Colorado Rockies Win Behind Rusin’s Start, Story’s Triple

He may be known for his home runs but on Saturday night, Trevor Story of the Colorado Rockies proved that he can make a difference even when his hits don’t leave the park.

Story connected on a two-run triple in the top of the ninth to break open a 2-2 tie as the Rockies won their second consecutive game in Phoenix over the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 5-2 decision.

Colorado’s rookie shortstop played a key role in what would be the decisive sequence against Arizona reliever Brad Ziegler. Pinch hitting in the ninth, Ben Paulsen lined a one-out single to right and Charlie Blackmon followed with a single to left. Story would follow by roping a 1-2 pitch down the right field line that would score Paulsen and Blackmon for what would be the winning runs.

“The kid keeps doing it. That was a big-time hit right there,” Colorado manager Walt Weiss said of Story, who finished 2-for-5 with three RBI just one night after tying an MLB record by knocking his 10^th homer of the season.

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After Carlos Gonzalez was intentionally walked by Ziegler, Nolan Arenado drove home Story with an RBI single to left to push the lead to 5-2.

In his first start of the season, Colorado’s Chris Rusin was simply spectacular, allowing just one run in five shutout innings of work. In his 76-pitch performance, Rusin struck out six, including the first three batters he faced to open the game.

Carlos Estevez surrendered a two-run homer to Arizona’s Brandon Drury in the sixth inning that would tie the game at 2-2, but Colorado’s bullpen shut down the Diamondbacks from there. Gonzalez Germen, Chad Qualls, and Jake McGee each pitched a shutout inning, with McGee earning his fifth save of the season despite allowing two runs in the final frame.

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Now at 11-12 on the season, the Colorado Rockies have won four of the five games it has played in Arizona and will go for the series sweep on Sunday when Chad Bettis (2-1, 3.77 ERA) takes the hill against Arizona’s Shelby Miller (0-2, 8.69 ERA).