PHOENIX –The Colorado Rockies bullpen let one slip away — again.
Closer Victor Vodnik blew a save opportunity for the third time in 11 chances on Tuesday night, loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth before giving up a two-out, two-run single to Jake McCarthy in a 4-3 loss at Chase Field.
The Diamondbacks continued their hot streak, winning five in a row and 17 of 20. Arizona secured its ninth straight series win.
Arizona started its ninth-inning rally with a one-out triple from Corbin Carroll, who ripped a liner into the right field corner and easily made it to third. Vodnik (3-3) recovered to strike out Kevin Newman before Adrian Del Castillo and Geraldo Perdomo walked to load the bases.
That brought up McCarthy, who is among the hottest hitters in baseball. The left-handed batter smacked a two-strike fastball down the third-base line, which easily got past Ryan McMahon since he was shading McCarthy well off the line.
The Rockies had a 3-0 lead in the third inning. Jordan Beck had an RBI single in the second and Brenton Doyle added another in the third. Michael Toglia brought home the third run with an RBI double down the left field line.
The D-backs cut the advantage to 3-2 in the bottom of the third. Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s groundout scored a run and Josh Bell added an RBI double.
Colorado lefty Austin Gomber gave up two runs on six hits over six innings, walking one and striking out four. He’s one of the few pitchers to slow down the D-backs’ lineup in recent weeks. Arizona had scored more than seven runs per game over its last 14 contests.
Noah Davis and Tyler Kinley threw scoreless innings of relief before Vodnik’s tough ninth inning.
D-backs left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez made his second start of the season, giving up three runs on six hits over five innings. He walked one and struck out five. Rodriguez — who signed a $40 million, four-year deal in December — missed the first four months of the year with a strained shoulder.
McCarthy had three hits. Joe Mantiply (6-2) got the win with a scoreless ninth inning.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: 2B Ketel Marte had an MRI on his troublesome lower left leg on Tuesday.
UP NEXT
The D-backs send LHP Jordan Montgomery (7-6, 6.37 ERA) to the mound for Wednesday afternoon’s series finale. The Rockies will counter with RHP Tanner Gordon (0-3, 6.15).
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