Diamondbacks win – A first-time starter turned in a five-inning masterpiece, but the Rockies couldn’t turn chances into runs. The Diamondbacks took control late, survived a ninth-inning scare, and then won the opener 2-1 on a walk-off single.
In the Arizona desert. it looked like the game was going to settle into a slow. tense rhythm—one swing at a time. one pitch at a time. Instead, it kept flipping hands. When the final at-bat finally arrived. the Rockies were still standing there with the same problem they’d had all night: run support didn’t show up when it mattered.
Colorado’s Zach Agnos made his first start since high school and immediately forced the Diamondbacks to play off balance. The Rockies had hoped to squeeze at least four innings out of Agnos. but he delivered more than that—working five innings with 71 pitches. 49 of them strikes. He finished with four strikeouts. allowed one walk. and recorded a stat line that only two other Rockies have managed in their first career start: four strikeouts. one walk. over five innings. Agnos induced three groundouts and six flyouts. and the first baserunner for Arizona didn’t come until Adrian Del Castillo drew a one-out walk. The only hit he allowed was a soft line drive by Ketel Marte with two outs in the same inning.
Rodriguez matched him pitch-for-pitch, too—Eduardo Rodriguez finishing the night for Arizona by going seven innings. The Rockies didn’t reach first base until the fourth inning on a walk by Castro. and didn’t get their first hit until the fifth. Rodriguez allowed four hits, struck out four, and threw 63 of his 99 pitches for strikes. He also induced 10 groundouts, including crucial double-play chances.
The difference-maker for the Diamondbacks didn’t come from a sudden rally. It came from pressure that started as soon as Blas Castaño took over in the sixth. Castaño. who had impressed in his Rockies debut against Arizona last Sunday. walked Ryan Waldschmidt and surrendered a single to Marte. loading the corners. Corbin Carroll grounded into a force out thanks to a nifty play by Chad Stevens. and the run scored to make it 1-0.
Castaño made it worse before he could make it better. He loaded the bases by walking Geraldo Perdomo and hitting Nolan Arenado with a pitch. Stevens responded again, starting a double play off Ildemardo Vargas and ending the inning.
Colorado got a look at the kind of swing that can change a game, but it never turned into points. In the fifth, Troy Tovar led off with a double to right field. Kyle Karros ripped a ball to third base and was robbed of a hit by Arenado. who was playing even with the bag and anticipating a bunt. Jake McCarthy then reached on an infield single to put men on the corners with one out. Braxton Fulford laid down a bunt in front of the mound for a squeeze play. but it went right to Rodriguez. who flipped it to the plate to get Tovar. Troy Johnston then flew out to end the inning.
When Rodriguez finally exited, the Rockies found momentum against reliever Juan Morillo, who had not allowed a run since May 2. Johnston started it with a one-out single, and TJ Rumfield followed with a pinch-hit single. Another Castro walk loaded the bases. Then Tyler Freeman—described in the game notes as the birthday boy—was hit by a pitch to drive in the tying run and make it 1-1 while keeping the bases loaded. Kevin Ginkel came in searching for the end. but Hunter Goodman popped out softly to the catcher and Tovar grounded out to third to close the inning.
Seth Halvorsen escaped the eighth without giving up a run. In the bottom of the ninth, Juan Mejia ran out of room. Having allowed two walks in the inning, he faced Corbin Carroll with two outs. Carroll won the batter, sending a ball into right field. Freeman was unable to send home the winning run. but it was enough to finish the job anyway—because the Diamondbacks ultimately took the game 2-1 on a walk-off single.
Stat lines told the story of missed chances. The Rockies managed six hits but went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. striking out six times and drawing two walks. The Diamondbacks had four hits and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Walks were a huge difference maker as the Rockies’ bullpen issued seven walks after Agnos departed.
The series continues on Friday with Tomoyuki Sugano (4-3, 4.02 ERA) taking the mound for Colorado. Michael Soroka (6-2, 3.49 ERA) will start for Arizona, and first pitch is scheduled for 7:40 am MDT.
Diamondbacks Rockies Zach Agnos Eduardo Rodriguez Blas Castaño walk-off single 2-1 game MLB