Rockies' bats break out vs. D-backs

April showers bring May flowers is how the saying goes, but for the Rockies May arrived with a 14-6 win over the D-backs at Chase Field on Saturday night.

The offense was clicking, putting together a season-high 18 hits and 14 runs -- the most hits in a road game since July 2017 and the most runs scored on the road since May 2016.

• Box score

This marked just the second road win for the Rockies this season. On their first two road trips, (including this second one, which wraps up Sunday) the offense produced 26 runs over 11 games. There was a different kind of lively energy in the clubhouse postgame, with a kind of spark that comes from a dominating win, according to manager Bud Black.

“Each game is different,” said Black. “We've had some tough games on the road, we haven't gotten some big hits. Hopefully this is something that can catapult us to that. You never know.”

Catcher Dom Nuñez said the biggest difference he saw from his team was the ability to keep starting pitcher Zac Gallen and the D-backs’ bullpen on the ropes and wear them down, inning by inning.

“The big thing was that we were scoring in the first two innings, a couple runs, and then we kind of stalled out,” said Nuñez of the Rockies’ losses this season. “So, tonight, our focus was to stay on the gas, because that’s what the good teams do. We have to take advantage of those opportunities.”

The Rockies took the lead for good in the fourth inning, but the bats really came alive in the eighth, with Nuñez’s 401-foot grand slam leading a seven-run rally.

Trevor Story belted a two-run homer in the sixth inning, hitting safely in his third straight game after starting the road trip 0-for-10.

It was a big night for the offense all around, as Ryan McMahon recorded two hits and four RBIs, and Raimel Tapia collected four hits for the third time in his career.

“It's a conversation we had for two innings in the dugout -- [Tapia] continues to be a thorn in our side with some big hits,” said D-backs manager Torey Lovullo. “Not just some extra add-on hits, some big hits. We've just got to do a better job of an attack plan and executing that attack plan.”

Pregame, Black said the offense and bullpen needed to improve during the month of May. One game is a small sample, but Black has history on his side.

Between 2017-19, the Rockies had a .512 winning percentage in March/April. That improves to .593 in May, which is the sixth best in MLB.

“I think that's been the overall right course, we haven't panicked,” said Black. “You know, regardless of what happened in April, maybe what’s been beneficial to us, is keeping a steady hand amongst the players to come out of whatever happened in April, to have a good May. … Guys who keep a level head will will not let April numbers distract them from staying the course and putting up numbers in May.”