DENVER -- Nolan Arenado came through with another big swing for the Colorado Rockies.
Arenado hit a two-run triple off Zack Greinke in the eighth inning, and the streaking Rockies rallied past the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3 on Tuesday night in the opening game of their NL West showdown.
Carlos Gonzalez homered and saved a run with a diving catch to help Colorado win its sixth straight. The NL West leaders extended their advantage to two games over third-place Arizona, which had won seven in a row. Second-place Los Angeles remained a half-game back of the Rockies after routing the New York Mets.
"I wish the Dodgers and Diamondbacks weren't playing that good. I wish we were leading the division by more games," Arenado said. "But these are the cards we're played. We've got to enjoy it and compete."
Arenado has risen to the challenge. He completed the cycle Sunday with a game-ending, three-run homer against San Francisco, and this time his triple off the scoreboard in right field turned a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 advantage.
For the second straight game, the Coors Field crowd was chanting "MVP! MVP!" Gonzalez said the same thing to Arenado during a pitching change in the eighth.
"I told him, `That's an MVP thing. You're carrying the team. You're hitting clutch hits," Gonzalez said. "From my view, it's just incredible."
David Peralta and Paul Goldschmidt homered for the Diamondbacks.
"Tough loss," Peralta said. "It happens. It's part of the game. We just have to be ready for tomorrow. We still have two games and can still win this series."
Arizona and Colorado, perhaps baseball's two biggest surprises this season, both entered on a roll. The Diamondbacks are a major league-best 23-9 since May 15, while the Rockies' 23-11 mark since then ranks third.
Those two teams, along with the Dodgers, have the top three records in the National League.
The series opener Tuesday was the biggest game between the clubs since the 2007 NL Championship Series that Colorado won in a sweep. The Diamondbacks took a 3-2 lead on the solo homers by Peralta and Goldschmidt, but the Rockies rallied in the eighth against Arizona's ace.
Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu singled off Greinke (8-4) with one out. Arenado followed with his second triple in as many games off the scoreboard in right.
"Our third baseman is doing Kobe Bryant things," Gonzalez said. "He's just on a different level. It's fun to watch. He's carrying this team on his shoulders."
Arenado laughed at the comparison to the Los Angeles Lakers great.
"I'm not at that level yet," he said. "That's (our) favorite basketball player, so we always say we have to have a Kobe mentality. That's pretty cool and nice of him to say, but hopefully I'll get on that guy's level one day."
Adam Ottavino (1-1) got the win despite allowing Goldschmidt's 17th homer. Greg Holland pitched the ninth for his 25th save in 26 chances.
The Rockies took a 2-0 lead with a run in the second on a throwing error and a home run by Gonzalez in the fourth. It was his fifth career homer off Greinke.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Diamondbacks: OF A.J. Pollock (groin strain) experienced quad tightness during a game for Triple-A Reno on Monday. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Pollock would take it easy and will be evaluated after going through "normal pregame activity" on Thursday.
Rockies: LHP Tyler Anderson (left knee inflammation) could be activated from the 10-day disabled list after a successful rehab start Sunday. Anderson, who last pitched for the Rockies on May 30, went five innings and allowed one run for Triple-A Albuquerque. ... RHP Jon Gray (stress fracture, left foot) will probably need at least one more rehab start. Gray went 4 1/3 innings for Albuquerque on Monday.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: RHP Taijuan Walker (5-3, 3.32 ERA) is 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA in his last two starts. He lost his only start against the Rockies this season.
Rockies: RHP Jeff Hoffman (4-0, 2.25 ERA) will make his second career start against the Diamondbacks. He allowed four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings at Arizona on Sept. 14, 2016.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Arenado hit a two-run triple off Zack Greinke in the eighth inning, and the streaking Rockies rallied past the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3 on Tuesday night in the opening game of their NL West showdown.
Carlos Gonzalez homered and saved a run with a diving catch to help Colorado win its sixth straight. The NL West leaders extended their advantage to two games over third-place Arizona, which had won seven in a row. Second-place Los Angeles remained a half-game back of the Rockies after routing the New York Mets.
"I wish the Dodgers and Diamondbacks weren't playing that good. I wish we were leading the division by more games," Arenado said. "But these are the cards we're played. We've got to enjoy it and compete."
Arenado has risen to the challenge. He completed the cycle Sunday with a game-ending, three-run homer against San Francisco, and this time his triple off the scoreboard in right field turned a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 advantage.
For the second straight game, the Coors Field crowd was chanting "MVP! MVP!" Gonzalez said the same thing to Arenado during a pitching change in the eighth.
"I told him, `That's an MVP thing. You're carrying the team. You're hitting clutch hits," Gonzalez said. "From my view, it's just incredible."
David Peralta and Paul Goldschmidt homered for the Diamondbacks.
"Tough loss," Peralta said. "It happens. It's part of the game. We just have to be ready for tomorrow. We still have two games and can still win this series."
Arizona and Colorado, perhaps baseball's two biggest surprises this season, both entered on a roll. The Diamondbacks are a major league-best 23-9 since May 15, while the Rockies' 23-11 mark since then ranks third.
Those two teams, along with the Dodgers, have the top three records in the National League.
The series opener Tuesday was the biggest game between the clubs since the 2007 NL Championship Series that Colorado won in a sweep. The Diamondbacks took a 3-2 lead on the solo homers by Peralta and Goldschmidt, but the Rockies rallied in the eighth against Arizona's ace.
Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu singled off Greinke (8-4) with one out. Arenado followed with his second triple in as many games off the scoreboard in right.
"Our third baseman is doing Kobe Bryant things," Gonzalez said. "He's just on a different level. It's fun to watch. He's carrying this team on his shoulders."
Arenado laughed at the comparison to the Los Angeles Lakers great.
"I'm not at that level yet," he said. "That's (our) favorite basketball player, so we always say we have to have a Kobe mentality. That's pretty cool and nice of him to say, but hopefully I'll get on that guy's level one day."
Adam Ottavino (1-1) got the win despite allowing Goldschmidt's 17th homer. Greg Holland pitched the ninth for his 25th save in 26 chances.
The Rockies took a 2-0 lead with a run in the second on a throwing error and a home run by Gonzalez in the fourth. It was his fifth career homer off Greinke.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Diamondbacks: OF A.J. Pollock (groin strain) experienced quad tightness during a game for Triple-A Reno on Monday. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Pollock would take it easy and will be evaluated after going through "normal pregame activity" on Thursday.
Rockies: LHP Tyler Anderson (left knee inflammation) could be activated from the 10-day disabled list after a successful rehab start Sunday. Anderson, who last pitched for the Rockies on May 30, went five innings and allowed one run for Triple-A Albuquerque. ... RHP Jon Gray (stress fracture, left foot) will probably need at least one more rehab start. Gray went 4 1/3 innings for Albuquerque on Monday.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: RHP Taijuan Walker (5-3, 3.32 ERA) is 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA in his last two starts. He lost his only start against the Rockies this season.
Rockies: RHP Jeff Hoffman (4-0, 2.25 ERA) will make his second career start against the Diamondbacks. He allowed four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings at Arizona on Sept. 14, 2016.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Arizona - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| German Marquez pitching for Colorado | ARI | COL |
| Blanco struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Peralta walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Goldschmidt fouled out to right, Peralta to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Lamb flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Zack Greinke pitching for Arizona | ARI | COL |
| Blackmon struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| LeMahieu grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Arenado singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Reynolds flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Arizona - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| German Marquez pitching for Colorado | ARI | COL |
| Owings fouled out to catcher. | 0 | 0 |
| Drury grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Descalso singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Mathis grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Descalso out at second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Zack Greinke pitching for Arizona | ARI | COL |
| González struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Desmond reached on infield single to third, Desmond to second on throwing error by third baseman Lamb. | 0 | 0 |
| Desmond to third on wild pitch by Greinke, Desmond scored on throwing error by catcher Mathis. | 0 | 1 |
| Story singled to center. | 0 | 1 |
| Wolters lined out to right. | 0 | 1 |
| Márquez grounded out to second. | 0 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 2 Errors | ||
| Arizona - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| German Marquez pitching for Colorado | ARI | COL |
| Greinke lined out to third. | 0 | 1 |
| Blanco grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 1 |
| Peralta lined out to center. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Zack Greinke pitching for Arizona | ARI | COL |
| Blackmon struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| LeMahieu flied out to right. | 0 | 1 |
| Arenado popped out to second. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Arizona - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| German Marquez pitching for Colorado | ARI | COL |
| Goldschmidt lined out to shortstop. | 0 | 1 |
| Lamb singled to center. | 0 | 1 |
| Owings singled to left center, Lamb to third, Owings to second advancing on throw. | 0 | 1 |
| Drury popped out to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Descalso grounded out to second. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Zack Greinke pitching for Arizona | ARI | COL |
| Reynolds grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 1 |
| González homered to center (449 feet). | 0 | 2 |
| Desmond reached on infield single to shortstop. | 0 | 2 |
| Story singled to left, Desmond to third. | 0 | 2 |
| Wolters grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Story out at second. | 0 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Arizona - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| German Marquez pitching for Colorado | ARI | COL |
| Mathis struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| Greinke fouled out to right. | 0 | 2 |
| Blanco walked. | 0 | 2 |
| Peralta lined out to right. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Zack Greinke pitching for Arizona | ARI | COL |
| Márquez struck out looking. | 0 | 2 |
| Blackmon grounded out to second. | 0 | 2 |
| LeMahieu struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Arizona - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| German Marquez pitching for Colorado | ARI | COL |
| Goldschmidt hit by pitch. | 0 | 2 |
| Lamb singled to right, Goldschmidt to third. | 0 | 2 |
| Lamb caught stealing second, catcher to second. | 0 | 2 |
| Owings hit sacrifice fly to right, Goldschmidt scored. | 1 | 2 |
| Drury struck out looking. | 1 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Zack Greinke pitching for Arizona | ARI | COL |
| Arenado struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Reynolds grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| González struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Arizona - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Scott Oberg pitching for Colorado | ARI | COL |
| Oberg relieved Márquez. | 1 | 2 |
| Descalso hit by pitch. | 1 | 2 |
| Mathis struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Greinke sacrificed to catcher, Descalso to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Rusin relieved Oberg. | 1 | 2 |
| Blanco struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Zack Greinke pitching for Arizona | ARI | COL |
| Desmond grounded out to pitcher. | 1 | 2 |
| Story flied out to right. | 1 | 2 |
| Wolters grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Arizona - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Chris Rusin pitching for Colorado | ARI | COL |
| Peralta homered to right (455 feet). | 2 | 2 |
| Ottavino relieved Rusin. | 2 | 2 |
| Goldschmidt homered to right (391 feet). | 3 | 2 |
| Lamb grounded out to second. | 3 | 2 |
| Owings flied out to center. | 3 | 2 |
| Drury popped out to second. | 3 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Zack Greinke pitching for Arizona | ARI | COL |
| Tapia hit for Ottavino. | 3 | 2 |
| Tapia flied out to center. | 3 | 2 |
| Blackmon singled to left. | 3 | 2 |
| LeMahieu singled to left, Blackmon to second. | 3 | 2 |
| Arenado tripled to deep right, Blackmon and LeMahieu scored. | 3 | 4 |
| Bradley relieved Greinke. | 3 | 4 |
| Reynolds grounded into fielder's choice to third, Arenado out at home. | 3 | 4 |
| González singled to left, Reynolds to second. | 3 | 4 |
| Desmond struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| 2 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Arizona - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Greg Holland pitching for Colorado | ARI | COL |
| Holland relieved Ottavino. | 3 | 4 |
| Descalso popped out to shortstop. | 3 | 4 |
| Herrmann hit for Mathis. | 3 | 4 |
| Herrmann walked. | 3 | 4 |
| Hazelbaker hit for Bradley. | 3 | 4 |
| Hazelbaker struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| Herrmann to second on wild pitch by Holland. | 3 | 4 |
| Blanco grounded out to pitcher. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Arizona Diamondbacks | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Blanco CF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 23 | .268 | .366 | .392 |
| Peralta RF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 22 | .321 | .369 | .491 |
| Goldschmidt 1B | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | .324 | .443 | .605 |
| Lamb 3B | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | .285 | .384 | .549 |
| Owings SS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | .293 | .326 | .463 |
| Drury 2B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | .295 | .340 | .491 |
| Descalso LF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | .218 | .331 | .387 |
| Mathis C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 | .159 | .196 | .280 |
a-Herrmann PH
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .162 | .272 | .374 |
| Greinke P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | .100 | .129 | .100 |
Bradley P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
b-Hazelbaker PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .325 | .386 | .500 |
| Totals | 30 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 141 | |||
| a-walked for J Mathis in the 9th b-struck out swinging for A Bradley in the 9th | ||||||||||
| BATTING HR: Peralta (7, 8th inning off Rusin 0 on, 0 Out); Goldschmidt (17, 8th inning off Ottavino 0 on, 0 Out) RBI: Owings (40), Peralta (20), Goldschmidt (58) S: Greinke SF: Owings Diamondbacks RISP: 0-5 (Lamb 0-1, Blanco 0-2, Drury 0-1, Descalso 0-1) Team LOB: 7 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING CS: Lamb (3, 2nd base by Márquez/Wolters) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Lamb (7, throw); Mathis (3, throw) DP: 1 (Drury-Owings-Goldschmidt). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Coors Field, Denver, CO |
| Attendance | 35,016 (69.5% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:45 |
| Weather | 94 degrees, partly cloudy |
| Wind | 5 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Joe West, First Base - Andy Fletcher, Second Base - Alan Porter, Third Base - Ron Kulpa |
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