Walker homers twice, hitting 2-run shot in 8th in Diamondbacks’ 9-7 victory over Rockies – WTOP News

DENVER (AP) — Christian Walker hit a pair of two-run homers, the second in the eighth inning lifting the Arizona Diamondbacks past the Colorado Rockies in a 9-7 victory Wednesday.

The Diamondbacks moved back over .500 at 61-60, winning two straight to capture their second straight series after a stretch in which they lost 10 of 12 games to fall 3 1/2 games out of an NL wild-card berth. They have 31 come-from-behind victories.

Tommy Pham singled off Tyler Kinley (0-1) to open the eighth inning and Walker followed with a 425-foot homer to right-center for an 8-7 lead. Walker, who has 28 homers, also homered in the first two games of the series. He has 22 career homers against Colorado, 13 at Coors Field.

Walker had three hits and four RBIs, Nick Ahmed had a three-run triple and Corbin Carroll had two hits and his 37th stolen base after replacing Lourdes Gurriel in the fifth inning. Gurriel left because of a strained left hip.

Paul Sewald pitched around Charlie Blackmon’s single to open the ninth inning for his 25th save in 29 chances, his fourth save in five days. He has four saves in five chances for Arizona since being acquired from Seattle.

Walker’s two-run homer in the first inning opened the scoring in a game that had a Blake Street Bombers vibe, with both teams scoring four runs in the sixth inning as the lead see-sawed.

Walker drew one of three walks off Colorado starter Austin Gomber in the sixth and Buddy Kennedy drew a bases-loaded walk to tie it at 3. Ahmed greeted reliever Jake Bird with a triple high off the fence in right-center field for a 6-3 lead.

The lead did not last the inning. Nolan Jones hit a two-run homer to cap the Rockies’ four-run sixth for a 7-6 lead. Brendan Rodgers had a two-out, two-run double off Miguel Castro for a 4-3 lead before Jones followed with his 12th homer, a 406-foot liner over the right-field fence.

Ryan McMahon had three hits, including his 20th home run, Ezequiel Tovar had three hits and scored twice and Rodgers had a pair of doubles.

Pham had a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning.

FIRST LOOK

Colorado has touched on the idea of using Kris Bryant at first base when he returns from a fractured left index finger that has sidelined him since he was hit by a pitch July 22. He appears several weeks away from activation.

“Potentially, yes. I wouldn’t discount that,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “He is a very good athlete. He is a baseball player. He’s played all over the diamond. It will be under consideration, as a lot of things are.”

Bryant, who signed a seven-year, $182 million free agent deal before the 2022 season, has played 678 games at third base, 342 in the outfield and 32 at first in his nine-year major league career. He has played 47 games in the outfield and 18 at DH this season.

OUTFIELD ARM

Nolan Jones had three assists in the final two games of the series. He threw out Jose Herrera at second base attempting to stretch and a single in the seventh and also made the initial throw when Ahmed attempted to stretch a triple into an inside-the-park homer in the sixth. Both came as a right fielder. He threw out Ketel Marte at the plate after attempting to score from second base on an errant pickoff throw from left field in the seventh inning Saturday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: RHP Zach Davies (lower back) gave up seven runs and 11 hits while throwing 80 pitches in three innings of second rehab start for Triple-A Reno on Tuesday. He is a candidate to rejoin the rotation Sunday. Davies, who has been on the injured list since July 19, is 1-5 with a 7.38 ERA in 11 starts with the Diamondbacks. … C Carson Kelly was released, two days after being designated for assignment.

Rockies: RHP Chase Anderson (shoulder) and RHP Ryan Feltner (fractured skull) are scheduled to face hitters Saturday. Anderson will likely need two rehab starts before a possible return to the rotation, manager Bud Black said. Feltner will face hitters for the first time since being struck in the right side of the head by Nick Castellanos’ line drive May 13. … LF Jurickson Profar returned to the lineup after missing two starts because of a sore right knee.

UP NEXT

Arizona RHP Zac Gallen (12-5,3.24 ERA) was set to face San Diego LHP Rich Hill (7-12, 5.17) in the opener of a four-game series at Petco Park on Thursday. Gallen is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in three starts against the Padres.

Colorado RHP Peter Lambert (2-4, 5.46 ERA) and White Sox RHP Michael Kopech (5-10, 4.58) were scheduled to meet Friday at Coors Field in the opener of a three-game set.

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