Troy Tulowitzki’s Big Night At The Plate Pushes The Colorado Rockies Past The Arizona Diamondbacks

Apr. 28, 2013; Phoenix AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (2) throws to first base during the first inning against Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Hilderbrand-USA TODAY Sports Images

Prior to Monday night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Rockies skipper Walt Weiss made the move to put Troy Tulowitzki in the three hole, moving Carlos Gonzalez to the clean-up spot in the midst of a slump. Weiss seemed to have made the right decision as Tulowitzki had a big night offensively.

Troy Tulowitzki would smoke a two-out double to place a runner in scoring position for Carlos Gonzalez in the first inning. CarGo would double to deep-right, plating Tulo for the first run of the game. Gonzalez however would try to stretch it out for a triple and would end up getting thrown out.

The D’Backs would answer back as Gerardo Parra would deliver a solo shot to right off of lefty Franklin Morales to tie the game up at one in the bottom of the second. In the top half of the third, Tulowitzki would deliver another double, plating Franklin Morales and Brandon Barnes to take the 3-1 lead.

Morales would struggle in the bottom half of the third, giving up a sacrifice fly to Miguel Montero, scoring Martin Prado to trim the lead to one. Later on in the inning, Aaron Hill would single to right-center, scoring Paul Goldscmidt to tie it all up at three. In the top half of the fourth, Jordan Pacheco would double to left, plating Nolan Arenado who would extend his hitting streak to a league-best 18 games.

It was a back-and-fourth affair at Chase Stadium Monday night as the D’Backs would strike back in the bottom of the fifth. Paul Goldschmidt would ground out to third, allowing Martin Prado to score to tie it back p at four. Colorado would answer right back as Troy Tulowitzki belted a home run to left field, giving the Rockies the 5-4 advantage. Moments later, Justin Morneau would hit a two-run shot to right-center, scoring Arenado giving the Rockies some insurance runs up 7-4.

Going back to Rockies starter Franklin Morales, he would struggle with pitch-count throughout the night but the offense would back him up. He would throw five innings, giving up seven hits, four runs, four earned, two walks and two strikeouts.

The D’Backs didn’t go down without a fight as they plated one more run in the seventh inning. Miguel Montero would drive a single to center, scoring Martin Prado as they trimmed the lead to 7-5. Colorado would get that run back in the top of the ninth, as Charlie Blackmon hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring DJ LeMahieu giving them the 8-5 lead and that’s all they would need.

Notable Rockies Hitters:

• Troy Tulowitzki: 3-for-3, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI’s.
• Nolan Arenado: 2-for-4, 2 R. (18-game hitting streak)
• Justin Morneau: 1-for-4, 2-R HR.
• DJ LeMahieu: 2-for-4,1 R.

Rockies Pitching:

• Franklin Morales (W, 3-1): 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO. 99 pitches, 57 strikes.
• Tommy Kahnle (H, 3): 1.0 IP, 1 H.
• Adam Ottavino: (H, 6): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB.
• Boone Logan (H, 4): 1.0 IP, 2 SO.
• LaTroy Hawkins: (S, 8): 1.0 IP, 1 SO.

Colorado Rockies (15-12) take game one of a three-game set. They will be back in action tomorrow night as Tyler Chatwood takes the hill, facing Arizona’s Mike Bolsinger.