Rockies win first game of series with D-backs

Weekend games feature top two teams in NL West

PHOENIX — Trevor Story homered and rookie Kyle Freeland pitched six effective innings, helping the Colorado Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 Friday night to move into first place in the NL West.

The Rockies (15-9) moved a half-game ahead of the Diamondbacks (15-10) atop the division in the opener of the three-game series. Colorado also ended a three-game losing streak.

Freeland (3-1) gave up a run and six hits with two walks. He struck out two and lowered his earned run average to 2.93. Chris Rusin, Adam Ottavino and Greg Holland combined for three scoreless innings, with Holland earning his 10th save.

Arizona left-hander Robbie Ray (2-1) struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings, but allowed three runs and five hits with three walks.

Nolan Arenado hit a ground-rule double to left field with two out in the first inning and scored on Carlos Gonzalez’s single. Story, who hit six of his 27 homers last season against Arizona, made it 2-0 in the second with his fifth of the season.

The Diamondbacks answered with a run in the bottom of the third. Freeland got two outs before A.J. Pollock singled, Chris Owings walked and Paul Goldschmidt lined a 3-2 pitch to center field to drive in Pollock.

Goldschmidt has a 31-game on-base streak at home against the Rockies.

The Diamondbacks had runners on second and third against with one out for Goldschmidt in the fifth, even after Story dived behind second base to rob Pollock of a hit and force a fielder’s choice. But Freeland worked out of the jam, as Goldschmidt was retired on a broken bat pop out and Yasmany Tomas bounced out.

Charlie Blackmon’s two-out single in the seventh drove in Pat Valaika and chased Ray.

GOOD GRABS

Both teams had outfielders turn in big defensive plays on Friday. Tomas, not typically known for his glove work, ran down a Dustin Garneau fly ball for a backhand catch in the second inning before hitting the left-field wall. Blackmon took a hit away from Arizona’s David Peralta when the Rockies center fielder slid to catch a sinking fly ball.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis, on the 60-day disabled list as he battles testicular cancer, is with the team this weekend and played catch in the outfield before Friday’s game. “This is what I needed,” Bettis said. “It’s been great to walk through those doors and the first question is ‘How are you doing and how’s the baby?’” Bettis has seven days of treatments remaining, over three weeks. ... INF Ian Desmond played an extended spring training game on Friday as he works his way back from a broken left hand suffered in March. Desmond could return to the Rockies in the next few days. ... OF David Dahl (rib) is also at extended spring training doing rehab work.

Diamondbacks: 2B Brandon Drury returned to the lineup after missing Thursday to rest a jammed right knee suffered in Wednesday’s game against San Diego.

UP NEXT

Rockies: LHP Tyler Anderson (1-3) brings a 7.11 ERA into his scheduled start against Arizona. It will be his fourth road start in six this season.

Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Greinke (2-2) faces the Rockies. He is 7-4 with a 4.09 ERA in 19 career starts against Colorado.