Arenado slugs 30th HR, then Rockies walk off

DENVER -- Garrett Hampson wasn’t going to let the Rockies’ good times end, not on a day when Nolan Arenado homered twice.

Hampson’s one-out, bases-loaded single over a five-man infield in the 10th gave the Rockies a 7-6 victory over the Marlins to extend their win streak to four games -- their longest run since an eight-gamer from May 26 to June 2.

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While Arenado’s two big hits were hard -- they made him the ninth third baseman in history with five straight 30-homer seasons -- Hampson’s was soft. It may not have even been deep enough for a sacrifice fly against a normal outfield. But it was good enough that a player hitting .214 and searching for ways to contribute could be celebrated.

“I was hoping it was going to be deep enough, then I looked out there and there was nobody out there, so it got the job done,” Hampson said. “It’s what you play for. It’s what you want to do from the beginning of the year. You just want to contribute to the team. Obviously, I want to do more of that.”

Hampson made the postseason roster last year as a debuting player. He made the Opening Day roster as a speedy rookie bench player, an infielder by trade who can play in the outfield -- especially in center. But he couldn’t time his leg kick properly early, and pitchers took advantage. He has endured two options to Triple-A Albuquerque.

At some point, the Rockies hope his short game and the bat-to-ball skills he showed in the Minors will make him a weapon. But Sunday, a fisted inside pitch was enough to celebrate.

“It was good for ‘Hampy’ -- the guys celebrated just a minute ago, Hampy’s first walk-off, which is great,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “The guys are playing with enthusiasm. It’s good to see a contribution from Hampy, one of the guys who started on the bench but came in, in a couple big spots. Second time through, he got it done.”

The Rockies had help from Marlins second baseman Isan Diaz’s fielding errors in the ninth -- which led to a two-run inning to tie the game -- and 10th. In the 10th, Yonathan Daza beat out an infield bouncer, Diaz flubbed Raimel Tapia’s little roller, and Ryan McMahon singled loaded the bases. Ian Desmond struck out for the second time with a runner at third, but Hampson saved him with his soft hit off Jeff Brigham for his first career walk-off RBI.

Arenado won Wednesday’s game with a two-run, walk-off homer off the D-backs’ Archie Bradley for a 7-6 victory. His second homer Sunday, in the eighth inning on a curveball from the Marlins’ Austin Brice, should have been another game-winner, but Wade Davis -- back in the closer role because Scott Oberg is likely out for the season after undergoing a blood clot procedure in his right arm -- gave up three runs in the top of the ninth.

Arenado’s first homer -- in the first inning off the Marlins' mostly effective starter Jordan Yamamoto -- was an oddity for 2019. The home run into the Rockies’ bullpen in right field was his first opposite-field homer of the season.

Arenado, however, took heart in the myriad of contributions beyond Hampson’s.

• Charlie Blackmon homered off Yamamoto in the sixth. The Arenado and Blackmon homers accounted for half the hits off Yamamoto, who fanned nine in 5 2/3 innings.

• Rookie righty Peter Lambert gave up three runs in six innings. The runs came early in the first, second and sixth, but Lambert prevented those from becoming multi-run frames. While much of the Rockies’ depth has struggled this season, Lambert is holding his own enough to stay in the rotation.

• Righty reliever Carlos Estevez took over for Davis and held the Marlins to one hit and one walk while fanning two in two innings. With Davis struggling, especially at home (10.97 ERA), it’s possible Estevez could get save chances.

“I don’t know if we’re in or out of it; I’m not going to pay attention to it,” Arenado said. “We’ve got to pay attention to ourselves.

“I feel like the last few games we’ve won, everyone has played a part in it. That’s how we’re going to win ballgames. It was great to see Hampy. He’s been working his butt off. To see him come through like that was huge. It was good for him, too. Hopefully, it boosts his confidence.”