Ahmed's single in ninth lifts Diamondbacks
DENVER -- Nick Ahmed's single with two outs in the ninth inning gave the Arizona Diamondbacks a 7-6 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.
The hit came off closer Carlos Estevez, who started the inning by striking out the first two batters he faced including Paul Goldschmidt on a 100 mph fastball. But Jake Lamb singled and Chris Herrmann lined a single off the glove of Estevez (1-4) to set the stage for Ahmed, who entered the game in the eighth.
Ahmed was 7-for-31 with runners in scoring position and two outs when he grounded a first-pitch 99 mph fastball up the middle, scoring Lamb from second for his 19th RBI of the season.
The victory was ninth in 12 games for the Diamondbacks, who crept to within a half game of the third-place Rockies in the National League West and improved to 22-15 on the road.
The loss was the fifth in seven games for the Rockies, who nearly overcame a shaky start from Eddie Butler.
The Rockies tied the game 6-6 with a three-run eighth but were unable to grab the lead after loading the bases with one out. Consecutive singles to open the inning against Daniel Hudson put runners on first and third. Second baseman Jean Segura ranged to his left to snare Nick Hundley's run-scoring grounder, and pinch-hitter Daniel Descalso's single again put runners on the corners.
Charlie Blackmon followed with a first-pitch single, making it a one-run game and bringing on closer Brad Ziegler with runners on first and third. He had set a club record with 43 consecutive saves -- the seventh longest streak all-time. It ended when DJ LeMahieu pushed a bunt that first baseman Paul Goldschmidt fielded, but the sliding Descalso easily beat Goldschmidt's throw.
Ziegler walked Nolan Arenado to load the bases, but struck out Carlos Gonzalez and Trevor Story. Ziegler (2-2) worked the ninth.
Gonzalez appeared to injure his wrist swinging at the third strike and left the game.
Diamondbacks ace Zack Greinke was more vintage than gritty. He worked 5 2/3 innings and left after throwing 109 pitches. It was the second-shortest outing of the season for Greinke, who pitched four innings against the Rockies in his Arizona debut April 4. With a runner on first and Blackmon coming up, Arizona manager Chip Hale summoned left-hander Andrew Chafin and he struck Blackmon out.
After getting to Greinke for four hits and three runs in the first two innings, the Rockies managed only three singles against him for the balance of his outing. He had to work around two errors, and while he was unable to retire the side in order in any inning, Greinke stranded six runners in the final four innings he was on the mound.
Butler yielded a career-high tying 11 hits in five innings and threw a career-high 106 pitches. It was the third time he allowed that many hits and second this season.
Butler took the rotation spot of injured Tyler Chatwood (back), couldn't hold an early three-run lead and put the Rockies in a 6-3 hole in the fourth. After Greinke led off that inning with a walk and stole second, Butler yielded three-straight one-out singles that netted two runs.
Butler had yielded nine homers in 46 innings entering the game and surrendered two two-run shots along with a three-run lead in the third when the Diamondbacks batted around. Socrates Brito, the No. 9 hitter in the order, belted a 443-foot homer to center after Greinke's leadoff single.
Lamb followed Goldschmidt's two-out single with his 15th home run, giving the Diamondbacks a 4-3 lead.
The Rockies jumped on Greinke for three early runs. Mark Reynolds lofted an opposite-field home run just beyond the out-of-town scoreboard in right to open the second. It was his seventh homer and came after an Arenado double with one out and Trevor Story's two-out single plated two runs in the first. Blackmon began that rally with a leadoff double.
The Rockies had a chance to do damage in the fifth when Greinke allowed a walk and a single to start the inning. But he fielded Gonzalez's tapper and forced the lead runner at third, retired Story on a fly to short right and threw a called third strike past Ryan Raburn.
NOTES: Rockies SS Jose Reyes was placed on waivers for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release. The Rockies had designated him for assignment June 15. ... Rockies RHP Jon Gray, who experienced shoulder fatigue during a start Wednesday, will throw a light side session Friday and is expected to make his next scheduled start Monday. ... Diamondbacks RF Yasmany Tomas batted second for the first time this season and the third time in his career, and went 1-for-5 with an RBI. ... Diamondbacks OF Chris Owings (plantar faciitis left foot) took live batting practice at the team's complex in Scottsdale, Ariz. Manager Chip Hale said he hopes to have Owings back toward the end of next week. ... Rockies RHP Christian Bergman (left oblique strain) made his first rehab start for Triple-A Albuquerque. ... Rockies RHP Adam Ottavino (right ulnar collateral ligament) continued his rehab at Triple-A Albuquerque after four appearances for High Class A Modesto as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery in May 2015.