Diamondbacks end dramatic homestand with maddening series loss to Rockies

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks have been on a grueling stretch of 26 games in 27 days, including 13 straight days with a game, and that eventful run ended with a thud on Wednesday.

The D-backs dropped a second straight game to the last-place Rockies, 6-4, a loss in which they drew 10 walks and recorded 11 hits.

Arizona loaded the bases in three straight innings during which they scored one run.

Since 2010, the D-backs were 10-0 in games in which the offense finished with at least 10 hits and 10 walks before Wednesday’s defeat. The franchise is 24-2 in such games all-time.

Arizona trailed Wednesday’s game 6-1 and chipped away, but they were one big knock with runners aboard away, leaving 15 men on base. This was the second game on this homestand in which the D-backs left 15 runners on.

Corbin Carroll hit a triple and his 100th career home run, and Ketel Marte reached base four times.

The Diamondbacks will have a day to regroup before starting a road trip against two teams in playoff positions: the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves and American League Wild Card-contending Boston Red Sox.

Arizona went 5-5 on its homestand with a back-and-forth four-game split against the San Diego Padres and intense series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The club steamrolled Colorado in the opener, but that momentum stalled sometime around the second inning of Tuesday’s game.

Rockies pay Merrill Kelly back

D-backs starter Merrill Kelly threw his first career complete game the last time he faced Colorado in May, but the Rockies pounded him this time. Nine-hole hitter Brett Sullivan’s three-run home run off the right-field foul pole gave the Rockies a 4-1 lead in the second inning.

Kelly had been excellent for the D-backs over his last seven starts (2.82 ERA), but he fell behind and was punished for it too often on Wednesday. Two of his three walks led to runs, and the Sullivan home run came on a 3-1 pitch.

Kelly finished with five innings and six earned runs.

He threw only 71 pitches, and his velocity across the board was down. His four-seam fastball averaged 90.7 mph, down 1.4 mph from normal.

The bullpen did well at eating four innings without giving up another run.

Wednesday attendance

17,168

Diamondbacks-Braves probables

Friday: RHP Brandon Pfaadt (3.36 ERA) vs. LHP Chris Sale (2.20)

Saturday: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (2.70) vs. RHP Grant Holmes (3.47)

Sunday: RHP Michael Soroka (2.92) vs. RHP Bryce Elder (4.03)

First pitch on Friday is at 4:15 p.m. MST on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app. 

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