Live Blogging: N.L. Wild Card: Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks

N.L. Wild Card: Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks

TBS TV Call

Hello and welcome to another edition of ‘Live Blogging on Shish on Baseball’. Tonight it is the National League Wild Card as the Colorado Rockies take on the Arizona Diamondbacks. This is a battle of two National League Western Division Teams.

The Rockies enter tonight’s game as the last team to have clinched a playoff spot. They come in with a record of 87-75. Also known for their offensive production. Rox come in with a .273 batting average, a .781 OPS, and drove 793 of their 824 runs scored. Colorado comes in having the worst ERA among the playoff teams, with a 4.51 ERA.

Meanwhile, Arizona comes in with a record of 93-69. Their are known for their pitching with a 3.66 ERA, third in Majors. But has a difficult time hitting the ball with .254 batting average. When they do hit, they drove in 776 of their 812 runs.

Tonight’s starting pictchers are a couple of righties, Jon Gray for the Rockies and Zack Greinke for the Diamondbacks. Gray comes in with a record of 10-4, 3.67 ERA, and 112 Ks. Greinke comes in with a record of 17-7, 3.20 ERA, and 215 Ks.

It is the National League Wild Card Game between Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks, coming up shortly.

Location: Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ

Starting Lineups:
Colorado Rockies:
​1. Charlie Blackmon CF
2. D.J. LeMahieu 2B
3. Carlos Gonzalez RF
4. Nolan Arenado 3B
5. Trevor Story SS
6. Gerardo Parra LF
7. Mark Reynolds 1B
8. Jonathon Lucroy C
9. Jon Gray P
SP: Jon Gray (RHP) (10-4, 3.67 ERA, 112 Ks)

Arizona Diamondbacks:
1. David Peralta LF
2. Ketel Marte SS
3. Paul Goldschmidt 1B
4. J.D. Martinez RF
5. Jake Lamb 3B
6. A.J. Pollack CF
7. Daniel Descalso 2B
​8. Jeff Mathis C
SP: Zack Greinke (RHP) (17-7, 3.20 ERA)

Top of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Blackmon
2. LeMahieu
3. Gonzalez
Zack Greinke now starting as Diamondbacks Pitcher.
The winner of tonight's N.L. Wild Card Game, will play the Los Angeles Dodgers in N.L.C.S., starting Friday. (Correction: Dodgers and D-Backs will play in N.L.D.S.
​Blackmon grounds out to Goldschmidt, unassisted. 1Out.
LeMahieu grounds out to Lamb. 2 Outs.
Gonzalez grounds out to Marte. 3 Outs.
Rockies go down 1-2-3, in their half of 1st Inning.

Middle of 1st Inning:
COL 0, ARI 0

Bottom of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Peralta
2. Marte
3. Goldschmidt
Jon Gray now starting as Rockies Pitcher.
Peralta singles to center field. Runner on 1st.
Marte singles to right field. Peralta advances to third. Runners on 1st & 3rd.
HOME RUN: Paul Goldschmidt hits a 3-run home run off of Jon Gray. Peralta and Marte score. COL 0, ARI 3
​Martinez flies out to Parra. 1 Out.
Lamb singles to right field. Runner on 1st.
Coach's visit to mound.
Scott Oberg (RHP) warming up in Rockies Bullpen.
Pollack doubles to left field. Lamb advances to third. Runners on 2nd & 3rd.
Gray currently at 21 pitches.
Descalso gets called out on strikes. 2 Outs.
Rockies Manager Bud Black will let Gray pitch to Mathis.
Mathis strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Diamondbacks strand a pair of base runners in scoring position.

End of 1st Inning:
COL 0, ARI 3

Top of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
​4. Arenado
5. Story
6. Parra
Greinke currently at 16 pitches.
Arenado strikes out swinging. 1 Out.
Story flies out to Peralta. 2 Outs.
Parra grouns out to Descalso. 3 Outs.
Rockies go down 1-2-3, in their half of 2nd Inning.

Middle of 2nd Inning:
COL 0, ARI 3

Bottom of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
9. Greinke
1. Peralta
2. Marte
Gray currently at 34 pitches.
Greinke grounds out to Gray. 1 Out.
Peralta singles to center field. Runner on 1st.
Scott Oberg (RHP) back up in Rockies Bullpen.
Marte hits a RBI-Triple to right center field. Peralta scores. COL 0, ARI 4
​PITCHING CHANGE: Scott Oberg (RHP) replaces Jon Gray as Rockies Pitcher.
Tyler Anderson (LHP) warming up in Rockies Bullpen.
Goldschmidt strikes out swinging. 2 Outs.
Martinez strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Diamondbacks left Marte on third base stranded.

End of 2nd Inning:
COL 0, ARI 4

Top of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
7. Reynolds
8. Lucroy
9. Oberg?
​Reynolds pops out to Descalso. 1 Out.
Lucroy draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
PINCH-HITTING: Raimel Taipa pinch-hitting for Scott Oberg.
​Taipa singles to right field. Lucroy advances to third. Runners on 1st & 3rd.
Blackmon flies out to Peralta. Lucroy stays at third. 2 Outs. Runners on 1st & 3rd.
LeMahieu grounds out to Marte. 3 Outs.
Rockies strand a pair of base runners.

Middle of 3rd Inning:
COL 0, ARI 4

Bottom of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
5. Lamb
6. Pollack
7. Descalso
PITCHING CHANGE: Tyler Anderson (LHP) replaces Scott Oberg as Rockies Pitcher.
​Lamb singles to right center field. Runner on 1st.
Pollack strikes out swinging. 1 Out.
HOME RUN: Daniel Descalso hits a 2-run home run off of Tyler Anderson. Lamb scores. COL 0, ARI 6
Mathis flies out to Blackmon. 2 Outs.
Greinke grounds out to Story. 3 Outs.

End of 3rd Inning:
COL 0, ARI 6

Top of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
3. Gonzalez
4. Arenado
5. Story
Gonzalez singles to right field. Runner on 1st.
​Greinke currently at 44 pitches.
Arenado grounds into 5-4 fielder's choice. Gonzalez is out at second. Arenado is safe at first. 1 Out. Runner on 1st.
Story singles to center field. Arenado advances to second. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Parra hits a RBI-Single to center field. Arenado scores. Story advances to third. Runners on 1st & 3rd. COL 1, ARI 6
​Reynolds grounds out to Goldschmidt, unassisted. Story scores. Parra advances to 2nd. 2 Outs. Runner on 2nd. COL 2, ARI 6
Lucroy hits a RBI-Double to right field. Parra scores. COL 3, ARI 6
PINCH-HITTING: Alexi Amarista pinch-hitting for Tyler Anderson.
Andrew Chafin (LHP) warming up in Diamondbacks Bullpen.
Amarista hits a RBI-Single to center field, scoring Lucroy. Runner on 1st. COL 4, ARI 6
PITCHING CHANGE: Andrew Chafin (LHP) replaces Zack Greinke as Diamondbacks Pitcher.
​Blackmon flies out to Pollack. 3 Outs.
Rockies strand a runner on base.

Middle of 4th Inning:
COL 4, ARI 6

Bottom of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
1. Peralta
2. Marte
3. Goldschmidt
PITCHING CHANGE: Chris Rusin (LHP) replaces Tyler Anderson as Rockies Pitcher.
Peralta flies out to Blackmon. 1 Out.
Marte triples to left center field. Runner on 3rd.
Goldschmidt grounds out to Arenado. Marte remains at third. 2 Outs. Runner on 3rd.
Rockies elect to intentionally pass on J.D. Martinez. Runners on 1st & 3rd.
Lamb pops out to Lucroy. 3 Outs.
Diamondbacks strand a pair of base runners.

End of 4th Inning:
COL 4, ARI 6

Top of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
2. LeMahieu
3. Gonzalez
4. Arenado
​PITCHING CHANGE: Robbie Ray replaces Andrew Chafin as Diamondbacks Pitcher.
LeMahieu strikes out swinging. 1 Out.
Gonzalez strikes out swinging. Mathis to Goldschmidt on the putout. 2 Outs.
Arenado flies out to J.D. Martinez. 3 Outs.
Rockies go down 1-2-3, in their half of 5th Inning.

Middle of 5th Inning:
COL 4, ARI 6

Bottom of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
6. Pollack
7. Descalso
8. Mathis
​Pollack grounds out to Arenado. 1 Out.
Descalso strikes out swinging. 2 Outs.
Mathis draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
Carlos Estevez (RHP) warming up in Rockies Bullpen.
Ray strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Diamondbacks left a runner stranded on base.

End of 5th Inning:
COL 4, ARI 6

Top of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Story
6. Parra
7. Reynolds
​Story grounds out to Marte. 1 Out.
Parra singles to center field. Runner on 1st.
Reynolds grounds into 6-4-3 double play. 3 Outs.
Rockies side is retired.

Middle of 6th Inning:
COL 4, ARI 6

Bottom of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
1. Peralta
2. Marte
3. Goldschmidt
​Rusin currently at 32 pitches.
Peralta singles to left field. Runner on 1st.
Pat Neshek (RHP) warming up in Rockies Bullpen.
Marte strikes out swinging. 1 Out.
DOUBLE-SWITCH: Pat Neshek (RHP) replaces Chris Rusin as Rockies Pitcher batting 7th. Ian Desmond replaces Mark Reynolds at first base, batting 9th. COL 4, ARI 6
Goldschmidt grounds out to Lucroy. Peralta advances to second. Runner on 2nd.
Martinez strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Peralta left stranded on second base.

End of 6th Inning:
COL 4, ARI 6

Top of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Lucroy
9. Desmond
1. Blackmon
​Lucroy doubles off the center field wall. Runner on 2nd.
Ray currently at 29 pitches.
Jorge De La Rosa (LHP) warming up in Diamondbacks Bullpen.
Archie Bradley (RHP) joins De La Rosa in Diamondbacks Bullpen.
Lucroy advances to third base on a wild pitch. Runner on 3rd.
Desmond strikes out swinging. 1 Out.
PITCHING CHANGE: Jorge De La Rosa (LHP) replaces Robbie Ray as Diamondbacks Pitcher.
​Blackmon hits a RBI-Sac bunt to Descalso. Lucroy scores. 2 Outs. COL 5, ARI 6
PITCHING CHANGE: Archie Bradley (RHP) replaces Jorge De La Rosa.
LeMahieu grounds out to Bradley. 2 Outs.

Middle of 7th Inning:
COL 5, ARI 6

Bottom of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Lamb
6. Pollack
7. Descalso
​Lamb singles to right field. Runner on 1st.
Neshek currently at 8 pitches.
Pollack fouls out to Desmond. 1 Out.
Carlos Esteves (RHP) and Jake McGee (LHP) warming up in Rockies Bullpen.
Descalso draws a base on balls. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Black goes to the mound. Does not pull Neshek,
Mathis strikes out swinging. 2 Outs.
Archie Bradley will bat for himself.
Bradley hits a RBI-Triple to left center field. Lamb and Descalso score. Runner on 3rd. COL 5, ARI 8
​PITCHING CHANGE: Jake McGee (LHP) replaces Pat Neshek as Rockies Pitcher.
Peralta grounds out to LeMahieu. 3 Outs.
Diamondbacks left a runner on base stranded.

End of 7th Inning:
COL 5, ARI 8

Top of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
3. Gonzalez
4. Arenado
5. Story
​Gonzalez grounds out to Descalso. 1 Out.
HOME RUN: Nolan Arenado hits a solo home run off of Archie Bradley. COL 6, ARI 8
​HOME RUN: Trevor Story hits a solo home run off of Archie Bradley. COL 7, ARI 8
​Parra grounds out to Bradley. 2 Outs.
PINCH-HITTING: Pat Valakia pinch-hitting for Jake McGee.
Valakia misses a game-tying home run, down the left field line. Foul ball!
Valakia doubles to right center field. Runner on 2nd.
Bradley currently at 21 pitches.
Jimmy Sherfy (RHP) warming up in Diamondbacks Bullpen.
Lucroy lines out to J.D. Martinez. 3 Outs.
Rockies strand a runner on base.

Middle of 8th Inning:
COL 7, ARI 8

Bottom of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
2. Marte
3. Goldschmidt
4. Martinez
​PITCHING CHANGE: Carlos Estevez (RHP) replaces Jake McGee as Rockies Pitcher.
Greg Holland (RHP) warming up in Rockies Bullpen.
Fernando Rodney (RHP) warming up in Diamondbacks Bullpen.
Marte gets called out on strikes. 1 Out.
Goldschmidt singles to left field. Runner on 1st.
PITCHING CHANGE: Greg Holland (RHP) replaces Carlos Estevez as Rockies Pitcher.
​Martinez grounds into a 6-4 fielder's choice. Goldschmidt is out at second. Martinez is safe at first. 2 Outs. Runner on 1st.
Lamb singles to left field. Martinez advances to second. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Martinez and Lamb advance 90 feet on a wild pitch. Runners on 2nd & 3rd.
Pollack hits a RBI-Triple to center field. Martinez and Lamb score. Runner on 3rd. COL 7, ARI 10
Rockies elect to intentionally pass on Descalso. Runners on 1st & 3rd.
​Mathis hits a RBI-Bunt Single to Holland. Pollack scores. Descalso advances to second. Runners on 1st & 2nd. COL 7, ARI 11
PINCH-HITTING: Brandon Drury pinch-hitting for Archie Bradley.
Drury grounds into 6-4 fielder's choice. Mathis is out at second.
Diamondbacks strand a couple of runnners on base.

End of 8th Inning:
COL 7, ARI 11

Top of 9th Inning:
Due Up:
9. Desmond
1. Blackmon
2. LeMahieu
PITCHING CHANGE: Fernando Rodney (RHP) replaces Archie Bradley as Diamondbacks Pitcher.
Desmond singles to center field. Runner on 1st.
Blackmon strikes out swinging. 1 Out.
LeMahieu strikes out swinging. 2 Outs.
Desmond advances to second on defensive indifference.
Desmond advances to third on defensive indifference.
Gonzalez hits a RBI-Single to center field. Desmond scores. Runner on 1st. COL 8, ARI 11
​Arenado grounds into 4-6 fielder's choice. Gonzalez is out at second.
Diamondbacks advance to NLDS to face the Dodgers, starting Friday Night 9:30 p.m. CDT?

Final:
COL 8, ARI 11
W: Chafin (1-0)
L: Gray (0-1)
PoG: Goldschmidt (ARI) 2/5, HR, 3 RBI, R
ToG: 3:54

Final Thoughts: This was an offensive shootout in the desert. The Diamondbacks got their spark with a 3-run blast by Paul Goldschmidt. The Snakes had a 6-run lead, the Rockies cut the lead to one run, twice. But the Diamondbacks kept answering. And in the end the Diamondbacks advance to NLDS, to play the Los Angeles Dodgers.

This is Paul Shishkoff, Jr. This has been 'Live Blogging on Shish on Baseball'. Thanks for visiting this page.
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