VanMeter hits game-winning homer, D-backs beat Rockies 5-4

PHOENIX (AP) — Josh VanMeter hit a tiebreaking homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to give the Arizona Diamondbacks a 5-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.

It was a rare happy moment in a downright brutal season for the Diamondbacks, who finished with a 52-110 record, which was tied with the Baltimore Orioles for the worst in the majors. The Rockies finished 74-87.

The Diamondbacks avoided tying a franchise record for most losses in a season. Arizona lost 111 games in 2004.

Arizona rallied from a 4-0 deficit. It appeared the game was going to extra innings until VanMeter yanked a 97 mph fastball from Carlos Estevez (3-5) on a full count just over the right-field wall. It was VanMeter's sixth homer of the season.

Colorado jumped ahead 3-0 in the second inning thanks to three hits, a walk and two D-backs errors. Dom Nunez had the big blow, ripping a line drive double down the right-field line to score Sam Hilliard and Colton Welker.

The Rockies extended the lead to 4-0 in the fifth on an RBI triple by Brendan Rodgers.

Ashton Goudeau started for the Rockies and threw three scoreless innings, giving up one hit and walking two.

Arizona's Josh Rojas led off the game with a single, which would be the team's only hit until the sixth. Jake McCarthy cut the deficit to 4-1 in the fifth after stealing third and scoring on a throwing error by catcher Nunez.

The Diamondbacks scored another run in the seventh and then tied it at 4-all in the eighth after Henry Ramos' RBI single and McCarthy's RBI groundout.

D-backs starter Humberto Mejia gave up four runs over 4 2/3 innings. The right-hander allowed six hits, walked one and struck out five. J.B. Wendelken (4-3) pitched a scoreless ninth.

161 AND DONE

The Rockies played just 161 games this season instead of the...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/VanMeter-hits-game-winning-homer-D-backs-beat-16506557.php