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Associated Press 8y

Story drives in three in Rockies' win over Diamondbacks

MLB, Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks

PHOENIX -- Trevor Story's home run swing is already proven. On Saturday night, the Colorado Rockies rookie sensation showed his ability to get a big hit off a sinker specialist in a clutch situation.

His two-run triple in the top of the ninth inning broke a tie, and the Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-2.

Story, who'd hurt the Diamondbacks with homers in the four previous meetings between the two teams this season, doubled, tripled and drove in three for the Rockies, who have won four of five in Arizona this year.

Carlos Gonzalez had three of the Rockies' 13 hits and Nolan Arenado drove in a third run in the ninth, all of the runs in the inning off Diamondbacks closer Brad Ziegler (1-1).

"He's been good for a while. He's a tough guy to face," Story said of Ziegler. "I was hoping to get something up because that sinker is pretty good. It (the pitch) still was down but I tried to fight it off."

Ziegler, who'd converted 33 straight save chances, felt he made good pitches and credited the Rockies with hitting them.

"I think his barrel was pointing straight at the ground and he hit it down the first base line. So you just kind of tip your hat at that point," Ziegler said of Story's triple. "Got a ground ball from Arenado and tonight they just weren't at guys. Sometimes they are and tonight none of them were."

Chad Qualls (2-0) earned the win for one scoreless inning of relief and Jake McGee pitched the ninth for his fifth save.

Diamondbacks ace Zack Greinke kept his team in the game with seven innings of work. Greinke limited the Rockies to two runs on eight hits, striking out eight and walking two.

Greinke got little run support, and until the Diamondbacks scored in the sixth they went 18 innings without a run dating back to Thursday's game against St. Louis. Brandon Drury's two-run home run in the sixth tied the score at 2.

The Rockies (11-12) scored first, with Story doubling to center field to drive in Charlie Blackmon in the third inning. Then former Arizona player Gerardo Parra lined a base hit to left field, and Story beat the throw home to make it 2-0.

"He hits the mistakes that we make. That's part of the game," Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said of Story. "They're playing really well. They have a good feeling here.

"The truth of the matter is they're outplaying us. They've come into our ballpark and they're playing really good baseball," Hale added.

Jean Segura stole a hit from Mark Reynolds in the fourth when the Diamondbacks second baseman backhand-caught a sinking pop fly to shallow left-center field with four Arizona players converging on the ball.

The Diamondbacks finally broke through in the sixth when Drury homered to left off Rockies reliever Carlos Estevez with Segura on base. Arizona (12-14) managed only five hits in the game, two in the bottom of the ninth.

Chris Rusin, making his first start after four relief appearances this season, pitched five strong innings. The left-hander held the Diamondbacks scoreless on one hit and struck out six with three walks.

"It all starts with Rusin. Best case scenario was five innings or 75 pitches," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "That was the best case and that's exactly what he gave us."

A SUCCESSFUL DEBUT

The Diamondbacks selected left-hander Zac Curtis from Single-A Visalia before Saturday's game and designated reliever Keith Hessler for assignment. Curtis, 23, made his major league debut in relief of Ziegler and induced an inning-ending double play.

"We've been going through so many pitchers, this is the guy that our player development people ... they're excited," manager Chip Hale said. "What we've heard is he can get righties and lefties out."

The plan is to add a left-hander to complement Andrew Chafin in the bullpen so as not over-use Chafin.

RUFF, RUFF, RECORD

The Diamondbacks are hoping to earn a place in the Guinness World Records for most dogs attending a sporting event on Sunday. The team said 1,000 dogs are needed to set the world record. A Guinness World Records adjudicator will count the dogs at Chase Field on Sunday and the record is expected to be known by the end of the second inning.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis (2-1) begins May starting against the Diamondbacks in the series finale on Sunday. Bettis gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings in his first outing against Arizona on April 5 in Phoenix.

Diamondbacks: Shelby Miller looks for his first win Sunday against Colorado. Miller (0-2, 8.69 ERA) is 2-2 with a 4.84 ERA in six career starts against the

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