By Dennis Georgatos, Associated Press
DENVER (AP) — Taijuan Walker pitched six solid innings and slapped an RBI single during Arizona's biggest inning ever on the road — a 10-run fourth — and the Diamondbacks went on to beat the Colorado Rockies 16-5 on Wednesday night.
Shaking off Tuesday's tough loss in which Colorado rallied late for a one-run win, the Diamondbacks sent 14 men to the plate and pounded out nine hits, including a two-run double and RBI single by Brandon Drury in his two at-bats in the inning. Drury finished with four hits and career-high six RBIs and the Diamondbacks established season highs in run and hits (20).
David Peralta and Paul Goldschmidt also connected for two hits in the inning and combined for three RBIs, helping the Diamondbacks snap the Rockies' winning streak at six games and setting up Thursday's match between the NL West rivals as the decisive game in the series.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, Rockies and Diamondbacks are all bunched at or near the top of the division and among them have the best records in the NL.
Nick Ahmed added a two-run homer off reliever Carlos Estevez in the seventh. Goldschmidt collected three hits and three RBIs and Peralta had four hits and an RBI.
Walker (6-3), who had eight strikeouts, allowed three runs and six hits, including a solo home run by Mark Reynolds in the second. He has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his seven starts on the road this season.
Jeff Hoffman (4-1) could not get out of the fourth inning in taking his first loss of the season. He allowed nine runs and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings.
Nolan Arenado had a two-run double for the Rockies in the fifth.
