Tulowitzki's clutch hit leads Rockies over D-backs
PHOENIX -- Colorado manager Walt Weiss had a simple explanation for Troy Tulowitzki's game-deciding double Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the kind of production that has defined the two-time All-Star's career.
"Big-time hit by a big-time player," Weiss said succinctly.
Tulowitzki's bases-loaded double in the fifth inning drove in three runs and gave Colorado a 5-3 lead en route to its 6-3 victory over the D-backs at Chase Field.
Tulowitzki is tied for second in the NL with 21 RBIs.
Reid Brignac, Dexter Fowler and Jordan Pacheco singled in the fifth inning before Tulowitzki lined a two-out double to left-center field off right-hander Brandon McCarthy, who struck out Carlos Gonzalez with the bases loaded for the second out of the inning.
"We've done a nice job with runners in scoring position and we've gotten a hit most of the time," Weiss said.
Wilin Rosario hit his fifth homer of the season in the sixth inning to make a winner of Juan Nicasio, who gave up four hits and three runs (one earned) in five innings with a fastball that consistently registered in the mid-90 range on the stadium speed gun.
Nicasio 3-0 with a 4.62 ERA, and already has more victories this season than he did in 2012, when was 2-3 in 11 starts before missing the final four months because of a June 2 knee injury.
D-backs' third baseman Eric Chavez had his third home run of the season in the second inning, and Gerardo Parra doubled and scored for Arizona (13-10) in the third. Parra extended his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games with his double.
McCarthy is 0-3 with a 7.47 ERA in his first five starts with the D-backs.
Michael Cuddyer's two-run single gave Colorado (15-8) a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but the D-backs used two unearned runs to take a 3-2 lead unto the fifth.
"They got five runs on two hits. He made a mistake Cuddyer in the first inning and also to Tulo with the bases loaded," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said of McCarthy. "Overall, he threw the ball well.
"They had their opportunities and made the most of it. We had several opportunities and didn't capitalize on them."
Pacheco, expected to see the majority of time at first base with Todd Helton on the disabled list, had three hits and scored two runs for Colorado. Rosario and Fowler had two hits apiece.
McCarthy has given up major league-highs with 23 earned runs and 45 hits after signing a two-year, $15.5 million free agent deal this winter. He missed the final month of 2012 after being struck in the head by a line drive Sept. 5.
The game was halted briefly after D-backs shortstop Didi Gregorius was hit in the head by a Josh Outman fastball in the last of the seventh inning.
Gregorius lay in the left-side batter's batters for several minutes before walking off the field under his own power. The D-backs said he suffered a bruised right temple but responded well to verbal tests in the clubhouse before being taken to a hospital for a CT scan.
"They take a written test, and he passed that with flying colors. It shows no neurological problems. They are doing a CT scan for precautionary measures. The possibility of a seven-day DL," Gibson said.
NOTES: Gregorius extended his hitting streak to seven games with a single in the fourth inning. It was his first hit at home. He was activated from the disabled list on April 16, the first game of the D-backs' nine-game road trip on which he had two home runs and four doubles. ... Colorado led the National League with 74 extra-base hits entering the game. Cuddyer, Fowler and Gonzalez entered with 11 extra-base hits each, tied for fourth in the league. Eric Young Jr. led the league with three triples. ... The Rockies played their first game at Coors Field on this date 18 years ago, after playing the first two years at Mile High Stadium, also the former home of the Denver Broncos. ... Arizona Cardinals first-round draft pick Jonathan Cooper, the seventh player taken in the NFL draft on Thursday, threw out the first pitch. Cooper, 6-feet-2 and 311 pounds, is a guard from North Carolina.