Dose of Venom: D-backs rally to top Rockies

So that’s what a win feels like.

“We needed that,” manager Kirk Gibson said in what may be the understatement of the year.

The Diamondbacks avoided the three-game series sweep at Chase Field and beat the Colorado Rockies, 5-4 in 10 innings thanks to Miguel Montero’s first career walk-off home run.

“It’s good to get it out of the way,” he said with a smile. “It only took 13 years.”

Montero’s heroics aside, the Diamondbacks would not have been in position to celebrate only their third home win of the season if it were not for Martin Prado.

Staring a five-game losing streak in the face, Prado hit a two-out, two-strike, two-run single to tie it in the ninth and send the game into extra innings, where the Diamondbacks are now 3-0.

“It’s a great feeling just to win this game the way we did because we know we’re capable to do a lot of good stuff in baseball,” he said.

Truthfully, it has not always felt that way.

Starter Josh Collmenter struggled early, giving up four runs in the first three frames but then regrouped to complete seven innings, which was much-needed for an overworked bullpen.

The Diamondbacks end April 9-19 and are 9-22 overall, including now a 3-15 mark in home games.

“Walkoff wins are always fun,” Collmenter said, “especially when we’re getting out of town and getting out of April and hopefully we can get things rolling in May.”

THE GOOD

The Diamondbacks recorded their National League-leading ninth triple when, in his first at-bat of the game, Prado laced a 93 mph fastball into the right field corner. Prado finished 3-for-4 with a walk and is now 15-for-31 (.484) with four doubles and seven runs in his last nine games against the Rockies.

The Diamondbacks erased a second inning Rockies run off the scoreboard when they successfully appealed Jordan Pacheco left third base too early after tagging up on a DJ LeMahieu fly ball caught by Gerardo Parra in right field.

After getting himself into trouble in each of the first three innings, Collmenter settled down to retire 14 of the last 16 batters he faced. The seven innings pitched were his most since September 25, 2011 against the Giants, also 7.0 IP.

Trevor Cahill retired all six batters he faced in the eigth and ninth innings combined, giving him four scoreless outings in his last five appearances.

Aaron Hill has eight RBIs in his last eight games.

THE BAD

Collmenter’s first seven pitches were strikes. And so was pitch No. 10, which Carlos Gonzalez deposited just over the fence in right field for a two-run home run. It was the third home run allowed by Collmenter and the 35th by the Diamondbacks, the most in all of baseball.

Six batters later, Rockies starter Jordan Lyles hit a fly ball to left center field and into the stands for his first home run of the season. So that’s now four home runs allowed by Collmenter and 36 by the Diamondbacks this season, still the most in all of baseball.

Collmenter uncorked two wild pitches, his first two of the season. The second allowed Charlie Blackmon to race home from third for the Rockies fourth run of the game.

Tony Campana went 0-for-3 and now has one hit in his last 30 at-bats (.033).

STAT OF THE GAME

2-19: The Diamondbacks record now when trailing after eight innings

HE SAID IT

“Underachieving,” Gibson said pregame when asked to characterize his team. “We haven’t played well. We’re much better than this.”

“We are the worst team in baseball, Trumbo is hurt, Eaton is a beast, Skaggs is wet and I am pissed off. #Dbacks” an afternoon tweet from @CalKendrick95, the son of Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick

NOTED

Nolan Arenado extended his hitting streak to 20 games, the longest current streak in baseball

Lyles’ leadoff home run in the third inning was the second of his career; he also homered on Sept. 30, 2012 at Milwaukee while with the Houston Astros

Paul Goldschmidt set the team record for the most hits in March/April with 40, supplanting Orlando Hudson who held the previous record with 37 in 2007

ASU men’s head basketball coach Herb Sendek was among those in attendance, sitting in the first row just to the right of the Diamondbacks dugout

UP NEXT

A day off in San Diego.

The Diamondbacks left immediately after the game for Southern California, where they will open a three-game series against the Padres on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 with pregame coverage beginning 30 minutes earlier on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.

Bronson Arroyo (1-2, 7.77) is scheduled to make his sixth start of the season. He deserved a better outcome in his last outing when he departed with a 5-1 lead only to see the bullpen blow the advantage and the game, 6-5, against the Phillies on April 26. Arroyo, who will be opposed by right-hander Andrew Cashner (2-3, 2.68), boasts a three-game winning streak against the Padres, going 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA (5 ER in 22 IP).

The Diamondbacks went 7-12, including 2-8 at Petco Park, against the Padres last season.

Follow @CraigAZSports