Diamondbacks start key series with win over Rockies

Sep 1, 2017, 9:50 PM

Arizona Diamondback' Daniel Descalso, right, celebrates a three-run home run with teammates during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

DENVER — Taijuan Walker struck out a career-high 10, Daniel Descalso homered and the surging Arizona Diamondbacks started a key weekend series with a 9-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night.

The Diamondbacks won their eighth straight and increased their lead to 4 1/2 games over the Rockies for the first NL wild-card spot. Milwaukee beat Washington on Friday to pull within 1 1/2 games of Colorado for the second wild card.

The Rockies fanned 12 times in losing for the third time in four games.

Walker (8-7) lasted only five innings due to a high pitch count, but he made big pitches when it counted. He struck out Carlos Gonzalez on a 77 mph curveball to end the first inning with the bases loaded and got Mark Reynolds looking with two on in the second.

Arizona scored runs in the first three innings off starter Kyle Freeland (11-9), including Walker’s RBI single to first that made it 2-0. Arizona blew it open in the seventh when Colorado committed three errors and Descalso hit a three-run homer, his ninth, off Mike Dunn to go up 9-2.

The Rockies scored twice in the sixth off reliever David Hernandez and three more times in the seventh. They stranded 12 runners.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: The team released RHP Rubby De La Rosa to make room on the 40-man roster. De La Rosa underwent Tommy John Surgery on Aug. 21 after appearing in nine games this season.

FAN NIGHT

Walker recorded the first eight outs by strikeout, becoming the second Diamondbacks pitcher to do it. Dan Haren got the first nine outs by strikeout against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 11, 2010.

He’s the third pitcher in Arizona history to strike out 10 in five innings or less.

MORE THE MERRIER

Both teams bolstered their benches with September call-ups Friday. Arizona added RHPs Silvino Bracho, Braden Shipley and J.J. Hoover, C John Ryan Murphy and OF Kristopher Negron from Triple-A Reno. The pitchers have all appeared in a game this season for the Diamondbacks, while Murphy, a veteran of two major league teams, and Negron, have not played for Arizona.

The Rockies recalled RHPs Carlos Estévez and Jeff Hoffman, LHP Zac Rosscup, INF Ryan McMahon, C Tom Murphy and OF Mike Tauchman from Triple-A Albuquerque. All six have appeared on Colorado’s roster this season.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: LHP Patrick Corbin (12-11, 3.91 ERA) is 4-0 with a 0.30 ERA in his last four starts.

Rockies: RHP Jon Gray (6-3, 4.18 ERA) is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in three career starts against the Diamondbacks.

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland throws to the plate against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta, bottom, slides safely into home plate against Colorado Rockies catcher Jonathan Lucroy (21) during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Taijuan Walker hits an RBI-single against the Colorado Rockies during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon Drury (27) is congratulated by manager Torey Lovullo (17) after scoring on a Taijuan Walker RBI-single during the second inning of a baseball game against the colorado Rockies, Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon Drury (27) looks to first after scoring on a Taijuan Walker RBI single during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Colorado Rockies first baseman Mark Reynolds l(12) looks to home late as Arizona Diamondbacks' Taijuan Walker is safe at first and Brandon Drury scores a run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Chris Iannetta has his left hand looked at by a trainer during the third inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Taijuan Walker throws to the plate against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland sits in the dugout after being pulled in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Colorado Rockies' Mark Reynolds reacts after striking out against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story, right, looks to throw the ball to home plate after forcing out Arizona Diamondbacks' Reymond Fuentes (14) at second base during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Colorado Rockies' Carlos Gonzalez (5) is congratulated by teammate Jonathan Lucroy (21) after scoring on a Trevor Story sacrifice fly against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Colorado Rockies' Ian Desmond (20) scores on a Carlos Gonzalez RBI-double during the sixth inning of a baseball game as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher A.J. Pollock waits for the ball Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

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