Diamondbacks get big win going into key part of playoff stretch, starting against the Cubs

The Arizona Diamondbacks fought back Wednesday afternoon against the Colorado Rockies, showing a crucial trait they’ll need over the next few weeks with a playoff spot on the line.

“The stakes are high,” Alek Thomas said after going 2-for-4 with five RBIs and a home run in a 12-5 Arizona win.

The Rockies scored in the top of the first; the “Answerbacks” scored in the bottom of the first.

Colorado scored in the third; Arizona took the lead the same inning.

From there, the Diamondbacks rattled and rolled to a 12-5 win that kept a few bad games from turning into a slump that kills a season.

Coming into play Wednesday, Arizona had lost six times in eight games, and another defeat would have resulted in the third series loss in a row. Simply put, falling off against the Rockies would have created an avalanche of questions about Arizona’s toughness and heart going into the most important stretch of the season.

“For the rest of this year, every game is going to be important,” pitcher Zach Davies said after giving up 5 runs in three innings.

His teammates picked him up when he was struggling, something the Diamondbacks excelled at early in the year.

“It’s great,” Davies said.

“Midseason there, it just wasn’t going our way, but this is the time of year that if you get on a roll, pretty soon it won’t matter what your record is, because everybody starts over at 0-0 (in the postseason).”

The Diamondbacks are in a six-team fight for three playoff spots. They’ll play two of those teams in nine of the next 13 games (seven against the Cubs, two against the Giants).

The club will hit the road for eight games, setting up a pivotal five-game homestand that could determine the final playoff spot in the National League.

At this point, “in the playoffs” is a matter of semantics. For Arizona, the playoffs are now, starting Thursday at Wrigley Field.

“If we take care of our business,” Davies said, “at the end of the day, that’s all you can hang your hat on. … After that, it’s out of your control.”

If the Diamondbacks play this next stretch like they played Wednesday, they stand a pretty good chance.

It was a team win.

The hitters surged when the pitchers struggled, and the staff arms kept the score from getting out of control after a rough first inning.

Arizona’s batters drew plenty of walks, then hit well with runners in scoring position.

And, most importantly, the club showed some moxy.

The Diamondbacks responded after a few batters were hit by pitches, including Corbin Carroll getting plunked twice. Carroll left the game with a bruised wrist after the fourth inning.

Arizona first responded by clobbering the ball, scoring five runs after Carroll was hit the second time.

Then, with a comfortable lead in the eighth inning, Diamondbacks relief pitcher Miguel Castro hit former Phoenix Mountain Pointe High School star Cole Tucker with a pitch right in the seat of his pants.

There’s a chance Carroll will miss time with the injury. He didn’t sound optimistic after the game.

But against the Rockies, the Diamondbacks showed a trait they’ll need to win with or without their star rookie.

When they get hit, they need to hit back.

Reach Moore at gmoore@azcentral.com or 602-444-2236. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @SayingMoore.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks scrap their way to a win ahead of crucial series at Cubs