Trevor Story homers as Rockies grab early lead

Story homers as Rockies hold early lead

Trevor Story continued to be a thorn in the side of the Diamondbacks, launching a solo homer in the third inning as the Colorado Rockies took a 3-1 lead into the middle innings on Friday night.

For Story, the home run was the seventh in 14 career games against the Diamondbacks and his sixth at Chase Field, where he’s played just seven games.

Story’s home run came in the third inning off Diamondbacks lefty Robbie Ray. It landed on the overhang just to the left of center field.

No guarantees for D-Backs’ Jake Barrett

Right-hander Jake Barrett might have been the club’s best reliever last season, but Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo didn’t say Barrett was assured of roster spot when he’s ready to return from the shoulder problems that set him back during spring training.

Barrett is scheduled to make an appearance on a rehab assignment with High-A Visalia on Saturday night. It will be his first outing in an official game environment; he made several appearances in recent weeks in extended spring training.

“At some point he’s going to be healthy and we’re going to have to make a decision,” Lovullo said.

When asked if Barrett will have a spot in the bullpen when he’s ready, Lovullo said, “I don’t know that answer. That hasn’t been talked about. Getting him healthy and evaluating him is probably our biggest priority right now.

Barrett posted a 3.49 ERA in 68 appearances last season, the best numbers of any pitcher who spent the whole year with the club.

Heater heavy

In dominating the San Diego Padres over eight innings on Thursday night, Diamondbacks right-hander Taijuan Walker used his fastball more than he had in any start this season. As the game went along, Walker said he saw no reason to throw much of anything else.

“It’s one of those things where if you don’t have to make an adjustment, don’t,” Walker said. “If they make an adjustment on you, then you have to make an adjustment back. But if they don’t, then you’ve got to keep doing it.”

Walker tied a career high with 11 strikeouts, eliciting 14 swings-and-misses on his fastball, including six in the eighth inning alone, when he struck out the side to end his outing. His fastball was sitting in the mid-90s and topped at 97 mph.

Walker said it was the best command he’s had of the pitch this season, which he attributed to the drills he’s been doing during his between-starts bullpen sessions.

“I’ve been doing a lot of dry work, a lot of work on my mechanics and getting my lower body (more involved),” he said. “It’s starting to seem like it’s paying off. There’s still a lot more work I’ve got to do and I’m still doing, but (Thursday night) was a step in the right direction.

Next chapter

Left-hander T.J. McFarland went from getting designated for assignment by the Orioles in February to joining the Diamondbacks’ bullpen on the brink of a critical series against the Rockies in late April – a climb he acknowledged as rewarding but also a journey that’s far from over.

“It doesn’t stop,” he said. “It continues, so I’m hoping to just kind of fill any type of role they need me to and do well.”

McFarland signed a minor-league deal with the team in March and called his transition to the organization “very smooth,” an adjustment no doubt eased along by the team’s strong start. And the chance to win was the reason why McFarland decided to sign with the Diamondbacks.

“There was some interest from some other teams,” he said. “But I ended up choosing here because of the talented squad that I wanted to be a part of, and hopefully I did well enough to prove to them that I was deserving of a shot. I’m happy I did that.”

McFarland had yet to give up a run in seven outings with Reno, a span of 11 innings in which he allowed four hits and struck out nine. In parts of four seasons with the Orioles, McFarland, 27, posted a 4.27 ERA in 198 1/3 innings.

“Had some success and found a rhythm,” McFarland said of his debut with Reno. “I was able to get a lot of work down there, too, so hopefully I can transition it here as well.”

Short hops 

• Lovullo said he would be comfortable using right-hander Archie Bradley in the rotation the next time the club needs a fifth starter even if his pitch count would only be around 65.
• Outfielder Gregor Blanco, also on a rehab assignment with Visalia, went 1 for 4 with two RBIs, two strikeouts and a stolen base in his first game on Thursday night. Lovullo said Blanco will likely need somewhere between 20 and 40 at-bats before he’s a candidate for the big leagues.

Diamondbacks vs. Rockies

When: 6:40 p.m.

Where: Chase Field (roof hotline: 602-462-6262).

Pitchers: Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (2-0, 3.42) vs. Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (2-1, 3.32).

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7), KHOV-FM (105.1).

Starting lineup

Brandon Drury returns to the Diamondbacks starting lineup as Jake Lamb takes a seat against Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland.

Game notes

Ray wasn’t at his best against the Dodgers in his most recent start, giving up five runs on nine hits and two walks in five innings, but the Diamondbacks wound up winning 11-5. … Ray continues to rack up strikeouts (30 in 23 2/3 innings) while issuing an inordinate amount of walks (14, none intentional). … Ray pitched well against the Rockies in three starts in 2015 (2.04 ERA) but was hit hard in four starts last year (8.50 ERA, six homers allowed). … Freeland, a Denver native, was the eighth overall pick in the 2014 draft by the Rockies, who selected him out of the University of Evanston (Ill.). … The rookie made his major league debut on April 7, tossing six innings and allowing one run against the Dodgers, and he’s coming off his best start yet, in which he threw seven scoreless innings vs. the Giants. … Freeland has a fastball that averages 93 mph to go with a cutter and a change-up.

Coming up

Saturday: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (2-2, 2.93) vs. Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (1-3, 7.11).

Sunday: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (2-3, 3.10) vs. Rockies RHP German Marquez (0-1, 18.00).

Monday: Off.

Tuesday: At Washington, 4:05 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (2-1, 4.57)* vs. Nationals RHP Tanner Roark (3-0, 3.64).

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