Walker, Greinke help D-backs end lengthy skid against Rockies

PHOENIX — It took the best the Arizona Diamondbacks had to offer, but they finally beat the Colorado Rockies.

The D-backs’ eight-game skid against their division rival came to an end Friday in an 8-0 win dominated by first baseman Christian Walker and ace Zack Greinke.

It was a nice change of fortune for Arizona (44-45), which hasn’t been good against the NL West this season and lost star outfielder David Peralta to the injured list earlier in the day.

“We come home against a team that’s had our number for the past eight games..this is a smart, tough baseball team and I saw that play out today,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said after the game. “I’m really proud of these guys and these are some tough games to play.

“They did a super job of execution and winning the game.”

Walker, arguably the D-backs’ hottest hitter, provided the spark long before the sky show started on fireworks night.

He homered twice for the first time in his career and drove in five runs, also a career best.

The first shot gave the D-backs a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning and rescued the offense from a poor start.

Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela had pitched well up to the homer, needing just 32 pitches to get through the first three innings.

Senzatela’s outing fell apart after Walker’s first homer, though, and he wasn’t able to make it out of the fifth inning.

Arizona sent 11 batters to the plate in the six-run fifth inning, highlighted by Walker’s second homer of the night.

It was a three-run shot to center off reliever Jesus Tinoco and pushed the D-backs lead to 8-0.

Walker also homered in the D-backs loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday and has a career-high 17 long balls.

“I was just trying to make my adjustments accordingly and keep it simple and not do too much,” Walker said. “It was a good night for sure.”

If not for Walker’s career game, Greinke would have received all the plaudits.

Greinke was masterful throughout, striking out nine batters over seven scoreless innings.

The ace wasn’t in much trouble much except for an odd third inning in which two D-backs errors on the same play gave Colorado runners on second and third with only out.

Greinke responded by getting the next two Rockies’ batters out, preserving the shutout.

Greinke moved to 10-3 on the season and lowered his ERA to 2.73.

“I was locating stuff good and not making as many mistakes up in the zone,” Greinke said.

Arizona continues its final series before the All-Star break on Saturday against Colorado at 7:10 p.m.

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