The three-legged race through the National League West took a long-distance turn Tuesday when, far away from , the traded for one of the most impactful bats available on the open market in J.D. Martinez. An hour or so later, the D-Backs trounced the Cincinnati Reds.
The Rockies, meanwhile, looked within, repeating a maxim they have clung to for weeks: The offense will find life.
After a 9-7 victory over the visiting , Colorado’s 1,000th at Coors Field, the Rockies have reason to believe in their bats. In a third consecutive victory, each with at least nine runs scored, the Rockies broke out again at the plate.
, hibernating in a nest of strikeouts and crooked swings for a month, doubled in two runs in the fifth inning and singled in another in the sixth. Gerardo Parra doubled with two singles and scored three runs and Mark Reynolds hit a three-run homer as the Rockies clinched their second series victory since June 18.
“I got some pitches today and I was able to get two big hits for the team. That’s all I’m looking for,” Gonzalez said. “It’s a good mix. We have a lot of good players on this team, offensively.”
BOX SCORE:
The Rockies needed every bit of Gonzalez’s efforts and an active lineup in a marathon with the Padres. San Diego pegged Rockies rookie right-hander Antonio Senzatela for three runs in the first inning, including an RBI double from Jose Pirela. , though, tied the game with one swing in the bottom half, sailing a home run to center that also scored and Parra.
Senzatela, a 22-year-old from Venezuela, was pitching his first start since June 22, after the Rockies set him aside for a bullpen breather in his first full season. He settled in to get 12 of the next 15 batters he faced. Wil Myers’ solo homer to left in the fifth inning gave San Diego a 4-3 lead.
The Rockies quickly wrested control. They sent eight batters to the plate in the bottom of the fifth and scored four runs, two of them on Gonzalez’s double off the fence above the bullpen wall in left-center. It was Gonzalez’s first double since June 21 and just his third extra-base hit since June 6.
“We know CarGo. CarGo is the man on this team,” Parra said. “Even when he is struggling, he is the man.”
When the Rockies faded from first place in the West at the end of June, including an eight-game losing skid, the slump neatly coincided with Gonzalez’s. On a team with four all-stars, the lefty slugger with the sweet swing is crucial to the Rockies’ run this season.
“I’m a Carlos Gonzalez fan,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. His confidence in the Rockies’ right fielder, who was hitting just .214 coming in, with six home runs, remained “high,” Black said.
Gonzalez lined a run-scoring single to right in the sixth that gave the Rox a 9-6 lead. Then Coors Field crossed its fingers. Senzatela exited before the sixth inning after allowing four hits and three earned runs. Lefty long man then was nibbled for two infield hits, a sacrifice fly from Erick Aybar and a run-adding single from pinch-hitter Matt Szczur.
replaced Rusin to allow a leadoff homer to Carlos Asuaje, the first of Asuaje’s career. Anxiety swelled as the bases loaded, on a walk, a error and an infield single. But Lyles dreamed up an inning-killing double play, from Reynolds to and back to Lyles at first. and Greg Holland shut down the eight and ninth innings, with Holland earning his 30th save of the season.
The Rockies have scored 31 runs in three days, finding, for now, the offense they had sought.
“Maybe four wins tomorrow. Maybe 20 more runs,” said Parra, his right calf wrapped and iced after a foul ball bruised his leg. “We just stay positive and play hard and play together.”
