D-backs collapse late and fall to Rockies 5-4, by the numbers

Aug 31, 2015, 9:32 PM | Updated: Sep 1, 2015, 9:38 am

Colorado Rockies' Charlie Blackmon, (19) slides safely into third base with a triple as Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb waits for the throw in the third inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

BY JEFFREY SANDERS

Arizona Sports

The D-backs entered Monday night’s game as one of the coolest teams in baseball after finishing a 1-6 homestand that featured a four-game sweep to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Maybe that is why they decided to play with fire all night, to warm back up.

Unfortunately no one told them that they can only play with fire for so long before getting burned.

The Colorado Rockies scored four runs in the ninth inning to defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4 in the first game of a four-game series, dropping the team to 63-68.

Entering the ninth-inning, the Rockies had left 10 runners on base and were 0-for-15 with runners in scoring position for the night, continuously bailing out the D-backs pitching inning after inning.

D-backs starting pitcher Robbie Ray, who has not recorded a win since July 7, did pitch well enough to win. The southpaw lasted 5.2 innings and only gave up one run with eight strikeouts, tying a season-high.

He even got some run support after receiving a combined two runs scored for him over his last five games.

Ender Inciarte and David Peralta had RBI singles in the third and fifth inning respectively, with A.J. Pollock launching a mammoth home run after Inciarte’s RBI hit in the third to give the D-backs a 3-0 cushion early.

The D-backs offense pounded out 11 hits throughout the night, but it proved to not be enough.

Colorado’s offense came alive just in time against the usually reliable Brad Ziegler, who has now given up seven runs in the last two days after giving up nine runs the entire season before Sunday.

The closer gave up two hits and struckout a batter before Nolan Arenado nearly tied the game when he hit a ball off the top of the left field wall that scored two runs. Arenado reached third base on a Ziegler throwing error on a groundball that put DJ LeMahieu on second base. Nick Hundley walked when D-backs manager Chip Hale took out Ziegler for Matt Reynolds.

The left-hander was brought on to face the left-handed hitting Ben Paulson, who lined a single to center field on a 0-2 pitch to complete the Rockies comeback.

It was the first save Ziegler has blown since May 27, a span that stretched 22 consecutive games.

Let’s take a look at the D-backs’ collapse, by the numbers.

158

The number of hits this season for A.J. Pollock, which is good for second in the National League. In fact, he has six more hits than Paul Goldschmidt has on the year.

96.2

Amount of innings thrown by Ray this season, the fourth-most by a D-backs southpaw during their rookie campaign.

The number of runs scored by the D-backs in 13 games against the Rockies this season.

The number of losses when leading after eight innings this season.

.382

Chris Owings’ batting average in his last eight road games. The D-backs infielder is 13-for-34 during this hot hitting stretch.

The number of games remaining against National League West opponents. Arizona only has six games (3 at Chicago and 3 vs. Houston) outside of the division to finish the season.

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Brad Ziegler falls as he commits a throwing error after fielding a single off the bat of Colorado Rockies' DJ LeMahieu to put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position in the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. Colorado won 5-4. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Brad Ziegler reacts after committing a throwing error while fielding a single off the bat of Colorado Rockies' DJ LeMahieu to put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position in the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. Colorado won 5-4. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Brad Ziegler falls as he commits a throwing error while trying to put out Colorado Rockies' DJ LeMahieu in the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. Colorado won 5-4. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies pinch-hitter Ben Paulsen is showered by teammates as he is interviewed after his walk off single to drive in two runs against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the bottom of the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. Colorado won 5-4. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies pinch-hitter Ben Paulsen connects for a walkoff single to drive in two runs against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the botom of the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. Colorado won 5-4. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' pinch-hitter Ben Paulsen, middle, celebrates with Nick Hundley, left, and Brandon Barnes after his walk off single brought in two runs against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the bottom of the ninth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. Colorado won 5-4. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt runs down the third base line to score on a single by David Peralta off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chad Bettis in the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chad Bettis, front, kicks at mound after giving up a two-run home run to Arizona Diamondbacks' A.J. Pollock, back, in the third inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Charlie Blackmon, (19) slides safely into third base with a triple as Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb waits for the throw in the third inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray wipes his brow while facing the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt follows the flight of his double off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chad Bettis in the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Brandon Barnes, front, reacts after striking out as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Welington Castillo heads back to the dugout to end the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta follows the flight of his RBI-single off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chad Bettis in the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta gestures to teammates after singling to drive in a run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chad Bettis in the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Arizona Diamondbacks' A.J. Pollock connects for a two-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chad Bettis in the third inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ender Inciarte follows the flight of his RBI-single off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chad Bettis in the third inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Nolan Arenado, (28) grounds out on a pitch from Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Chris Owings, left, makes a late tag as Colorado Rockies' Charlie Blackmon steals second base in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Carlos Gonzalez strikes out on a pitch from Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray to end the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta jokes with teammates as he waits to bat in the dugout while facing the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray works against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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