Grit Index: D-backs win fourth straight with rout of Rockies

First Tyler Skaggs. Then Wade Miley.

For the second straight game a D-backs’ starter throws eight innings, giving the bullpen some much needed rest.

Miley allowed a single run, nearly matching Skaggs’ eight shutout inning performance a night earlier as the D-backs beat the Rockies 11-1 in front of 22,395 at Chase Field Saturday.

The win was the team’s fourth in a row, increasing their lead in the NL West to a season-best 4.5 games.

Miley, who had not won in his last five starts, improved to 5-7 allowing five hits, three off the bat of Carlos Gonzalez, who hit his 24th home run of the season, a solo shot to leadoff the seventh.

Miley was just as effective at the plate.

With two outs and the bases loaded in the second, Miley sliced an offering from starter Drew Pomeranz into left field to clear the bases. The three RBI were a career-high and one more than he had in his previous 30 at-bats combined.

Paul Goldschmidt, Martin Prado and Miguel Montero all homered.

Goldschmidt and Prado hit two-run shots while Montero’s was a three-run blast that capped the club’s best scoring performance in 13 games.
Goldschmidt, named to his first All-Star game earlier, established a new career-high with his 21st home run.

The Good:

Cody Ross set a new career-high with five hits, going 5-for-5. He’s hit safely in seven of his last eight games (.375, 12-fo-32) raising his batting average 17 points since June 28. The five hit effort tied a club record for the 16th time in franchise history.

The Bad:

Montero struck out in his first two at-bats, the third and fourth strikeouts in his last six plate appearances. Of course he then smashed that three-run home run (his first at Chase Field since May 10) in the eighth, so all is forgiven.

Stat of the Game:

13.2: Number of consecutive scoreless innings pitched by Miley, establishing a new career-high. His previous best was 13.0 innings from Sept. 21, 2011-April 29, 2012.

Noted:

• Infielder Eric Hinske, designated for assignment when Eric Chavez was activated off the 15-day disabled list on June 28, has been outrighted to Triple-A Reno.

He Said It:

“Not thinking,” Miley answered when asked what’s been different with him during this recent stretch of five quality starts in his last seven outings (2.66 ERA, 13 ER in 44.0 IP). “Just going out there and just trying to pitch; just try to keep the team in the game and give us a chance to win.”

What’s Next:

A day after he was named an All-Star, Patrick Corbin (9-1, 2.49) takes the mound in the series finale. It will be his seventh attempt at win No. 10.
The left-hander is 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA (3 ER in 15.2 IP) in two starts this season against the Rockies. Colorado will counter with Roy Oswalt (0-3, 7.88), who is making his fourth start since joining the Rockies.

First pitch is set for Sunday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. with pregame coverage starting at 12:40 p.m. on Arizona Sports 620.

Follow @CraigAZSports