PHOENIX -- The Diamondbacks talk a lot of picking up each other, of coming through when the man in front of you faltered.
Through two games, the starting rotation -- the focus of a major offseason upgrade -- faltered. But the D-backs' bats picked up Shelby Miller on Tuesday.
After the Rockies for the second night in a row put up a big inning against an Arizona starter, the D-backs scored nine unanswered runs to beat Colorado 11-6 at Chase Field.
The ability to come back was a quality they showed last season. But they weren't supposed to need it as often this year after the front office added Zack Greinke and Miller to the top of the rotation. The D-backs have found themselves in sizable holes in each of the first two games.
"We were able to pick him up tonight," Paul Goldschmidt said of Miller.
It was Goldschmidt's three-run triple that capped a six-run seventh inning and put the game out of reach after the D-backs fell behind 6-2 midway through the game.
"There will be games where maybe we only get one or two runs and he'll pick us up by not giving up any runs," Goldschmidt said. "I know (Miller) was probably frustrated but to me the biggest innings were when he went out for the fifth and sixth, to put up those zeros."
Miller gave up runs in just one inning in his D-backs debut. But it was a lot of runs -- six -- on three home runs in the fourth, after the Rockies scored six in the third against Greinke the night before.
"It's tough to be positive about a start like that, giving up six runs in one inning," said Miller, who last season received the least run support (2.5 runs per game) while with the Braves. "But to put up zeroes afterward and give is a chance to win was big. And with the team we have, I knew we have an offense that could pick me up. This offense is capable of so many things."
The D-backs didn't let the deficit alter their patient, steady approach. Jean Segura drove in two runs with triple as part of a three-run sixth. And they had six hits and a walk as they sent 10 batters to the plate in the seventh.
"Guys stay within themselves," said veteran Rickie Weeks Jr., who had an infield single during the pivotal rally. "There is talent. You can't teach talent. It's hard to get talent and this team has talent. They play baseball the right way here."
The D-backs collected 15 hits to bring their two-day total to 27, a franchise best to start a season. They had 26 hits in two games to begin 2001.
"We sort of expect that because that's the kind of team they've said want to be, one that doesn't give up," Hale said. "Goldy is not going to allow guys to not keep grinding at it."
Goldschmidt homered in the first and Segura did so in the third. It was the fourth time two D-backs players tripled and homered in the same game.
Including Miller's final two innings, the D-backs set down 15 of the final 17 Rockies they faced. The bullpen retired 9 of 10.
