PHOENIX — D-backs Strike Early and Never Look Back

The Arizona Diamondbacks didn't need long to take control Monday night at Chase Field.

Nolan Arenado blasted a first-inning grand slam into the Diamondbacks bullpen in left field, Arizona scored seven runs over the first two innings, and the D-backs pitching staff did the rest in a dominant 9-0 shutout of the Colorado Rockies.

Arizona improved to 64-56 with the victory while Colorado fell to 46-73 in the opening game of a three-game National League West series.

A crowd of 17,358 watched the Diamondbacks deliver an impressive all-around performance on a night when it was 75 degrees inside Chase Field and a scorching 107 degrees outside.

The game was completed in two hours and 41 minutes.

For an Arizona team fighting for postseason positioning, this was exactly the type of performance it needed against a struggling division opponent.

Nolan Arenado Blows the Game Open With a Grand Slam

Colorado starter Gabriel Hughes actually opened the game with an efficient first inning, retiring Arizona's first two hitters.

Then everything changed.

Gabriel Moreno ripped a triple down the right-field line with two outs. Ketel Marte was hit by a pitch and Lars Nootbaar drew a walk, suddenly loading the bases for Arenado.

The former Rockies star made Colorado pay.

Arenado launched his 18th home run of the season, sending a grand slam into the Diamondbacks bullpen in left field and instantly turning a scoreless game into a 4-0 Arizona advantage.

It was the defining swing of the night.

Instead of allowing Hughes to escape an inning that began with two quick outs, Arizona forced him to face the heart of its lineup with traffic on the bases. Arenado delivered the knockout blow.

He wasn't finished, either. Arenado singled in the fifth inning and finished the night with two hits and four RBIs.

Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte Help Make It 7-0

Arizona's offense went right back to work in the second.

Ryan Waldschmidt singled to center and Geraldo Perdomo walked before Corbin Carroll ripped his 24th double of the season to center, scoring Waldschmidt and moving Perdomo to third.

A wild pitch brought Perdomo home for Arizona's sixth run.

Moreno then walked, and Marte delivered an RBI single to right that scored Carroll and pushed the lead to 7-0 after just two innings.

Arizona had turned the series opener into a rout almost immediately.

The Diamondbacks entered the game having won eight consecutive home series and with an 8-4 record over their previous 12 games. Their early offensive explosion provided another indication of a team playing some of its best baseball at an important point of the season.

Gabriel Moreno Delivers a Huge Night at the Plate

Arenado's grand slam will get the headlines, but Gabriel Moreno quietly put together one of Arizona's best offensive performances of the night.

Moreno tripled in the first inning to begin the two-out rally that eventually produced Arenado's grand slam. He walked in the second and then delivered another extra-base hit in the eighth.

With Jorge Barrosa at first, Moreno ripped an RBI double down the left-field line, allowing Barrosa to score all the way from first and giving Arizona its ninth run.

Moreno finished 2-for-3 with a triple, double, walk, RBI and run scored.

It was a productive night from the No. 3 spot in the Diamondbacks lineup and another example of the depth Arizona displayed throughout the order.

Perdomo Leaves With Left Knee Soreness

Arizona did have one potentially concerning development.

Geraldo Perdomo was removed from the game before the top of the fifth inning because of left knee soreness.
Ildemaro Vargas replaced him at shortstop and took over the leadoff spot in the batting order.

Perdomo had walked and scored earlier in the game.

His status will be worth watching with Arizona in the middle of the National League Wild Card race.

Diamondbacks Pitching Shuts Down Colorado

Arizona's offense built the lead, but its pitching made sure Colorado never had an opportunity to get back into the game.

Michael Soroka made his return to the Diamondbacks rotation after being reinstated from the 15-day injured list.
Soroka had been sidelined with a strained left glute and was making his first start since June 19.

Colorado failed to score against him before Arizona turned to Zack Littell in the fifth.

The Rockies had one of their best opportunities immediately after the pitching change.

Jordan Beck walked and Jake McCarthy followed with another walk to load the bases. Cole Carrigg stepped to the plate with Colorado desperately needing a big hit.

Instead, Carrigg grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Threat over.

Colorado encountered the same problem throughout the game: whenever it managed to create traffic, Arizona's defense erased it.

Hunter Goodman lined into another double play in the sixth, and the Diamondbacks turned their fourth double play of the night to end the game when Kyle Karros grounded into a 6-4-3 twin killing.

Littell earned the victory and improved to 8-8, while Hughes took the loss and fell to 0-4.

Arizona's Defense Slams the Door

The four double plays were more than a footnote.

They were a major reason Colorado never found a way onto the scoreboard.

The Rockies recorded hits and drew walks, but Arizona repeatedly prevented those baserunners from becoming runs.
Colorado's third inning ended when Carrigg lined into a double play. Its bases-loaded threat in the fifth disappeared on another Carrigg double play. Goodman hit into one in the sixth.

Then came the ninth.

Mickey Moniak drew a one-out walk, but Karros grounded to shortstop. Arizona went short-to-second-to-first and officially completed the 9-0 shutout.

It was an emphatic ending to one of Arizona's most complete performances of the season.

Waldschmidt and Barrosa Add Insurance

Arizona didn't need additional runs after building its seven-run lead, but the Diamondbacks weren't finished.

Ryan Waldschmidt recorded his second hit of the game with a single to center in the eighth.

Vargas moved him to second before Jorge Barrosa pinch-hit for Carroll.

Barrosa lined an RBI single into left field to score Waldschmidt and make it 8-0.

Moreno followed with his RBI double for the final run of the game.

Those late runs demonstrated the depth of Arizona's lineup. Even after Carroll and Perdomo were out of the game, the Diamondbacks continued creating scoring opportunities.

D-backs Continue Their Wild Card Push

Monday's victory was about more than beating the last-place Rockies.

Arizona entered the series tied for the second National League Wild Card position and looking to continue building momentum after taking two of three from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Diamondbacks have been particularly strong at home against Colorado. According to Arizona's pregame notes, the D-backs entered Monday having won 21 of their previous 25 home games against the Rockies.

Make it 22 of 26.

Arizona also came into the night having won or split eight of its previous nine series.

The D-backs are now 64-56, eight games over .500 and approaching the final quarter of the regular season.

Games against a 46-win Colorado club represent opportunities Arizona cannot afford to waste.

On Monday, the Diamondbacks took full advantage.

Arenado Sets the Tone at Chase Field

There was no dramatic ninth-inning finish needed.

There was no late comeback.

This game was essentially decided by one enormous swing in the first inning.

Moreno tripled. Marte reached. Nootbaar walked.

Then Arenado stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and crushed the baseball into the Arizona bullpen.

Grand slam.

Four runs.

And Chase Field had barely settled into the night.

Arizona added three more in the second and two in the eighth, while its pitching and defense refused to allow Colorado across home plate.

The result was a convincing 9-0 Diamondbacks victory and another important win as Arizona continues chasing October baseball.

What's Next: Rockies vs. Diamondbacks Game 2

Arizona and Colorado return to Chase Field Tuesday, August 11, for the second game of the three-game series.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m.

The Diamondbacks are scheduled to send left-hander Mitch Bratt (1-1, 3.90 ERA) to the mound against Colorado right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (11-5, 4.51 ERA).

After a nine-run offensive performance and a shutout in Game 1, Arizona now has an opportunity to secure another home series victory with a win Tuesday night.

For the Diamondbacks, the mission is simple.

Keep stacking wins.

Keep protecting Chase Field.

​And keep pushing toward October.

Past Diamondbacks Articles:
Diamondbacks Beat Dodgers 4-2 to Win Statement Series Over Los Angeles. 
Diamondbacks Waste Gem from Brandon Pfaadt as Dodgers Escape with 2-1 Extra-Inning Victory at Chase Field 

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