Rox sweep, top D-backs in 8th straight matchup

PHOENIX -- The Rockies continue to dominate the D-backs. Even when they need a late rally and extra innings to complete a come-from-behind victory while missing two of their top All-Star hitters.

Without Trevor Story (right thumb sprain) and after losing Nolan Arenado (left big toe contusion) in the ninth inning, Colorado rallied for a 6-4 victory over Arizona at Chase Field on Thursday afternoon. Chris Iannetta belted a go-ahead two-run single in the 10th for the Rockies’ eighth straight win over the D-backs, setting a franchise record for consecutive victories over Arizona.

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“There’s a ton of resiliency in this team, there’s fight in this group, and with us, I think there’s a real level-headedness to this group that allows them to think clearly,” Colorado manager Bud Black said after his club’s three-game sweep. “We knew this was going to be a tough trip.”

The three-city, nine-game road trip against National League West rivals began with more success against the D-backs. The Rockies are 18-4 against the Snakes since July 11, 2018, which includes going 8-1 at Chase Field.

Colorado has swept back-to-back series vs. Arizona after winning all four games at Coors Field from May 27-30. The Rockies’ eight-game win streak vs. the D-backs comes after they lost their first two games of the year against their NL West counterpart.

“Early on in the season, they beat us really good and a lot, so it feels good to win. That’s a good team,” Arenado said. “I feel like that ever since that Wild Card Game [in 2017], coming here, it’s always been a little tough. So to come here and get a sweep here, it’s not an easy thing to do.”

The Rockies are a season-high six games above .500 at 40-34 after opening the year 3-12. They thumped their way past the D-backs in the first two games of the series. In the finale, they needed late offense.

In the ninth, Colorado tied the game against Arizona closer Greg Holland when Tony Wolters delivered a pinch-hit RBI single to right field with one out. However, Daniel Murphy grounded into an inning-ending double play, and the game remained tied at 4.

An inning later, the Rockies loaded the bases with one out against right-hander Yoshihisa Hirano on a pair of walks and a single, before Iannetta belted a long fly ball off the center-field wall against his former team, plating the decisive pair of runs.

“I hit it good -- I’m not trying to say I didn’t hit it good, but I felt my hands rattle a little bit, so I knew I didn’t get all of it,” Iannetta said. “But I got a lot of it.”

The D-backs loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 10th against Rockies right-hander Scott Oberg, who was in his second inning on the mound. But Oberg got Ildemaro Vargas to fly out to left and struck out David Peralta to end the game.

Even without Story and Arenado, Colorado has one of the hottest hitters in the Majors at the top of its lineup. Charlie Blackmon extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a homer to open the game. During that stretch, he’s batting .500 (26-for-52) with seven homers and 16 RBIs.

The Rockies have been hot as a team, too. They’ve scored at least six runs in seven consecutive games while getting offense throughout the lineup, which is momentum they’ll look to carry into this weekend’s series against the NL West-leading Dodgers in Los Angeles.

“We have a really good team. We have a lot of talent, top to bottom,” Iannetta said. “We have exceptional talent at the top, we have All-Stars, we have Silver Sluggers and Platinum Glove guys. But the rest of our lineup is really talented as well.”