PHOENIX — Kyle Freeland threw six solid innings, rookie Nolan Jones added an RBI double and the Colorado Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
The last-place Rockies beat the playoff-contending D-backs for just the third time in 12 tries this season.<\/p>\n
The Diamondbacks — locked in a tight battle for one of three National League wild-card spots \u2014 fell behind the Miami Marlins and Cincinnati Reds for the final spot after both those teams won Tuesday. Arizona has lost six of its past eight games.<\/p>\n
The Rockies took a 1-0 lead in the first on Jones\u2019 run-scoring double to deep right, but the D-backs tied it up in the bottom of the inning when Emmanuel Rivera\u2019s single scored Ketel Marte, who led off with a triple.<\/p>\n
Jones has been one of the bright spots in a tough season for the Rockies. The left-handed batter is hitting .282 with 14 homers and 44 RBIs.<\/p>\n
Colorado scored a run in both the third and fourth, pushing its advantage to 3-1.<\/p>\n
Freeland (6-14) gave up two runs on six hits, striking out two and walking three. Tyler Kinley worked the ninth for his second save this season and third of his big-league career.<\/p>\n
It was a short night for Arizona rookie Brandon Pfaadt (1-8), who gave up three runs on six hits over 3 2\/3 innings. The right-hander struck out four and walked two.<\/p>\n
The D-backs\u2019 bullpen pitched well, giving the offense plenty of time to get back in the game. Corbin Carroll\u2019s sacrifice fly in the fourth cut the Rockies lead to 3-2, but the D-backs couldn\u2019t get any closer, going scoreless over the final five frames.<\/p>\n
SAALFRANK\u2019S STELLAR DEBUT<\/p>\n
Arizona left-hander Andrew Saalfrank made his big-league debut, providing 1 2\/3 innings of scoreless relief.<\/p>\n
He entered the with two outs in the sixth before coaxing a groundout from veteran Charlie Blackmon to finish the inning. He followed that with by retiring the Rockies in order in the seventh and striking out Jones to open the eighth.<\/p>\n
Saalfrank played in college at Indiana and was a sixth round pick in 2019.<\/p>\n
MAKING MOVES<\/p>\n
The Rockies promoted IF\/OF Cole Tucker to the roster and optioned 1B\/OF Michael Toglia to Triple-A Albuquerque. Colorado also designated IF Coco Montes for assignment.<\/p>\n
UP NEXT<\/p>\n
The three-game series wraps up on Wednesday. The D-backs will start RHP Zach Davies (2-5, 6.45 ERA). The Rockies will counter with RHP Chris Flexen (1-6, 6.89)<\/p>\n
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AP MLB: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/mlb<\/p>\n