Shawn Estes pitched six shutout innings for his first victory since June 24, and Chad Tracy hit a three-run homer to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks past the Rockies 7-1 on Friday night.
Troy Glaus and Craig Counsell also connected for the Diamondbacks, who began the day eight games behind the first- place San Diego Padres in the NL West.
Estes (7-7) allowed five hits, walked four and struck out two.
The left-hander was activated from the disabled list before the game – he had been out since July 6 with a stress fracture in his right ankle. Colorado stranded nine runners in the first six innings against the former Rockies pitcher. Colorado left eight runners in scoring position.
Rockies starter Byung-Hyun Kim (5-11) matched a career high with eight strikeouts. He gave up three runs in six innings.
Arizona reliever Brandon Medders, manager Bob Melvin and bench coach Jay Bell were ejected in the ninth inning after Medders hit Luis Gonzalez in the back with a pitch.
Three times Colorado had two on in an inning with one out and failed to score. Garrett Atkins walked and Dustan Mohr singled with none out in the second, but Estes retired the next three batters.
Gonzalez, who had three hits, singled and Todd Helton walked with one out in the third. After a double steal as Matt Holliday struck out, Atkins tapped weakly back to Estes.
Estes got pinch-hitters Ryan Shealy to pop out and Todd Greene to ground out.
Arizona stranded four runners and hit into two double plays in the first four innings before Tracy’s 21st homer in the fifth. Estes reached on a fielder’s choice and Counsell drew a one-out walk. Tracy followed with a long drive to center.
The Diamondbacks made it 5-0 in the seventh. Counsell homered just inside the foul pole in right off Randy Williams, and Jamey Wright issued a bases-loaded walk to Royce Clayton.
The Rockies scored in the eighth against Lance Cormier. Holliday reached on Tony Clark’s error at first base and Atkins doubled to left. Holliday scored on a groundout.
Glaus hit his 31st homer in the ninth and pinch-hitter Alex Cintron added an RBI double.
