PHOENIX — Five minutes before the first pitch, there’s a rattle and a hiss that reverberates throughout the stadium. It might as well be Michael Buffer announcing, “Let’s get ready to rumble.”
“One of the players, and it can be different guys, will say, ‘Snakes!’ ” Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said of the announcement that creates high-fives and back slaps. “It’s kind of dumb. But in reality, it’s affirmation that it’s time to play.”
The Diamondbacks continued stalking a National League West title Tuesday night, playing with the fervor of kids trying to earn their high school letter in a 9-4 win at Chase Field.
The Rockies resumed their ugly campaign, stringing together empty at-bats and baserunning gaffes befitting a team out of contention.
Arizona was determined to change its image this season. The Diamondbacks were “going to grind until the last out,” general manager Kevin Towers said. He created a blueprint, scrapped it, then colored outside the lines with players who would put pressure on the defense.
What followed is a team of guys that pick each other up, camouflaging failure as if using photoshop. The top of the fourth and the bottom of the fifth served as a snapshot for each team’s season.
The Rockies loaded the bases in the fourth against rookie Wade Miley. The kid appeared unnerved, having just committed an error on Aaron Cook’s bunt. There was one out. Land a punch and the Diamondbacks are facing a bullpen game. Dexter Fowler and Mark Ellis flied out. It was part of a bigger trend that was hard to comprehend.
The Rockies had four players — Carlos Gonzalez, Todd Helton, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Chris Iannetta — with three hits and managed just four runs.
In contrast, the Diamondbacks maximized an opportunity, chasing Cook after his second consecutive poor outing. With one out and two aboard, all-star catcher Miguel Montero crushed a fastball into the right-field seats. With one swing in the clutch, the outcome was decided.
“They got big hits with runners in scoring position and we didn’t get any,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. “That’s what it boils down to again.”
The Diamondbacks, given their improved bullpen, know they can put games to bed. The Rockies do things that cause sleepless nights. Kouzmanoff was doubled off at second base in the top of the sixth inning after misreading Eric Young’s shallow flyball to center field. Fowler took a bad angle on Gerardo Parra’s line drive in the third, leading to more damage. Caught between diving and cutting the ball off, Fowler did neither, allowing the ball to race to the fence as two runs scored.
The Diamondbacks are playing with confidence. They’ve won eight straight — the starters’ ERA is 0.83 during the streak — and can potentially finish off the Giants with a sweep this weekend.
“We just have to keep believing in ourselves and keep playing hard,” Montero said. “That’s all we need to worry about it.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
Looking ahead
WEDNESDAY: Rockies at Diamondbacks, 7:40 p.m., Root
Esmil Rogers (6-3, 5.93 ERA) believes he’s a starter. But the longer he stays in the rotation the more he looks like a reliever. The opposition is hitting .292 against the right-hander after he reaches 45 pitches. The reason is simple: He doesn’t have a consistent third pitch. Rogers lost his composure after a controversial balk call in Los Angeles, leading to a loss. Josh Collmenter (8-8, 3.19), the man with the tomahawk delivery, has rebounded after a difficult stretch, allowing just five earned runs over his last four starts. Carlos Gonzalez homered off the right-hander earlier this season. Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Upcoming pitching matchups
Thursday: Off
Friday: Rockies’ Kevin Millwood (1-1, 4.26 ERA) at Padres’ Aaron Harang (12-4, 3.92), 8:05 p.m., Root
Saturday: Rockies’ Jhoulys Chacin (11-10, 3.60) at Padres’ Cory Luebke (5-7, 3.01), 6:35 p.m., Root
Sunday: Rockies’ Alex White (0-1, 7.50) at Padres’ Tim Stauffer (8-11, 3.76), 2:05 p.m., Root
