona, the Rox won seven of

their past eight games, opening up a 3 1/2-game lead on the Cardinals in the battle for the second National League Wild

Card spot heading into play Wednesday.

Of course, the Rockies have put together an impressive run of pitching and hitting in this recent stretch, which included

their first four-game sweep of the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium since 1993, the franchise's first year of existence, and

back-to-back wins in the first two games of what will be a four-game series against the D-backs, who opened this month

by sweeping three games at Coors Field.

With apologies to the expanding world of analytics, there are more than stats that determine winning and losing. There is

a human element. And there is a need for that guy in a clubhouse who can step out front and help his teammates keep

their focus, regardless of how disappointing their own season may be.

They are the guys who can challenge teammates to be better. They also are the guys who can help alleviate pressure

that teammates may start to feel. They are few and far between. It is, after all, an aspect that is part of a person's makeup.

It is not something a player can suddenly decide he wants to be.

Desmond is one of those guys. He was with the Nationals, his original franchise. Desmond also was a year ago, when

after being nearly ignored on the free-agent market, he signed a one-year deal with the Rangers. And he has been this

year, the first year of a five-year deal he signed with Colorado.

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It hasn't been all happiness. From a personal standpoint, this has to be the most disappointing of Desmond's career. His

first seven full seasons in the big leagues, he appeared in at least 154 games six times, and 130 the other. Desmond was

a career .264 hitter, whose team-first mentality was underscored by the fact that never hesitated to move to the outfield

with the Rangers after playing shortstop for the Nats.

And when Desmond signed with the Rockies, it was as their first baseman, with the expectation that he would become

a Ben Zobrist-like utility player eventually.

Desmond's season took a tough turn before it began. He was hit by a pitch in Spring Training, suffering a broken left hand

that led to him spending the first four weeks of the season on the disabled list. Then came a right calf injury that has

sidelined Desmond twice. As a result, he goes into Wednesday night's game at Arizona having appeared 78 of Colorado's

145 games, starting in 72 -- 55 in left field, 16 at first base and one at shortstop.

Desmond is hitting .273 with five home runs, 33 RBIs, nine doubles and a triple, the lowest totals in a career which had

since him hit 132 home runs with 214 doubles, 24 triples and 518 RBIs combined over his seven previous seasons.

Disappointed? Of course. Discouraged? No chance.

"Throughout my career, I've been through some really great times, and I've been through some bad times," Desmond

said. "I count both as blessings. The hard times, I've looked at as tools to make me a better person, a better man. Kind of

build my character and test me a little bit. And that's what I'm looking at this year.

"This has been a trying year, but at the same time, I think I've got so much out of it. I've learned a lot. I've got to sit and

cheer on my teammates and watch them go about their business and learn from them. So yeah, are there certain things

that try to creep in there that can create some frustration? Absolutely. But I think when you have the right outlook and

know that everything is how it's supposed to be, you kind of just keep plugging on just kind of sharpen up from it."

It is all part of having that inner strength to be a leader, without trying to be a leader, like Hal McRae was with the Royals

in that team's heyday, and like the late Don Baylor was through his career.

It was no coincidence that in Baylor's last three seasons as a player, he became the first player to reach the World Series

with three teams in consecutive seasons. Ballclubs with hope of winning wanted him to seal the deal.

It's an aura that surrounds Desmond, something he said came from his days in the Minor Leagues, playing for manager

Bob Henley with Class A Advanced Potomac in 2005.

"One day we were sitting on the bench in Woodridge, Va., and he says, 'You know what's the most important thing about

being a leader?' And I was like, `No. Please, what is it?' And he said, 'Timing is everything.'"

Desmond smiled.

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"And right now, everything has worked out," he said. "We're exactly where we wanted to be. Could we have played better

last month? Absolutely. Could we be leading the division? I don't know. ... But we've played really well. We've done a lot

of really good things here, and we've got ourselves in a position to play meaningful games in September with or without

me on the field.

"And that's the best thing, because imagine if I was hurt all year and the team was doing awful. That would've been brutal.

If not only for me but for Jeff [Bridich, general manager] and for Dick [Monfort, owner], and everybody else involved. So

we've been able to keep going, keep moving forward. These tests, not only for me personally but for the team, are going

make us better in the long run."

And Desmond has helped the Rockies find their way, making sure they have a clear path to stay together, even if it does

mean he has to get up early on Labor Day to make sure the couches and tables aren't becoming barriers.

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Rockies Mailbag: Mark Reynolds’ future, DJ LeMahieu super-shift, playoff race and more “It’s a super-shift times 10,” manager Torey Lovullo said, “You’ve never really seen anything like it.”

By Patrick Saunders / The Denver Post | September 13th, 2017 What are the plans for Mark Reynolds after this season? He has far outplayed what people thought he could do

this year.

The Rockies need to re-sign him for at least next year. I would take him over the $70 million dud of a fake first

baseman that is Ian Desmond.

— Victor, Alameda, California

Victor, I’ve asked about Reynolds and so far there are no definitive plans — on either side. Reynolds will be 34 and is

considered something of a journeyman, so I don’t think there will be a huge demand for him. Even with Ryan McMahon

likely coming up to the major leagues full time next season, I think it would be wise to bring Reynolds back.

I think it’s fair to say he’s exceeded expectations. As I write this, Reynolds is batting .268 with 29 homers, 93 RBIs and a

1.4 WAR. When Carlos Gonzalez and Trevor Story were slumping so badly for much of the season, Reynolds was there.

He’s been Colorado’s unsung hero.

His fielding at first base has been top notch, and at times even spectacular. The gymnast-worthy stretch he pulled off on

Nolan Arenado’s throw in Tuesday night’s victory over the Diamondbacks was crazy good.

All of that for $1.5 million on a player who came into camp on a minor-league deal after spurning a $3 million offer to play

in Korea.

As for your comment on Desmond, it’s far too early to call him a “dud.” Has Desmond been a disappointment? You bet,

especially for a five-year deal for $70 million. It’s hard to recall many games when he’s had a major impact. Yet it’s

important to remember that he has been on the disabled list three time and has never found his rhythm. Perhaps, like

Gerardo Parra did this season, Desmond will bounce back next season.

As the Rockies head down the stretch run and hopefully make it into the playoffs, who do you think will be in

their rotation for an extended series and in what order?

Also, who do you think will be on the playoff roster? Any surprises? Alexi Amarista has been a disappointment–

does he get replaced by someone like Raimel Tapia? Unfortunately it looks like Ryan Howard didn’t work out.

Though Ian Desmond has under-performed he has versatility that is very valuable and may come into his form–I

believe he also can allow more options on the bench without worrying about who will cover a position. What are

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your thoughts?

— Ron Sasso, Rapid City, SD

Ron, excellent questions.

I’ve been on the record saying that if I had one Rockies pitcher to start the one-game playoff and get them to the next

round, I would go with German Marquez. I love his stuff and his toughness. But considering how Jon Gray pitched in

Colorado’s big win Tuesday night over the D-backs (seven innings, two runs, seven hits, 10 strikeouts), Gray might be the

guy. He’s 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA over his last four starts.

Going forward, the Rockies have time and enough off days to juggle their rotation in anticipation of the playoffs. On

Tuesday, manager Bud Black was asked about a possible playoff rotation, and, of course, he sidestepped the question.

If I had to guesstimate, I think the rotation would look like this:

— Wild-card playoff game: Gray

— NLDS Game 1: Marquez

— NLDS Game 2: Chad Bettis

— NLDS Game 3: Kyle Freeland or Tyler Chatwood

— NLDS Game 4: Gray

— NLDS Game 5: Marquez.

We’ll see how it all shakes out.

Bud Black is using kid gloves with his pitchers, which is ok, they need to learn, grow and get better. However, he

is doing lousy at managing position players. Trevor Story is a guaranteed out when you need him to come

through. Pat Valaika will give you four to five quality at bats in a game, so why isn’t he playing short? Or even Ian

Desmond?

I’d sacrifice one flashy defensive play from Story for two or three hits. And CarGo is almost a waste of space. He

hasn’t done anything all year but now he throws a hit now and again. Why not let Raimel Tapia play in right field,

or put Gerardo Parra in right field and Tapia or Desmond in left field?

Do something with the dead weight. Fans have more patience with young pitchers than “ego” players who need

to be off the field.

— Anne Gillespie, Boulder

Anne, you obviously submitted this question before Gonzalez regained his swing and hit two homers Tuesday night and

batted batting .455, with nine home runs, four doubles and 18 RBIs over 12 games.

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Let’s face it, many of us have a football mentality when it comes to baseball. We expect results — now — and want a fix if

we don’t get it. I’ve fallen into that trap myself.

Much to Black’s amusement, I wrote a recent column where I said it was time to shake up the Rockies’ lineup, and that

included playing CarGo and Story less.

I wrote:

“I’ve been a huge fan of keeping Charlie Blackmon in the leadoff role, where he’s swatted 30 homers, but maybe it’s time

to move him into a more traditional power spot. At least for a while. Perhaps Gerardo Parra could lead off. He’s done that

in 205 games in his career, batting .281 with a .331 on-base percentage. That’s not ideal, but it might be worth a shot, at

least for the short term.”

I’ll admit I was wrong. Black had faith and patience in the offense when I did not.

As for Story’s empty at-bats, they still happen too often, but I don’t think Valaika is the full-time answer at shortstop.

Story’s defense has saved a lot of runs, and therefore a lot games this season.

On the whole, I don’t think Black has done a “lousy job” of managing the position players. As for your comment on the

“ego players,” I’ll chalk that up to frustration when the Rockies were playing so poorly.

Patrick, I went to my first Rockies game this last Sunday on Sept. 3. The game was so bad, the most interesting

happening was the outfield shift the Diamondbacks put on DJ LeMahieu. Do other teams put the same shift on

him?

— Jim, Flagler

Jim, other teams shift against LeMahieu, who tends to take the ball the other way and hit to right and right-center field.

The Padres shift, too, but it’s not nearly as extreme as the D-backs.

The best description I have found on what the D-backs are doing came from Nick Piecoro, the excellent beat writer from

the Arizona Republic:

Each time LeMahieu came to the plate, left fielder David Peralta shifted to center field, center fielder A.J. Pollock moved to

right-center, and right fielder J.D. Martinez moved close to the right field line.

It led to a bizarre sight: In left field, there was no one. Jake Lamb and Ketel Marte were playing a normal third base and

shortstop, respectively, but for some 200 feet back to the left field corner, there was nothing but grass.

“It’s a super-shift times 10,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “You’ve never really seen anything like it.”

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In the future, I can see other teams copying the D-backs, depending on whether or not LeMahieu can adjust and make

teams pay. It sounds simple for LeMahieu to pull the ball to left field for an automatic double or triple, but it’s easier said

than done against 95 mph fastballs and 88 mph sliders.

How would you rate the 2017 season as a whole?

— Steve Dawson, Denver

Steve, as I write this, the Rockies are 80-65 and in the thick of the playoff race with 17 games remaining. If you told me

during spring training that the Rockies would be in this position, I would have scoffed. I originally predicted they would win

84 games, so they have exceeded my expectations.

I thought the offense would by dynamic up and down the order, but it hasn’t been nearly as good as I thought it would be,

primarily because of long slumps by CarGo and Story.

The pitching, however, has been better than I envisioned. The rookies have been very good, and Greg Holland (despite is

hiccups over the last month) has been one of the three most valuable players on the team along with Arenado and

Blackmon.

So, after that longwinded answer, I would give the Rockies a B-plus.

Were the Rockies ever in contention to land either Justin Verlander, Sonny Gray, or Yu Darvish? With the

struggles of the young pitching rotation, landing one of these players would have undoubtedly vaulted the

Rockies into October. The bats will come around when they come around, but it seems like the pitching has been

the Achilles’ heel for the Rockies since Day 1.

— Matthew, Bayfield

Hello Mathew, how are things in southwest Colorado (aka God’s country)? FYI, I received my undergraduate degree at

Fort Lewis College in Durango, the Harvard of the San Juans.

Now, what was your question? Oh yeah, the Rockies not landing a veteran pitcher at the trade deadline. To put it bluntly,

no, I don’t think the Rockies were ever in the hunt for any of them. Verlander, for instance, could have vetoed a trade to

Colorado, and I’m sure he would have.

The Rockies’ game plan is to pay extra for veteran relievers (either through trades of free agency) but stick to homegrown

starters. I think it’s a plan to makes sense.

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Until recently, I believed Holland would decline his player option and the Rockies couldn’t afford to re-sign him.

Now with his recent struggles, do you think Holland has played his way into exercising his option and costing

the Rockies $15 million a year for a closer who all of a sudden can’t get anyone out?

— Aaron Hurt, Omaha, Nebraska

Aaron, that’s a fair question. I still think Holland will decide to become a free agent and test the market. At that point,

perhaps, the Rockies would get back in the ballgame.

I think a lot of it depends on these last two-plus weeks. Holland has shown signs of harnessing his wicked slider again,

but he’s not all the way back.

I’m not dodging your question, but I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen. I do think Jeff Bridich will have talks with

Holland his agent, Scott Boras, if they haven’t already. I’m guessing both sides are waiting for the season (and likely the

postseason) to play out.

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Mark Reynolds, indispensable for Rockies this season, wants to return next season Reynolds would love to return to Colorado for a third season

By Patrick Saunders / The Denver Post | September 13th, 2017 PHOENIX — In two recent games, Mark Reynolds displayed just how invaluable he has been to the Rockies’ bid for their

first playoff visit since 2009.

Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles, the veteran first baseman hit an eighth-inning grand slam, sealing an 8-1 win over the

Dodgers. In Colorado’s 4-2 victory here Tuesday night, Reynolds stretched like an Olympic gymnast to snare Nolan

Arenado’s throw from third base. Somehow, Reynolds kept his foot on the bag as Arenado’s throw barely nipped the

Diamondbacks’ Paul Goldschmidt for the final out of the eighth inning.

Reynolds’ recent heroics aren’t aberrations, he has been doing it all season.

Reynolds entered Wednesday night’s game hitting .268 with a .355 on-base percentage — more than respectable for a

veteran slugger. His 29 home runs are his most since slugging 37 in 2011, and his 93 RBIs have tied a career high set in

2009.

“Mark’s contributions weigh heavily on where we are, no doubt about it,” manager Bud Black said. “He’s played above-

average defense on a scouting scale, he’s been durable and he’s a huge part of where we are.”

That’s high praise for a 34-year-old journeyman who reported to spring training with a minor-league deal and no

guarantee he would make the team after the Rockies inked Ian Desmond to a five-year, $70 million deal, announcing that

Desmond would play primarily first base.

Reynolds turned down a $3 million offer to play baseball in Korea, in part because he wanted to return to Colorado.

“It’s been great, but I have to admit that I never expected to play this much,” Reynolds said. “Unfortunately, Ian had some

injuries and I just took advantage of every chance I got. I’ve hit well enough to stay in the lineup.

“I obviously didn’t expect to do what I’m doing now, though I thought I was capable. Now, hopefully, we can finish this

season strong and get to the postseason. Because I really like playing with this group of guys. It’s a special group.”

Arenado had previously counted on Todd Helton and Justin Morneau to catch his aggressive throws from third base. For

the last two seasons, Reynolds has pulled that duty, earning raves from Arenado.

“He’s meant everything to me,” Arenado said. “Todd and Mark have been so big for me. And I don’t think Mark gets a lot

of credit for his fielding, because there are so many good first basemen, like Goldschmidt and (Cincinnati’s) Joey Votto

and (the Chicago Cubs’ Anthony) Rizzo. But I think Mark is definitely one of the best.”

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Though Reynolds is scheduled to become a free agent at the end of this season, he would love to return to Colorado for a

third season.

“Of course I would. This team’s window is now, next year and the year after,” he said. “I’m comfortable here. I like the

players, I like the staff and I love Denver. it’s a good spot to play.

“I feel like it’s an advantage that not only do my infielders feel confident with me at first base, but also that (general

manager) Jeff (Bridich) and the guys who make the decisions have seen me for two years now, so they know what I’m

capable of doing. Hopefully I have done enough to warrant coming back.”

Rocktober reunion. Ten years ago, the Rockies won 21-of-22 games to advance to their only World Series, giving birth

to a phenomenon that came to be known as “Rocktober.”

Friday night, 17 players and three coaches from that magical run will return to Coors Field for a celebration. First baseman

Todd Helton, the only Rockies player honored with a retired number (17), heads the reunion cast.

Helton will be joined by former teammates Garrett Atkins, Clint Barmes, Jamey Carroll, Aaron Cook, Josh Fogg, Jeff

Francis, Brian Fuentes, LaTroy Hawkins, Brad Hawpe, Matt Herges, Jason Hirsh, Rodrigo Lopez, Zach McClellan, Ryan

Spilborghs, Cory Sullivan and Yorvit Torrealba. Bullpen coach Rick Mathews, bench coach Jamie Quirk and bullpen

catcher Mark Strittmatter are also scheduled to attend.

All of the participants, with the exception of Helton, will be handing out “Rocktober Rally Towels” at five entrance gates for

a limited time, while Helton conducts a news conference.

Before the first pitch, there will be a a pregame ceremony, featuring walk-up songs and a highlight video.

Looking ahead

Rockies RHP Chad Bettis (1-2, 4.98 ERA) at Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (7-7, 3.18), 1:40 p.m. Thursday, AT&T

SportsNet; 850 AM

Bettis picked up his first win of the season his last time out, allowing four runs (three earned) over five innings against the

Dodgers in Los Angeles. He has not fared well against the D-backs in his career, putting up a 7.30 ERA in nine games

(six starts). At Chase Field, he’s 1-1 with a 4.42 ERA in four games (three starts). Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt

has raked Bettis, batting .368 (7-for-19) with three doubles, one homer and a triple. Godley battled his command in his

last start against the Rockies, walking six in a 5-1 Arizona win on Sept. 3 at Coors Field. The Rockies, however, were

unable to take advantage. In his last start, Godley allowed two runs on four hits while striking out nine over seven innings

in Arizona’s loss to San Diego on Saturday. He didn’t factor into the decision. — Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post

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Friday: Padres LHP Clayton Richard (7-13, 4.78 ERA) at Rockies RHP Tyler Chatwood (7-12, 4.70), 6:40 p.m., AT&T

SportsNet

Saturday: Padres RHP Jordan Lyles (1-2, 6.75) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (11-10, 4.03), 6:10 p.m., AT&T SportsNet

Sunday: Padres RHP Jhoulys Chacin (12-10, 4.06) at Rockies RHP Jon Gray (8-4, 3.95), 1:10 p.m., AT&T SportsNet

22

Rockies’ six-game winning streak ends as D-backs’ Patrick Corbin dominates Diamondbacks raked the 22-year-old right-hander for four runs on 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings

By Patrick Saunders / The Denver Post | September 13th, 2017 PHOENIX — The Rockies were starting to make a move toward capturing the National League’s top wild-card spot. They

had won six consecutive games, including two at Chase Field against Arizona.

But left-hander Patrick Corbin and a rejuvenated Diamondbacks offense stopped the Rockies cold Wednesday night in an

8-2 cruiser.

Corbin pitched 6 ⅔ innings, allowing a single run on just four hits while striking out seven. The D-backs, aggressive at the

plate from the beginning, blasted out 16 hits, including six doubles.

“Corbin’s slider was as good as I have seen it,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “A really good slider. It was

underneath our right-handed bats, and there were some good sliders to (left-handers) Charlie (Blackmon) and CarGo

(Carlos Gonzalez) too.”

With 16 games left in the season for both teams, the Diamondbacks are tightening their grip on the No. 1 wild card and

the right to host the one-game playoff. Arizona’s lead over Colorado stands at four games.

Milwaukee gained ground for the No. 2 wild-card spot, defeating Pittsburgh 8-2 and moving to within three games of the

Rockies. St. Louis, however, lost 6-0 to Cincinnati, leaving the Cardinals 3 ½ behind Colorado.

Rockies rookie starter German Marquez picked a bad night to have a bad outing, and he’s showing signs of wilting a bit

as the season draws to a close. His curveball was ineffective and he failed to pitch beyond four innings for his second

consecutive game.

“My breaking ball was not really very sharp and I became a one-pitch pitcher,” said Marquez, who fell to 10-7 as is ERA

rose to 4.41.

Arizona took an aggressive approach vs. Marquez from the outset and it paid off, especially with Marquez lacking a good

off-speed pitch to blunt the strategy.

“They jumped on him, and without the breaking ball it became a fastball-dominated repertoire, and they squared some

balls up,” Black said.

The Diamondbacks raked the 22-year-old right-hander for four runs on 11 hits in 3 ⅔ innings. Included in Arizona’s

onslaught on Marquez were five doubles, including two by David Peralta, who entered the night with just two extra-base

hits in his previous 22 games.

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Peralta led off the first with a double and scored on Jake Lamb’s single, Lamb’s 100th RBI of the season. Peralta’s

second-inning double scored Corbin, who had reached on a two-out single.

Paul Goldschmidt’s double in the third was the 1,000th hit of his career. He got a nice ovation from the crowd of 26,714,

and then celebrated by trotting home on J.D. Martinez’s double. Lamb’s RBI double in the fourth put the D-backs ahead 4-

0 and brought Black to the mound, ending Marquez’s night.

Marquez denied he is wearing down in his first full season in the majors.

“My command just wasn’t there,” he said. “I don’t really think it’s fatigue or getting tired. I just haven’t gotten it done, it’s as

simple as that.”

Goldschmidt, the MVP candidate who usually feasts on Rockies pitching, had been in a slump. Over his previous seven

games vs. Colorado, Goldschmidt was 1-for-25, with one RBI and nine strikeouts. He snapped that slump in a hurry vs.

Marquez.

The Rockies’ best shot to KO Corbin and creep back into the game evaporated quickly in the sixth. DJ LeMahieu blasted

a one-out, solo homer to left-center, cutting the D-backs’ lead to 5-1. It was LeMahieu’s eighth homer.

Nolan Arenado then drew a walk and Trevor Story followed up with a single, hinting at a possible rally. But the uprising

died when Corbin struck out Mark Reynolds looking at an inside fastball and then coaxed Carlos Gonzalez into a

groundout to first.

“That was really about the only inning we stressed Corbin,” Black said. “At that point, we were in slam range and in a

position to make a run, but he shut us down.”

Corbin is 6-1 with a 2.12 ERA in his last seven starts and improved to 4-1 with a 2.77 ERA in his last eight starts vs. the

Rockies at Chase Field.

The D-backs locked the game up for certain with A.J. Pollock’s three-run homer in the seventh off reliever Carlos Estevez.

Pollock had quite a night, batting 3-for-4 with four RBIs.

The Rockies, 6-1 on this crucial road trip, added a run in the ninth as Ryan Hanigan singled and eventually scored on

Jonathan Lucroy’s grounduut. The series finishes up Thursday afternoon before Colorado heads home to begin a three-

game series against San Diego on Friday at Coors Field.

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Colorado Rockies struggle on both sides of the ball, blown out 8-2 by Arizona Diamondbacks The Rockies had their six-game winning streak snapped in a big way on Wednesday night

By Ryan Freemyer / Purple Row | September 13th, 2017 The Colorado Rockies lost their road mojo and had their six-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday night in an 8-2

loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Rockies’ starter Germán Márquez was hit hard and unable to make it out of the fourth

inning while the offense struggled to get anything going against Diamondbacks’ starter Patrick Corbin.

Hits came early and often for Arizona, who now leads the Rockies by four games for the top Wild Card spot with just

sixteen to play. They battered Márquez for four runs on 11 hits—five of them doubles—prior to his being pulled with two

outs in the fourth inning. For Rockies fans, the most frustrating of the four runs allowed by Márquez came when Corbin

reached on a line drive single with two outs and nobody on in the second inning before immediately being driven in by

David Peralta’s RBI double. Entering tonight, Corbin was hitting just .080/.179/.080 on the season, so allowing him to

reach and extend the inning in that situation simply can’t happen.

On the other side of the ball, Corbin was also extremely effective at keeping Rockies’ hitters off balance. The 28-year-old

was dominant through 6 2⁄3 innings of work, with his only blemish coming on DJ LeMahieu’s solo home run in the sixth

inning. He allowed just four hits in total, walked a pair, and struck out seven as he lowered his ERA to 4.06 on the season.

In spite of that, the Rockies were able to maintain contact as they trailed just 5-1 into the seventh inning. That changed

when A.J. Pollock hit a three-run homer—the biggest blow during his three hit night that saw him drive in four—

off Carlos Estevez to put it entirely out of reach. Estevez was able to get only one out before allowing five straight hitters

to reach. He ultimately allowed three runs and saw his ERA balloon to 6.84 on the season.

In the ninth, the Rockies scored a largely meaningless run on Jonathan Lucroy’s RBI ground out following Ryan Hanigan’s

pinch-hit single and a double by Ian Desmond off Diamondbacks’ reliever T.J. McFarland to make it 8-2.

With the loss, the Rockies fall to 80-66 on the season. They’ll have to wait at least one more day to clinch their first .500 or

better season since 2010. Arizona, on the other hand, improves to 84-62 and improve their commanding lead on the top

Wild Card spot—and home game that comes with it—to four games. The finale of this four-game set is tomorrow

afternoon as Chad Bettis takes the ball for the Rockies against Zack Godley. First pitch is scheduled for 1:40 pm

mountain time.

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Rockies outfielder Carlos González is stirring up memories of his glory days Just when the Rockies needed it, CarGo is shocking us with a hot streak

By Hayden Kane / Purple Row | September 13th, 2017 Carlos González just looked like he didn't have it anymore. His 2017 season was a disaster, and we were running out of

reasons to hope. With each day that the Rockies started him it looked more foolish than the last. It seemed there was only

nostalgia, loyalty, or some combination of the two left to explain how the team could possibly think CarGo had one of his

patented hot streaks left in him.

Pitchers fearlessly attacked González with fastballs in the zone. The hits seemed to only be soft flares and lucky

groundballs. The mini hitting streaks felt hollow because he still didn't look like CarGo. During the low moments of the

season with an offense that has often held this team back, those sad CarGo at-bats were especially uncomfortable to

watch. It was perfectly reasonable to think that the Rockies should bench or maybe even part ways with their longest-

tenured player.

Then it happened. Or—it is happening. It’s genuinely shocking, but it looks like CarGo is turning it on the way he did in his

prime, reminding us what we meant all these years when we talked about him being able to carry a team when he’s dialed

in at the plate.

We are less than a month from the end of another long, grueling season, and González looks poised to add a surprising

and wonderful chapter to the Rockies' 2017 story. He is on a real hot streak, and he's doing it in the most important

games of the season as the team clings to a playoff spot.

There have been hard hit balls, there have been opposite field line drives, and in a 4-2 win Tuesday night, there were two

authoritative home runs as González drove in all four of the team’s runs.

We know baseball can be cruel, and any 0-5 night this month could be the start of another CarGo cold streak. That would

make this temporary resurgence a cruel tease. I know that might happen, but I'm choosing to ignore the possibility for

now, because if the Rockies make the playoffs and they do so with a hot CarGo in the lineup, I can hardly think of

something I would enjoy more as a fan.

This weekend the Rockies will commemorate the 10-year anniversary of Rocktober, stirring up the echoes of the greatest

stretch in team history and the franchise's only series wins in the playoffs. It's easy to dream on the symmetry and hope

that the 2017 Rockies can go on their own run 10 years later. But in the meantime, CarGo is stirring up some different

echoes: those of the team’s run to the playoffs in 2009.

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González tore the league up in August of that year to the tune of a ridiculous .371/.472/.714 slash line. He followed that

with a .275/.342/.520 line in September, and he hit 11 home runs over those final two months as the Rockies earned a

playoff berth.

This year, August finally saw González clawing his way up to respectable production and out of the "worst player in the

league" conversation with a .279/.333/.419 line. Over the last 28 days, he is slashing .323/.444/.600. Just for laughs, we

can also note that his current slash line through nine games in September is .429/.568/.893. All told, CarGo is giving us

legitimate reason to dream on another patented hot streak in the final months for a playoff team.

We know what a CarGo hot streak meant to that team in August and September of 2009. Back then, it was fun because

"Little Pony" was only just getting started. His bright future was still ahead of him. Eight years later, it seems clear that the

career arrow for González is pointing down and these might be his last days on the Rockies.

The joy of a CarGo hot streak would now come in equal parts because it would feel poetic and also because it just felt so

darn unlikely. If it ends up that he tore things up over the last two months, we won't care a lick what he did before August

of 2017. The cold truth of context neutral measures like WAR and wRC+ will tell us he had a terrible season. We won't

care. We'll just love how much fun it was to watch CarGo be CarGo again during a march towards a new Rocktober.

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Diamondbacks emphatically snap Rockies winning streak

By Drew Creasman / BSN Denver | September 13th, 2017 The Colorado Rockies have lost. After taking six straight against the two teams in the National League West ahead of

them in the standings, the Rockies took an emphatic 8-2 loss in the third game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on

Wednesday night.

Rockies starter German Marquez was not sharp, throwing too many early pitches right over the heart of the plate and

exhibiting little command of the curveball, his put away pitch.

It started with the first batter of the game, David Peralta who jumped on the first pitch of the game to slap a double to left.

He moved to third on a ground out from Ketel Marte and scored on a Jake Lamb single up the middle.

With two outs in the second, Marquez threw another first pitch near the middle of the zone, this time to his counterpart.

Corbin put a solid swing on the ball and hit a grounder back up the middle for a single, extending the inning. As it usually

does, surrendering a hit to the opposing pitcher came back to bite the Rockies when Peralta lined his second straight

opposite-field double of the game to make it 2-0, Diamondbacks.

Arizona scored a run for the third straight inning out of the gate with back-to-back doubles in the third from Paul

Goldschmidt and J.D. Martinez. Goldschmidt’s double was the 1,000th hit of his career, only the second player to reach

that mark in a Diamondback uniform.

Corbin got Marquez with a single again in the fourth, this time with one out. The Rockies rookie pitcher then struck out

Peralta and was one out away from finally putting up a scoreless inning but Lamb turned on an inside fastball, because

Marquez had nothing else, and pulled an RBI double to put the Diamondbacks up by four.

Jeff Hoffman came on in the fifth and walked J.D. Martinez who scored on a one-out double from A.J. Pollock and Arizona

was up five before the Rockies finally got on the board.

DJ LeMahieu launched his eighth home run of the season over the center field fence with one out in the top of the sixth to

make it 5-1. Nolan Arenado drew a walk and Trevor Story hit a hard single to center to give Colorado a pair of base

runners with one out, but Mark Reynolds struck out and Carlos Gonzalez hit a weak grounder to first to end any potential

rally.

Pollock smashed a three-run home run in the seventh against Carlos Estevez and the route is on.

Colorado fell to 80-66 and hold a three game lead in the NL Wild Card.

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Marquez pummeled by Diamondbacks as Rockies’ win streak ends

By MHS Staff / Mile High Sports | September 13th, 2017 All good things must come to an end, and for the Rockies, their six-game road winning streak came to an abrupt halt after

young starting pitcher German Marquez was batted around like a piñata by the Diamondbacks’ bats in what would

eventually finish as a 2-8 loss.

Marquez, who came into the game tied for second on the team in wins (10) and first in strikeouts (137), didn’t do much of

the latter, and gave himself no chance for the former on Wednesday night. In only 3-2/3 innings, Marquez allowed 11 hits

— his season-high — four earned runs, and only struck out a single batter in a 70-pitch outing that took most of the drama

out of the game early.

To be fair, the Rockies’ offense had all of one hit — a double by shortstop Trevor Story — at the time Marquez was

yanked from the mound, so it’s not as if they were really any better than their wayward starter on the hot, Arizona night.

Remarkably, if it’s possible to ‘scatter’ 11 hits, that’s what Marquez managed to do; the Diamondbacks only scored a

single run in each of the four innings that he pitched.

The Rockies, down 4-0 when Marquez exited, weren’t really out of the game at that point, but couldn’t work their way back

into it; D.J. LeMahieu’s solo homer in the sixth inning was Colorado’s first tally of the evening. The game finally slipped

away for good when Rockies reliever Carlos Estevez had a disastrous seventh inning; Estevez only got a single out while

surrendering four hits, a walk and three earned runs before being removed by manager Bud Black.

The beauty of baseball is that there’s always another game tomorrow, and after an outing in which the entire team looked

worn-out and flat for the first pitch, the Rockies could bounce back in Thursday’s matinee behind starter Chad Bettis and

return to Denver with an astounding 7-1 road trip against the top two teams in the NL West.

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Rockies look to end Arizona angst

By Tracy Ringolsby / Inside The Seams | September 14th, 2017 Arizona may be considered a wonderful vacation destination, but it has not been kind for the Rockies when it comes to

winning regular-season baseball games. The Rockies have their fourth worst winning percentage as an NL visitor at

Chase Field. With a win in Thursday’s series finale the Rockies would actually having a winning record at Chase Field 6-4.

Rockies as a Visitor in NL Parks

Opp W L Pct

Braves 80 119 .402

Dodgers 177 236 .429

Phillies 80 106 .430

Braves 152 201 .431

D-Backs 187 225 .454

Cardinals 94 108 .465

Marlins 91 104 .467

Mets 91 101 .474

Pirates 96 101 .487

Cubs 95 97 .495

Reds 99 96 .508

Padres 213 196 .521

Brewers 74 66 .529

Nationals 107 83 .563

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SERIES STUFF

The Rockies have won two of the first three games from the D-Backs in their current visit to Chase Field. They go into

Thursday’s series finale looking for a win that would allow them to claim a series win for the 13th time — second in

Arizona — out of 24 road series this season.

Start Opp W L Pct

9/7/2017 LAD 4 0 1

4/13/2017 SF 3 1 .75

4/3/2017 Mil 3 1 .75

6/8/2017 ChC 3 1 .75

5/22/2017 Phi 3 1 .75

4/28/2017 Ari 2 1 .667

5/19/2017 Cin 2 1 .667

5/2/2017 SD 2 1 .667

5/16/2017 Min 2 1 .667

7/29/2017 Was 2 1 .667

8/25/2017 Atl 2 1 .667

6/2/2017 SD 2 1 .667

9/11/2017 Ari 2 1 .667

5/31/2017 Sea 1 1 .500

8/8/2017 Cle 1 1 .500

4/18/2017 LAD 1 1 .500

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8/22/2017 KC 1 2 .333

6/12/2017 Pit 1 2 .333

7/14/2017 NYM 1 2 .333

6/30/2017 Arz 1 2 .333

6/23/2017 LAD 0 3 .000

7/24/2017 StL 0 3 .000

8/11/2017 Mia 0 3 .000

6/26/2017 SF 0 3 .000

PITCHING IN

Chad Bettis will be making his fifth career appearance at Chase Field on Thursday. He is 1-1 with a 4.42 ERA at Chase

Field. Bettis is coming off a win against the Dodgers last weekend, his first victory in five starts since being activated from

the disabled list. He had been sidelined since spring training because of testicular cancer.

Rockies Current Pitchers at Chase Field as a member of Rockies

Player W L Sv SvOP G IP ERA

Greg Holland 0 0 4 4 4 4 0.00

Zac Rosscup 0 0 0 0 1 1.2 0.00

Antonio Senzatela 0 0 0 0 2 2.1 0.00

Chris Rusin 0 1 1 1 8 15.2 0.57

Jon Gray 2 0 0 0 2 13 2.77

Kyle Freeland 1 0 0 0 2 9 3.00

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Tyler Chatwood 2 1 0 0 5 28.2 3.14

Adam Ottavino 0 1 0 1 18 18.2 3.38

German Marquez 0 1 0 0 4 17.1 3.63

Chad Bettis 1 1 0 0 4 18.1 4.42

Scott Oberg 0 0 0 0 11 9.2 6.52

Jeff Hoffman 0 1 0 0 2 6.2 6.75

Jake McGee 0 0 3 3 7 5.1 6.75

Tyler Anderson 1 0 0 0 3 13.1 7.43

Mike Dunn 0 0 0 0 3 0.2 13.50

Carlos Estevez 1 0 0 1 6 3.2 14.73

Pat Neshek 0 0 0 0 1 0.1 27.00

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Colorado Rockies: Ninth position in lineup still causing big problems In Wednesday night’s 8-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field, an old and familiar nemesis once against crept up and bit the Colorado Rockies again

By Kevin Henry / RoxPile | September 14th, 2017 Throughout the 2017 campaign, the Rockies have had a hard time getting the ninth position in the opposing batting order

out. Yes, that is the position usually held by the opposing pitcher … and that’s what makes the statistics even more

frustrating.

On Wednesday night, Arizona pitcher Patrick Corbin went 2-for-3 to raise his average to .116 on the season. Rey

Fuentes, who pinch hit in the seventh inning for relief pitcher Andrew Chafin singled in his only at-bat of the night,

bringing the nine-hole damage against Rockies pitching to 3-for-4 on the night with two runs scored.

Wednesday was just an example of a problem that has faced Colorado all season. This year, batters in the ninth position

against the Rockies (which, yes, includes some American League hitters when the Rockies have traveled in interleague

play) have a .209 average and have drawn 40 walks. That’s just one less base on balls than the six-hole hitters (who have

41) have been issued this season.

Colorado manager Bud Black has known the problem has existed all season. We talked to him about it in April when the

Washington Nationals came into Coors Field and dominated a series. Part of the domination included walks and hits by

Washington pitchers. I asked Black about walking the opposing pitcher after one of those games. Was it an unforgiveable

sin for his pitchers?

“It’s a bad one,” Black smiled. “It’s a no-no. It’s come back to bite us in the ass in two games.”

It’s actually been a lot more than that as the season has worn on. And it has made Colorado the worst team in the

National League West when it comes to getting the opposing nine hole batter out. Take a look…

Los Angeles Dodgers — .144 average, 30 walks

Arizona — .167 average, 24 walks

San Diego — .180 average, 32 walks

San Francisco — .204 average, 26 walks

Colorado — .209 average, 40 walks

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If you consider all of Major League Baseball (including the American League), nine hole hitters have a collective .208

average and have drawn 34.3 walks per club. Colorado’s numbers are higher on both counts.

The Rockies pitching staff must do a better job against what is supposed to be the weakest hitter in the lineup. While

nothing in baseball is an automatic out, this position is often as close as it gets. Colorado needs to take advantage of

those opportunities.

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Pollock has 4 RBIs, Corbin pitches D-backs past Rockies 8-2

By Jose M. Romero / The Associated Press | September 14th, 2017 PHOENIX - (AP) -- Paul Goldschmidt is a leading MVP contender who would rather not talk about his own

accomplishments. But 1,000 career hits wasn't something that could be ignored.

The star slugger from the Arizona Diamondbacks downplayed his milestone that came in an 8-2 win over the Colorado

Rockies on Wednesday night. He said his mind is on the team's success, and he might reflect on personal achievements

after this season or at the end of his career.

"I don't care. It's better than 999, but it is what it is. It was a hit," Goldschmidt said of No. 1,000. "The only thing I care

about is us trying to win that game, so I'm glad we won."

Later on, A.J. Pollock homered and drove in four runs to back another strong outing by Patrick Corbin as the

Diamondbacks expanded their lead in the wild-card race.

Pollock launched a three-run homer in the seventh inning and finished with three hits.

The win gave the Diamondbacks a four-game edge over the Rockies for the top National League wild card. Arizona lost

four of its previous five, including the first two games of this series.

Colorado's six-game winning streak and eight-game road winning streak both came to an end.

"Big win for us. The first two games were real tough," Pollock said. "I just felt good out there. I feel like I can get in the

zone and I feel like I can do some damage."

Pollock was dropped from the second spot in the batting order to seventh, where he hit for the first time this season.

"Doesn't matter. I'm going to get my at-bats and try to help the team win, and that's what I did," he said.

Corbin (14-12) held the Rockies to one run and four hits over 6 2/3 innings, striking out seven with two walks. The left-

hander is 6-1 in his last seven starts since Aug. 12.

"Just felt good. I thought I had a really good sinker and just stayed on the corners," Corbin said. "I was able to throw my

breaking ball for a strike, too."

Arizona got 11 hits off starter German Marquez (10-7), who lasted only 3 2/3 innings. He gave up four runs.

The Diamondbacks scored once in each of the first five innings, taking a 5-0 lead in the fifth on Pollock's double after J.D.

Martinez walked.

Arizona grabbed a 1-0 lead early. Jake Lamb, who was 0 for 12 with one RBI over the previous four games, singled in

David Peralta, who led off the first with a double.

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Lamb also hit a run-scoring double in the fourth and reached 100 RBIs for the first time in his career.

"They jumped on (Marquez) extremely fast," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "First-pitch swings right off the get-go.

Some ground balls found holes. A couple of those balls could have been turned into double plays."

Peralta lined a two-out double to drive in Corbin in the second, giving the Diamondbacks a 2-0 advantage. Corbin had two

hits and scored twice, and Martinez had an RBI double.

DJ LeMahieu's eighth homer was the Rockies' first run of the game. It came in the sixth off Corbin. Carlos Gonzalez

scored on Jonathan Lucroy's groundout in the ninth.

Pollock's home run curled into the Arizona bullpen in the left-field corner, caught by reliever Archie Bradley on the fly.

GOOD AS 'GOLDY'

Goldschmidt received a partial standing ovation after his third-inning double that gave him 1,000 hits. He's the second

player in club history to accomplish the feat, along with Luis Gonzalez, who had 1,337. "It was nice of them to definitely

cheer right there," Goldschmidt said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Diamondbacks: INF Chris Owings (broken right middle finger) has been cleared to take grounders and work on his grip

strength. He's been on the 60-day disabled list since July 31, but could return to the active roster before the end of the

regular season. ... C Jeff Mathis also has a chance to return, manager Torey Lovullo said. Mathis has been on the 10-day

DL with a broken right hand since Aug. 22.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis (1-2) is scheduled to start the finale of the four-game series Thursday. He is coming off his first

win of the season.

Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Godley (7-7) has won both his starts against the Rockies.