D-backs blow lead to Rockies despite not allowing an earned run in loss

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks (38-48) managed to lose to the Colorado Rockies (38-48) by a score of 3-2 in front of 18,126 fans at Chase Field on Sunday afternoon despite allowing zero earned runs.

D-backs starter Tyler Gilbert finished just one out shy of a quality start, but only allowed one runner to even reach second base in his 5.2 shutout innings. The lefty also gave up just three hits and one walk while striking out one batter on 81 pitches (56 strikes).

“Gilbert today was fantastic for 5.2 (innings). We had him around that 80-pitch limit,” manager Torey Lovullo said postgame. “I was tempted to let him face the next batter, but it was time to turn it over to the bullpen.

“We were a little short down there, we were staying away from Noe (Ramirez) today. But we felt like we had the right matchups, the right situation and we just couldn’t get out of that one inning when we made one big defensive miscue.”

Prior to the seventh inning, the Diamondbacks were putting on a defensive clinic with all three outfielders — Alek Thomas, Daulton Varsho and David Peralta — as well as first baseman Christian Walker flashing the leather with some highlight-reel catches.

Christian Walker gets in on the #Dbacks defensive clinic today vs. the #Rockies pic.twitter.com/J1eVBfanP6

— Jake Anderson (@jwa1994) July 10, 2022

But unfortunately for the D-backs, a throwing error by third baseman Josh Rojas with a 2-0 lead put runners on first and third with one out instead of just one runner on first and two outs.

Diamondbacks RHP Keynan Middleton struck out former Arizona State Sun Devil and current Rockies rookie catcher Brian Serven the next batter for the second out of the inning, but a two-RBI double by Garret Hampson tied the game at 2-2 for Colorado.

Left-handed pitcher Joe Mantiply — who was named Arizona’s only 2022 All-Star on Sunday — came on in relief of Middleton and gave up an RBI single to Connor Joe to give the Rockies a 3-2 lead. However, all three runs in the inning were unearned.

“Just tried to rush it. It was hit to my backhand. I knew (Yonathan) Daza had good speed and I just tried to rush it,” Rojas said of his error postgame. “Looking back at video, I think we’re only getting one (out) no matter what.

“So if I could do it all over again — just shuffle my feet, make a good throw and get one (out) at second. But I was trying to catch it and throw in one motion, didn’t move my feet, left it short and cost us three runs.”

Diamondbacks DH Ketel Marte opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a solo home run to right field to give Arizona an early 1-0 lead.

Marte's 6th home run of the season.pic.twitter.com/YwZRTOF70B https://t.co/b8Hed815EJ

— Jake Anderson (@jwa1994) July 10, 2022

And after four straight goose-egg innings from both teams, the D-backs scored the second run of the game to make it a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Rookie catcher Jose Herrera walked to lead off the frame, advanced to third one a Rojas single and scored on a Thomas fielder’s choice.

Offensively, the Diamondbacks only mustered six baserunners on four hits and two walks while striking out eight times, leaving five runners on base and going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

That’s largely due to Rockies starter German Marquez’s seven-inning quality start — including a 12 consecutive batters retired streak — in which he only allowed two runs on three hits (one home run) and two walks while striking out four batters on 101 pitches (64 strikes) en route to picking up his fifth win of the year (5-7).

“This team right now is grinding. You can see that, it’s obvious,” Lovullo said. “I want us to get away from the idea of saying, ‘I have to do something,’ or ‘I need to do something.’

“I want us to get in the mindset of, ‘I’m prepared to do something.’ That’s what’s going to slow the game down for us at this time when I think we’re battling a little bit of frustration.”

UP NEXT

The D-backs head out on the road to play another NL West division rival in the San Francisco Giants on Monday at 6:45 p.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

Arizona RHP Merrill Kelly (7-5, 3.42) is scheduled to start against San Francisco RHP Alex Cobb (3-3, 4.74).

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