Walker homers twice, Diamondbacks rout Rockies 8-0
PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks had a day off on the Fourth of July.
That meant fireworks at Chase Field a day later — and not just pyrotechnics.
Christian Walker hit two homers and drove in a career-high five runs, leading the Diamondbacks to an 8-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night.
The Diamondbacks sent 11 batters to the plate in a six-run fifth inning, highlighted by Walker's three-run shot off Rockies reliever Jesus Tinoco. Diamondbacks starter Zack Greinke got the win in his last start before heading to the All-Star Game.
"I wouldn't say I'm trying to hit home runs," said Walker, who has 17 this season. "They tend to come in bunches. Maybe I'm swinging a little more uphill than I usually do."
Greinke (10-3) shut out the Rockies on four hits through seven innings, striking out nine. Colorado was shut out for the fourth time this season.
"Total command of all pitches, fastball location, really good change, his change-up in the high 80s has Grade A action down," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "We couldn't get underneath that ball to get it elevated."
Alex Avila added a two-run double to help the Diamondbacks end a three-game losing streak. The Rockies lost their fourth in a row, and their club record eight-game winning streak against the Diamondbacks came to an end.
Greinke raised his career strikeout total to 2,543, and moved past Bartolo Colon (2,535) and Javier Vazquez (2,536) for 32nd on the career strikeout list. Greinke reached 10 wins before the All-Star break for the fourth consecutive season.
He had to move on from an interference call against him in the third inning that put runners on second and third with one out.
"Made good pitches after that, and then got out of the inning, which was nice," Greinke said. "We scored a lot of runs. It was a good game."
Walker hit a two-run homer to the opposite field off Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela (7-6) in the fourth inning for the game's first runs.
Senzatela was charged with seven runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. The seven runs were the most allowed by a Rockies starter since Peter Lambert allowed eight on June 16 against San Diego.
"I was getting ground balls, but in the fourth inning I left the ball up," Senzatela said. "In the fifth everything was the same. I left them up and they hit them really good."
Rockies outfielder Raimel Tapia struck out swinging against reliever Archie Bradley to end the game, and broke his bat into two pieces slamming it on the ground.
"After eight consecutive losses to this team, it was nice to turn the tide a little bit," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said.
PERALTA TO INJURED LIST
The Diamondbacks placed outfielder David Peralta on the 10-day injured list Friday with right shoulder inflammation. Peralta left Wednesday's game at Dodger Stadium in the third inning.
Peralta had an MRI on Thursday, which revealed joint inflammation that remained from a previous right shoulder problem, manager Torey Lovullo said. Peralta hurt his right shoulder and had an injured list stint in late May.
He's batting .347 with runners in scoring position this season, and has an overall average of .289 with 24 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 44 RBI in 73 games.
"We just felt like at this point in time it would be the best decision to get him off his feet, combined with the All-Star break," Lovullo said. "At some point after the All-Star break, (he) gets back on his feet and is healthy and he can get into that true David form where he carries this ball club."
The Diamondbacks called up infielder Domingo Leyba from Triple-A Reno to take Peralta's place on the roster.
SCORING CHANGES
The Rockies were affected by several scoring changes announced by Major League Baseball on Friday. From June 28's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chris Iannetta's infield single was changed to an error by the pitcher.
Reliever Jake McGee got a run allowed changed to an unearned run from that game.
Infielder Ryan McMahon was charged with a throwing error from a June 23 game against the Dodgers, in what was originally scored a hit.
Infielder Trevor Story had a base hit from July 2 against Houston changed to an error on the Astros' Jose Altuve.
FOR TYLER
Both teams and fans at Chase Field observed a moment of silence for the late Tyler Skaggs, who made his big-league debut with the Diamondbacks in 2012.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Diamondbacks: IF Wilmer Flores (foot) took ground balls and live at-bats on Friday as he moved closer to a rehab assignment and a return. ... RHP Jon Duplantier (shoulder) threw a simulated game on Thursday and will throw to hitters on Sunday. ... RHP Taylor Clarke (back) had an MRI recently, but no update was given before the game.
UP NEXT
Rockies: RHP Jon Gray (9-5, 3.84 earned run average) has won each of his last four starts and has a win over the Diamondbacks at Chase Field from earlier this season.
Diamondbacks: LHP Robbie Ray (5-6, 4.10 ERA) enters his Saturday start against the Rockies third in the NL in strikeouts with 129. Lovullo also confirmed that LHP Alex Young, who won his major-league debut June 27 at San Francisco, will start Sunday against Colorado.
