It was another quality battle between the Colorado Rockies (17-60) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (39-37) on Saturday, but the little things proved to be the difference maker as the Rockies failed to get the big hit and pull off a comeback late.

Early innings sprint

The runs came early for both teams, as six of the eight runs scored came in the first three innings. The Diamondbacks struck first after Ketel Marte doubled to lead off the game and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Eugenio Suárez.

The Rockies quickly responded with a two-run home run by Jordan Beck, his 10th of the season, to give the Rockies their only lead of the night 2-1. Arizona then tied things up with an RBI ground-rule double by Marte with two outs in the top of the second.

Arizona took a 3-2 lead in the third when Suárez belted his 25th home run of the season to center field. The Rockies got creative in the third after Ryan Ritter reached on a fielding error. Tyler Freeman laced a single that deflected off the second baseman, Tim Tawa, to put Ritter on third. Beck hit into a double play, but it did allow the run to score and tie things up 3-3.

The Rockies would be held scoreless the rest of the game, however, as the Diamondbacks would add a two-run home run in the fifth inning to finish the scoring.

Old vs. new

Veteran Merrill Kelly and rookie Carson Palmquist appeared to match each other through the first half of the game. Palmquist allowed three runs on four hits while striking out four in his outing, while Kelly allowed three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts. The difference maker was that Palmquist lasted just four innings while Kelly went six.

Palmquist threw just 62 pitches in his outing, but the hits he had allowed were hit hard, and the Rockies were understandably weary of letting him face the Diamondbacks lineup a third time in a tied game. He made some big pitches, though, specifically in the first when he faced a bases-loaded situation and escaped, allowing just one run.

Bullpen battle

Despite the two-run home run, the bullpen kept the Rockies in the game. Jimmy Herget took the loss, but he tossed two innings. Jake Bird allowed three his over two scoreless innings with two strikeouts and Victor Vodnik tossed a scoreless ninth despite issuing a pair of walks.

Miscues make the difference

Miscues on the field have been synonymous with the Rockies this season. In the fifth, Marte blooped a ball into no-man’s land in left field that fell in between the trifecta of Beck, McMahon, and Ritter. The next batter was Gerlado Perdomo, who blasted the winning two-run home run.

In the seventh inning, the Rockies got something cooking when Mickey Moniak hit a ground-rule double to lead off, followed by a walk for Sam Hilliard. The Diamondbacks went to the bullpen for Ryan Thompson. Orlando Arcia was the hitter and was squared around to bunt, but Thompson whipped around and picked off Moniak at second base. Hilliard stole second but Arica flew out to center field and Ritter struck out to end the threat.

The Rockies also couldn’t get the key hits in clutch situations, going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Up next

The Sunday matinee will take place at 1:10 p.m. MDT as the Rockies try to snag a win before the Los Angeles Dodgers come to town on Tuesday. Antonio Senzatela (2-10, 6.72 ERA) will face off against Brandon Pfaadt (8-4, 5.38 ERA).

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