Under a relentless Denver heat—98°F at first pitch, the warmest temperature of any MLB game this season—the Colorado Rockies faced a determined Arizona Diamondbacks squad at Coors Field. Despite flashes of offensive spark from Colorado, Arizona’s balanced attack and steady pitching secured a 5–3 victory.

The game opened with high energy. Arizona’s leadoff man, Ketel Marte, doubled into the gap, eventually scoring on a sacrifice fly by Eugenio Suárez, giving the D‑backs a 1–0 lead in the top of the first. Colorado responded immediately. In the bottom of the inning, Jordan Beck smashed a two-run homer—his 10th of the season—putting the Rockies up 2–1. The early fireworks exemplified Beck’s burgeoning power and offered a momentary surge of hope.

The second and third innings became a chess match of momentum. Arizona tied it in the second when Marte delivered an RBI ground-rule double, scoring Tim Tawa to even the game 2–2. Then, in the third, Suárez—already riding a three-game home run streak—smoked his 25th homer of the season, a solo shot into center field that nudged Arizona ahead 3–2.  Colorado, refusing to relent, tied it again in the bottom of the third as Beck grounded into a double-play that scored Ryan Ritter and pulled the Rockies level at 3–3.

However, the pivotal moment arrived in the top of the fifth. Marte looped a single into left, followed by a home run from Geraldo Perdomo, a shot that regained the lead at 5–3, proving to be the defining swing of the game.

On the mound, Arizona starter Merrill Kelly delivered a polished outing: six innings, six hits, two earned runs, three walks, seven strikeouts—a performance that improved his Arizona career record against Colorado to 9–3.

For Colorado, rookie Carson Palmquist struggled early—four innings, three runs (two earned), four hits, two walks, and a solo homer allowed. But the critical moment came in relief: Jimmy Herget surrendered Perdomo’s homer and was saddled with the loss after two innings, two runs, and one strikeout. From there, Arizona’s bullpen—Ryan Thompson in the seventh, Jalen Beeks in the eighth—held firm. Shelby Miller closed in the ninth with three strikeouts, securing his eighth save in just 12 chances.

The loss dropped Colorado’s depressing record to 17–60, marking their third straight defeat. Meanwhile, Arizona improved to 39–37, carrying momentum from this road win as part of a three-game winning streak and a positive 3–2 showing on this lengthy nine-game road trip

Despite Colorado’s early fight—sparked by Beck and a tied score in the third—the game was determined by Arizona’s blend of clutch hitting and steady pitching. Suárez’s power surge and Perdomo’s homer spelled the difference, while Kelly delivered quality innings and Miller locked down the finish.

The Rockies close out the series on Sunday with Antonio Senzatela on the mound, facing off against Brandon Pfaadt.