It was a rough day at the office for Arizona Diamondbacks (35-43) left-handed starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel in Saturday night’s 11-7 loss to the Colorado Rockies (34-44) at Coors Field.

In his second start since signing with the D-backs, the 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner went five innings and allowed seven runs (six earned) on six hits (one home run) and three walks while striking out three on 96 pitches (54 strikes).

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo opted to bring right-handed pitcher J.B. Wendelken in for relief in the bottom of the sixth inning with the Diamondbacks trailing, 7-5.

For the second straight ballgame, the D-backs have hit three home runs against Rockies pitching.

D-backs first baseman Christian Walker has two solo homers on the day to bring his tally on the season to 21.

Why hit one home run, when you can hit two?

Christian Walker, probably. pic.twitter.com/LymLHT7akj

— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) July 3, 2022

And of those 21 dingers, 17 have been solo blasts which trails only New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge’s 21 solo homers for the most in Major League Baseball.

“I’m just trying to keep it simple and trying not to do too much,” Walker told reporters postgame. “It’s kind of been the theme of my at-bats lately. I’m really just trying to trust myself and let the good stuff shine. The more I can stay out of my own way the more likely that is to happen.”

Ketel Marte hit the other Diamondbacks home run, a solo dinger for his fifth of the year.

Solo homer for @ketel_marte4. 💥 pic.twitter.com/iaPHZLRPYE

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 3, 2022

Keuchel’s first start in a D-backs uniform was slightly more effective, as the lefty only allowed four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three over 4.1 innings pitched on 98 pitches (55 strikes).

Just like Saturday night against the Rockies, the Diamondbacks were trailing the Tigers when Lovullo pulled the lefty before Arizona came back to beat Detroit 11-7 on June 26.

However, Colorado broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning to take an 11-5 lead into the top of the seventh.

D-backs right fielder Daulton Varsho added a two-run home run in the top of the ninth to bring the game to its final score of 11-7.

UP NEXT

The Diamondbacks go for the series win in the rubber match on Sunday at 12:10 p.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

Arizona RHP Zac Gallen (4-2, 3.32 ERA) is scheduled to start against Colorado RHP Chad Kuhl (5-5, 3.49 ERA).

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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