Dose of Venom: Jake Lamb’s late grand slam propels Diamondbacks past Rockies

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks moved to 7-1 in their last eight games against Colorado as they defeated the Rockies 5-2 Friday night in a three-game series opener.

Arizona pitcher Josh Collmenter allowed a single to start the game to the Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon, but the Diamondbacks starter went on to retire the next 18 batters he faced.

“He threw well,” said D-backs manager Kirk Gibson. “What can I say, he didn’t walk anybody and he kept control of the game.”

Rockies starter Christian Bergman did an impressive job of keeping pace with Collmenter, limiting the D-backs to two hits through 5.1 innings.

But the D-backs would strike first when David Peralta hit a sixth-inning triple to right-center. Mark Trumbo was then intentionally walked to put runners on first and third, and then with Miguel Montero batting, a passed ball advanced Trumbo to second. Later, with Jake Lamb at the dish, a wild pitch by relief pitcher Christian Friedrich brought in Peralta for the first run of the night.

But the Rockies would answer back in the seventh with a bunt single by Drew Stubbs, which broke Collmenter’s streak of 18 retired batters.

“Everything had been going well,” said Collmenter after the game. “I wanted to go in and have a clean seventh and keep the momentum on our side.”

The right-hander was taken out of the game after 6.1 innings, allowing one run on two hits. After a strikeout of Justin Morneau by Oliver Perez, Evan Marshall would come in and give up an RBI double to Nolan Arenado to tie the game.

The Rockies would later add another run in the seventh after Brad Ziegler gave up three straight singles and a sacrifice fly to make it 2-1.

“Our bullpen hasn’t thrown in a while,” said Gibson. “I put Perez to get Morneau. Unfortunately, they scored a run off Ziegler.”

The D-backs did not back down. In the eighth inning, walks to Ender Inciarte, Cliff Pennington and Peralta loaded the bases. Trumbo reached base on a fielder’s choice (with Inciarte thrown out at home) and Montero struck out swinging, leaving the bases loaded for rookie Jake Lamb.

On a 2-1 pitch, Lamb blasted his first career grand slam to deep left-center to give the D-backs a three-run lead.

“It felt great,” said Lamb. “I came up and the team needed me to come up with a big hit, and I did and it was fun.”

THE GOOD

Collmenter retired 18 straight batters he faced until giving up a bunt single in the seventh inning to Stubbs.

With his 31st save this season, Addison Reed recorded his 100th career save with two strikeouts and a groundout to end the game.

THE BAD

Montero had a rough night at the plate as well as on the bases. In the second inning, he reached on a walk, but was later caught stealing. He would end up going 0-for-3 from the plate with two strikeouts.

Trumbo had hit safely in his last 12 home games; however, that streak ended Friday as he went 0-for-2 with 2 walks.

NOTED

– It is safe to say that the Diamondbacks own the Rockies. They possess a .655 (96-50) winning percentage against Colorado at Chase Field, which is their highest against any club. However, the Rockies have hit the more home runs against the Diamondbacks than any other team has.

– Having committed just two errors in their last 10 games, the D-backs are second in the Major Leagues with a .994 fielding percentage, slightly behind Atlanta’s .995.

– On this day in 2009, Luis Gonzalez retired from Major League Baseball and became the D-backs’ special assistant to the president and CEO.

STAT OF THE GAME

4: The number of runs that came in after Lamb hit his first major league grand slam.

HE SAID IT

“Honestly right now, it’s just a number to me. I think when I’m done playing it would be something cool to look back at, but the most important thing is we got a win.” – D-backs closer Reed on his 100th career save.

UP NEXT

A couple of lefties face off in the second meeting of the three-game series at Chase Field.

Vidal Nuno (0-3, 3.54) is still looking for his first win as a Diamondback. He is coming off a strong start last week against San Diego, where he tossed 7.1 innings and allowed just two hits. However, the D-backs’ offense failed him, as he left the game with a no-decision. Saturday will be the first time in his career he will face the Rockies.

Opposing Nuno is rookie Tyler Matzek (3-9, 5.14) who is coming off a win at San Francisco, in which he threw seven innings and allowed two earned runs on eight hits in a 3-2 victory.

First pitch is scheduled at 5:10 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning 30 minutes earlier on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.