Lamb, Escobar deliver big hits, D-backs beat Rockies 8-7
PHOENIX (AP) — Eduardo Escobar is collecting some memorabilia to go along with the flashy statistics he's posting this season.
Escobar had a lineup card and encased baseball Tuesday night, keepsakes for his most recent accomplishments.
The ball was from the two-run triple Escobar hit in the sixth inning, which gave him 100 RBIs on the season. That triple was part of a five-run rally that gave the Diamondbacks a big lead, and Arizona held on to beat the Colorado Rockies 8-7.
"For sure I'm going to put it in my office, 100 percent," Escobar said, admitting he never imagined 100 RBIs in a season. "I am so glad and so happy to play for this team. I love it here and I believe in my guys."
Pinch-hitter Jake Lamb broke a 3-3 tie with pinch-hit single before Escobar came up, and the Diamondbacks scored five runs in the sixth off Colorado starter Kyle Freeland (3-11) and reliever Bryan Shaw.
Escobar became the third player in Diamondbacks history with 20-plus doubles, 20 or more home runs and at least 10 triples in a season, joining Steve Finley (1999 and 2003) and Stephen Drew (2008). He also became the first National League switch-hitter with 100 RBIs since Chase Headley accomplished the feat with the San Diego Padres in 2012.
He's the ninth Diamondbacks player to reach 100 RBIs, and he's the only player in the major leagues with 10 or more doubles, triples and home runs this season.
"What can you say about Eduardo Escobar? We've got to appreciate exactly what's he's done here in Arizona for us this year," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said, admitting he could have given his third baseman a little more rest earlier in the season. "This isn't the time to rest him, so he's got to grind through this and step up and do what he's doing."
Nick Ahmed homered and drove in two runs. He set a career high for home runs with his 17th and matched his career-best RBI total with 70.
Arizona's 34 home runs against the Rockies is a franchise record against an opposing team in a season.
Lamb, batting for starting pitcher Alex Young (5-3) with one out and the bases loaded, bounced a hit through the middle to drive in two runs, and Ketel Marte followed with an RBI on a fielder's choice ahead of Escobar's triple.
David Peralta had three hits, Young lasted six innings with three runs allowed and Archie Bradley got his sixth save.
"Any game where we can just grind out wins consecutively is huge," Young said. "It doesn't matter how we win."
Bradley gave up a run in the ninth inning after Charlie Blackmon led off with a double.
"We had a couple of chances throughout the game and couldn't get that big knock," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "We got the tying run, the go-ahead run to the plate a couple of different times and we couldn't really capitalize."
The Diamondbacks stayed within striking distance for an NL wild card, four games behind the Chicago Cubs.
Nolan Arenado homered in his 1,000th career game for the Rockies, and Trevor Story had four hits and two RBIs
The Rockies led 2-1 in the top of the fourth after Arenado's 31st home run of the season, a two-run shot. Down 8-3, Colorado rallied with three runs in the seventh, but couldn't catch up.
Freeland left the game with one out in the bottom of the sixth with a strained groin. He allowed three earned runs on five hits.
STRANGE THINGS
Peralta stumbled in left field and fell as he set up to throw the ball to the infield on Tapia's fifth-inning single.
It didn't cost the Diamondbacks for the moment, and Peralta smiled as he got to his feet and waved to the cheering crowd.
The Rockies' Daniel Murphy hit a ground rule double in the sixth because the ball got stuck under the padding of the right field foul pole.
And for good measure, a Wilmer Flores foul ball knocked over a phone in the press box.
ROSTER MOVE
The Diamondbacks called up infielder Ildemaro Vargas from Triple-A Reno before Tuesday's game after they optioned pitcher Bo Takahashi to Double-A Jackson following Monday's game.
Vargas has split time between Arizona and Reno this season. Takahashi, 22, was brought up for his first Major League stint on Sunday, but did not make an appearance in the brief time he was with the Diamondbacks.
UP NEXT
Rockies: RHP Jon Gray (11-8, 3.84 earned run average) is scheduled to start the series finale against Arizona, and is coming off eight scoreless innings of five-hit ball in his last start, Aug. 16 against Miami.
Diamondbacks: RHP Mike Leake (0-1, 7.71 ERA with Diamondbacks; 9-9, 4.64 overall) is set for his seventh career start against the Rockies. He's 2-2 in his career against Colorado.
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