Hampson gets opportunity, delivers big hit

PHOENIX -- Garrett Hampson’s seventh-inning opportunity on Sunday afternoon against D-backs right-handed reliever Keynan Middleton was a challenging enough mental exercise. Middleton had struck out Hampson two days earlier.

But an equal battle for Hampson was the one with his enthusiasm to make the most of his chance -- which come sporadically but always seem at the biggest times. Before starting the past two games for the injured José Iglesias -- who emerged dizzy and bruised after a home-plate collision on Friday night -- Hampson had not started consecutive games since June 11-12.

Score one for Hampson, whose two-out, two-run double in the seventh gave the Rockies their breakthrough on what had been a no-luck afternoon. Connor Joe followed by driving Hampson in for the run that provided Colorado a 3-2 victory, its third in a four-game set at Chase Field.

“I battle with that -- when I get an at-bat, sometimes you want to make up for lost time,” said Hampson, who is batting .227 in 40 games (28 starts). “So I try to keep it simple, stick to my approach at the plate. Results will happen, don’t force anything -- that’s not really my game, anyway.”

At 38-48, the Rockies moved back into a tie with the D-backs for fourth in the National League West. But Colorado has won four of its past six series against division opponents. The team bounced back this weekend after getting swept in three games at Dodger Stadium to begin the road trip that ended Sunday.

To keep winning and to make some noise as the All-Star break approaches, a key will be finding production -- or at least game-turning contributions -- from players like Hampson. The Rockies have performed far better with their lineup intact, but their fortunes took a turn when Kris Bryant was missing time because of a back injury. The only loss of the series vs. the D-backs was Saturday’s 9-2 decision, with Iglesias and All-Star first baseman C.J. Cron out with injuries.

Neither Iglesias nor Cron played again Sunday, which was the type of game that teams could lose if their depth doesn’t produce.

Right-handed starter Germán Márquez held the D-backs to two runs and three hits over seven innings. Márquez turned the game over to bullpen veterans Alex Colomé and Daniel Bard, whose 18 saves in 20 chances make him a candidate to still earn a spot in the All-Star Game, should a spot become open.

The stellar pitching was rewarded because Hampson, who also doubled in Saturday’s game, helped put the Rockies on the winning end.

“Hampy’s got that in him,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “The at-bats have been a little bit infrequent lately. Iglesias, [second baseman Brendan] Rodgers and our outfielders are producing, but that’s good to see with Hampy. We’ll get him in there for a number of starts, so hopefully we’ll continue to see those swings.”

When Bryant (who exited Sunday due to cramping) returned to make the regular lineup whole, Hampson’s role became as a pinch-runner, an occasional defensive replacement or a righty pinch-hitter. But this weekend has been like his old times at Long Beach State, where he played well enough at shortstop that the Rockies drafted him in the third round in 2016.

With Trevor Story now on the Red Sox and Black being careful not to fatigue the 32-year-old Iglesias, Hampson’s 16 games at shortstop are a career high, even if his playing time has been sporadic.

“I love shortstop and have taken a lot of ground balls there this year, which is awesome,” Hampson said. “Back to the college days, so it’s been fun. I love the position, and I think I'm good at it.”

But whether he's starting or entering midgame, Hampson’s biggest chances for impact will likely come late in games. He just has to handle them calmly, like on Sunday.

“There was a runner at third and I was just thinking, ‘Hit the ball hard somewhere and hopefully score a run,'" Hampson said. “I hit one in the air and got it into the gap.”