Ketel Marte delivers walk-off as Diamondbacks beat Rockies after blown save

Ketel Marte lined a run-scoring single in the ninth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks overcame the first earned run allowed by Fernando Rodney in 21 games to beat the Colorado Rockies 4-3 on Sunday.

Rodney (2-2) had his hitless outings streak end at 11 with three straight singles in the ninth inning, including Charlie Blackmon’s tying hit. Rodney got a pair of pop ups with two on to end the inning.

BOX SCORE: Diamondbacks 4, Rockies 3

Brandon Drury hit a one-out single in the bottom half and Chris Iannetta followed with a double off Adam Ottavino (1-3). Marte fell into a 1-2 hole against Chris Rusin before lining a one-hopper off the wall, sending the Diamondbacks rushing out of the dugout to mob him.

Chris Owings hit a two-run homer and Drury had three hits for Arizona, off to the best start in franchise history at 52-31.

Colorado has lost 10 of 11.

– Associated Press

Rodney blows save in ninth

Diamondbacks’ closer Fernando Rodney hadn’t given up a hit since May 26. On Sunday, he gave up three consecutive hits in the ninth inning as the Rockies tied the game, 3-3, as play headed to the bottom of the ninth.

Colorado shortstop Trevor Story flew out to center field to begin the frame, but consecutive singles by Ryan Hanigan, Tony Wolters and Charlie Blackmon resulted in Rodney’s first earned run since April 29.

But D.J. LeMahieu to fly to right field and Nolan Arenado skied one to shallow center to limit the danger and keep the score even.

Arizona has Chris Owings, Brandon Drury and Chris Iannetta due up in the ninth.

D-Backs rally in sixth

After the Rockies tied the game at 2 runs apiece in the fifth, Brandon Drury and the Diamondbacks answered once again to retake the lead, 3-2, after six innings.

With two outs, Jake Lamb reached on an infield single and moved to second on a throwing error by Rockies shortstop Trevor Story. Chris Owings followed with a walk, and Brandon Drury broke out of a 3-for-30 slump with an RBI double to left field.

The Rockies rattled off three straight singles to lead off the fifth inning to tie the Diamondbacks, 2-2.

Charlie Blackmon, D.J. LeMahieu and Nolan Arenado had consecutive hits off Diamondbacks starter Taijuan Walker with Arenado’s being the equalizing blow. Walker got Mark Reynolds to hit into a double play to end the inning.

The Rockies announced that left fielder Ian Desmond exited the game with a right calf cramp. Colorado’s premier free agent signing this offseason, Desmond appeared to jump awkwardly at Owings’ home run in the fourth that landed in the first row of seats.

Owings’ homer puts D-Backs in front

After the Rockies took a 1-0 lead on Trevor Story’s RBI single in the top of the fourth, the Diamondbacks were quick to answer back.

In the bottom of the fourth, D-Backs’ right fielder Chris Owings hit his third home run in the last two games to put Arizona ahead, 2-1, after four innings of play.

Owings launched a first-pitch German Marquez offering into the first row of the left field seats for his 12th home run of the season. Owings now has three home runs in his last two games.

Walker piling up punch-outs

Diamondbacks’ right-hander Taijuan has registered six strikeouts through three innings on Saturday, including punch-outs on five of the first seven Rockies he faced.

One of the more notable strikeouts was this doozy to Trevor Story:

Arizona and Colorado were scoreless as play moved to the fourth inning.

The D-Backs had not yet collected a hit when shortstop Ketel Marte drove one to the left field fence that was caught by the Rockies’ Ian Desmond.

After three innings, Colorado right-hander German Marquez had four strikeouts and just one hit (Gregor Blanco) one walk (Paul Goldschmidt) allowed — facing just two over the minimum .

D-Backs measuring up

The Diamondbacks will play the finale of a three-game series against the Rockies on Sunday, but an even bigger challenge awaits them next week in Los Angeles.

The NL West-leading Dodgers are the hottest team in baseball in the midst of a historic run. They are the first team since 2013 (also the Dodgers) to go 20-3 in a 23-game stretch. The D-Backs will fly to Los Angeles after Sunday’s game and spend the off day Monday in Southern California.

For a team currently fixed in what appears to be a three-team race in the division, the Diamondbacks are getting an opportunity — right before the All-Star break — to see how they stack up with their divisional foes.

“It’s probably going to be these three teams in the west vying for a playoff spot,” Diamondbacks reliever T.J. McFarland said. “It is important to kind of set the tone early. Every game is important, whether it’s game 82 or 162.”

Arizona has taken a day-by-day approach to the 2017 season in an effort not to pay too much attention to the upcoming schedule. But everybody has the Dodgers series circled on their July calendars.

“Coming up in the second half, we’ve got a tough schedule ahead,” shortstop Chris Owings said. “We’re going to play the NL West a lot, and it just doesn’t stop. You come to play every single day, and this team is special, so we’ll take our chances”

Even on their torrid winning pace, the Dodgers haven’t run away with the NL West. Entering play Sunday, Arizona sat just 3 ½ games out of the top spot.

“You can’t count us out,” McFarland said. “Everybody and all the analysts keep saying that the Dodgers are the Number 1 team, but we’re still right here and still winning games.”

And while the Diamondbacks are little more than halfway through the season, games with divisional opponents mean as much now as they do at the end of the season.

“Every game matters, and when you get down to the last month it seems to get elevated,” first baseman Paul Goldschmidt said. “But this game can count just the same as one in September. I don’t think you have to put any more emphasis on either.”

Greinke’s start not lost on D-Backs

A lot of what makes a pitcher an ace is subjective. But shutting down a powerful offense after your team loses three straight games is a good place to start.

That’s what Greinke did on Saturday, tossing seven impressive innings and yielding just three hits.

“He looked good from the first pitch on,” Owings said. “When he’s pitching like that, he’s fun to watch.”

A pitcher who can step in and give the offense a chance to break out of a losing skid is a huge asset to a contending team.

“It’s huge having a stopper like that,” McFarland said. “He’s been doing it all year, and he’s pitching incredibly. It’s a huge momentum swing for us.”

The Diamondbacks have excelled in isolating each individual game — not transferring the emotion of the night before to the next contest.

“We’ve done a good job of, whether we’re in a winning streak or a losing streak, not carrying that over into the next day,” Goldschmidt said. “It was nice for Zack to go out there and pitch well. He’s done that all year and it was nice to give him an early lead.

“He’s picked us up a lot, so hopefully that allowed him to be more aggressive.”

Goldschmidt pulling for first-timers

A four-time All-Star, Goldschmidt remembers exactly how he felt when he was in contention to make his first Midsummer Classic. This season, he’s pulling for the players who have a chance to make their first All-Star Game, as well.

The Diamondbacks have several players expected to be in contention to make the trip to Miami. Rosters will be officially announced at 4 p.m. on ESPN.

“I feel for Lamb. Last year, I feel like he really deserved it,” Goldschmidt said. “I felt like he had a really good first half last year and is doing it again this year. And Archie is tough; there’s not as many bullpen spots as there should be, and there’s so many good guys.”

Goldschmidt, who is expected to be in the mix for a reserve spot at first base for the National League, also sees what Diamondbacks’ starters Zack Greinke and Robbie Ray have done in the first half.

“To see what Robbie and Zack have done, too, is awesome,” he said. “Robbie sticks out as a guy that’s never been there so I’m just thinking back to the first time I got to go and it was so special. It’d be cool to see guys get to go for the first time. I’ll be rooting for those guys, hoping it happens.”

Lovullo shows support for Farrell

Red Sox manager John Farrell missed Saturday’s game in Toronto to attend the Royals’ game in Kansas City. Farrell’s excuse: His son, Luke, was making his major-league debut against the Twins.

Team President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski encouraged Farrell to attend the game, and he did – as bench coach Gary DiSarcina took over duties as manager.

Lovullo was Farrell’s bench coach last season in Boston, and the Diamondbacks skipper said he texted Farrell to congratulate him.

“I know John very well and I know how much he loves his children,” Lovullo said. “The fact that he was sitting in the stands didn’t surprise me one bit. It’s a tremendous accomplishment for (Luke) to be a big-leaguer and call himself a big-leaguer.”

Lovullo, whose son, Nick, plays in the Red Sox minor-league system, applauds the organization for giving Farrell permission to share the moment with his son.

“I think it’s a great moment,” he said. “I think baseball sometimes needs to separate itself in those special ways. Credit to that organization that Dave was able to separate that so that John could be there. A quality organization that did the right thing.”

Updates on Tomas, Pollock

Yasmany Tomas exited Saturday’s game with the team’s rookie league affiliate after experiencing discomfort in his injured right hip/groin.

Lovullo said Tomas experienced the pain while running into second base, and that he had been able to make his plays in the field without discomfort beforehand. Tomas will be re-evaluated next week.

Outfielder A.J. Pollock had his rehab game with Triple-A Reno rained out on Saturday, and he is expected to play in one of the seven-inning games with the Aces on Sunday. Lovullo said Pollock still has not been ruled out to join the team for the upcoming series in Los Angeles.

Blanco leading off, Marte at SS

Gregor Blanco is batting leadoff for Sunday’s game, with Ketel Marte starting at shortstop and hitting eighth against the Rockies. Chris Iannetta will be behind the dish for starting pitcher Taijuan Walker.

Sunday’s game 

Rockies at Diamondbacks

When: 1:10 p.m.

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

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (6-3, 3.50) vs. Rockies RHP German Marquez (5-4, 4.38).

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

Walker gave up five runs (three earned) in 6 1/3 innings against the Cardinals, walking five (two intentional) without recording a strikeout. He recorded just four swings and misses, his lowest total of the year. … In three starts since returning from the disabled list, Walker has allowed seven earned runs in 17 1/3 innings (3.63 ERA) with 10 walks and 14 strikeouts. … Marquez has faced the Diamondbacks three times this season, posting a 3.00 ERA in 18 innings. He has not allowed a run in 15 of those 18 innings. … He gave up five runs in four innings against the Giants on Monday at AT&T Park. … Lefties have fared well against Marquez, putting together a .296/.378/.448 line off him.

Coming up

Monday: Off.

Tuesday: At Los Angeles, 6:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (3-2, 2.67) vs. Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (12-2, 2.32).

Wednesday: At Los Angeles, 7:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (6-7, 4.67) vs. Dodgers LHP Alex Wood (9-0, 1.83).

Thursday: At Los Angeles, 7:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (8-4, 3.06) vs. Dodgers LHP Rich Hill (4-4, 4.60)*.

* — Stats entering Saturday.