DENVER, Aug 14 \u2014 Diamondbacks fans are calling it another late-inning meltdown; Rockies fans are calling it a dramatic comeback. Either way, a four-run rally in the bottom of the eighth propelled the Colorado Rockies<\/a> to a 6\u20134 victory over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> Monday night in an NL West clash.<\/p>\n The Diamondbacks took a 1\u20130 lead in the top of the first. Left fielder Corbin Carroll<\/a><\/strong> led off with a walk against Rockies starter Chris Flexen<\/strong><\/a> and scored on a two-out double off the high wall in right by first baseman Christian Walker<\/a><\/strong>. They ran it to 2\u20130 in the second thanks to back-to-back one-out doubles by center fielder Alek Thomas<\/a><\/strong> and catcher Gabriel Moreno<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n In the bottom of the fifth, the Rockies cut the lead in half with a 433-foot blast to dead center by first baseman Elehuris Montero<\/a><\/strong>. The Diamondbacks countered in the top of the sixth. Left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr.<\/a><\/strong> lined a one-out single to right, and Walker brought him home with a dinger over the right-field wall. This gave the Diamondbacks a 4\u20131 lead. It became a 4\u20132 game in the bottom of the sixth on a leadoff homer by shortstop Ezequiel Tovar<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Despite the two home runs \u2014 something that is to be expected in the thin air of Coors Field \u2014 Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly<\/a><\/strong> gave the Rockies fits. Tossing 92 pitches (65 strikes) across six innings, Kelly allowed five hits and one walk while striking out 11. \u201cHe\u2019s a good pitcher, man,\u201d Rockies second baseman Brendan Rodgers<\/a><\/strong> said. \u201c(Kelly) always seems to find his stuff against us. His changeup, sinker, cutter, slider \u2014 he’s got the kitchen sink.\u201d Left fielder Nolan Jones<\/a><\/strong> added, \u201cHe did a good job of staying out of the middle of the plate.\u201d In addition, Kelly \u201cchanged speeds\u201d and kept the Rockies \u201coff balance,\u201d according to Jones.<\/p>\n Thanks to shutdown relief from Rockies lefty Brent Suter<\/a><\/strong>, along with righties Matt Koch<\/a><\/strong> and Justin Lawrence<\/a><\/strong>, Walker\u2019s homer was the last time all night that any Diamondback reached base. Diamondbacks right-hander Miguel Castro<\/a><\/strong> pitched a 1-2-3 seventh in relief, keeping the score at 4\u20132.<\/p>\n But the tables turned in the bottom of the eighth. Diamondbacks left-hander Joe Mantiply<\/a><\/strong> took the hill, since \u2014 according to Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 setup man Kevin Ginkel<\/a><\/strong> and closer Paul Sewald<\/a><\/strong> were not available. First to face Mantiply was designated hitter Charlie Blackmon<\/a><\/strong> (aka Chuck Nazty), in his first game back from a nine-week absence due to a fractured right hand. Blackmon hit a sinking line drive to short. Perdomo did not charge the ball but squared up to play it on a short hop. He muffed it and recovered, but it was too late to retire the hustling Blackmon.<\/p>\n Although the official scorer ruled it a single, Lovullo acknowledged that it was a play he would have liked to see Perdomo make. To Rodgers, on the other hand, it was something completely different. \u201cWhen Chuck busts his butt to get down the line, it shows the boys that we\u2019re still in this game. That was huge for Chuck to beat that one out and give the boys some hope.\u201d<\/p>\nRockies Chip Away, Diamondbacks Respond<\/h3>\n
The Bottom of the Eighth<\/h3>\n
The Spark Ignites a Fire<\/h4>\n