PHOENIX — Kyle Freeland threw six solid innings, rookie Nolan Jones added an RBI double and the Colorado Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 on Tuesday night.
The last-place Rockies beat the playoff-contending D-backs for just the third time in 12 tries this season.
The Diamondbacks — locked in a tight battle for one of three National League wild-card spots — fell behind the Miami Marlins and Cincinnati Reds for the final spot after both those teams won Tuesday. Arizona has lost six of its past eight games.
The Rockies took a 1-0 lead in the first on Jones’ run-scoring double to deep right, but the D-backs tied it up in the bottom of the inning when Emmanuel Rivera’s single scored Ketel Marte, who led off with a triple.
Jones has been one of the bright spots in a tough season for the Rockies. The left-handed batter is hitting .282 with 14 homers and 44 RBIs.
Colorado scored a run in both the third and fourth, pushing its advantage to 3-1.
Freeland (6-14) gave up two runs on six hits, striking out two and walking three. Tyler Kinley worked the ninth for his second save this season and third of his big-league career.
It was a short night for Arizona rookie Brandon Pfaadt (1-8), who gave up three runs on six hits over 3 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out four and walked two.
The D-backs’ bullpen pitched well, giving the offense plenty of time to get back in the game. Corbin Carroll’s sacrifice fly in the fourth cut the Rockies lead to 3-2, but the D-backs couldn’t get any closer, going scoreless over the final five frames.
SAALFRANK’S STELLAR DEBUT
Arizona left-hander Andrew Saalfrank made his big-league debut, providing 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
He entered the with two outs in the sixth before coaxing a groundout from veteran Charlie Blackmon to finish the inning. He followed that with by retiring the Rockies in order in the seventh and striking out Jones to open the eighth.
Saalfrank played in college at Indiana and was a sixth round pick in 2019.
MAKING MOVES
The Rockies promoted IF/OF Cole Tucker to the roster and optioned 1B/OF Michael Toglia to Triple-A Albuquerque. Colorado also designated IF Coco Montes for assignment.
UP NEXT
The three-game series wraps up on Wednesday. The D-backs will start RHP Zach Davies (2-5, 6.45 ERA). The Rockies will counter with RHP Chris Flexen (1-6, 6.89)
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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