Arizona Diamondbacks split series with the Rockies to maintain Wild Card lead
![PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 14: Zack Godley](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fvenomstrikes-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F09-2F847041114-colorado-rockies-v-arizona-diamondbacks-jpg-850x560-3749bdc3243795b4a7c00b5db29fc85f.jpg)
After the Colorado Rockies won the first two games of a four-game series, the Arizona Diamondbacks responded with two wins of their own
The Arizona Diamondbacks have Zack Godley to thank for their 7-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday afternoon.
Godley pitched eight full innings in which he shut out the Rockies and only allowed five hits. With 103 pitches, Godley struck out seven batters and didn’t walk anyone.
This was a much more controlled performance than the Sept. 3 outing where he walked six and struck out seven.
He has improved to 8-7 on the season. Godley’s performance wasn’t exactly matched on the Rockies side of the ball.
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Chad Bettis started the game but faced seven batters in 0.1 innings. He walked three and gave up three hits, including five earned runs. It took the Rockies a combined effort from five other pitchers to match Godley’s eight innings.
The Diamondbacks offense included a 3-for-5 performance from Chris Iannetta who had two doubles. A.J. Pollock also added to the Diamondbacks four extra-base hits.
Pollock started off his game with a base-clearing double for three RBI’s. A single to center field later would also score Paul Goldschmidt and Pollock’s fourth RBI of the game.
This followed his three-run homer from Wednesday. Pollock’s bat is heating up to match a few other hot bats in the lineup.
But, it wouldn’t be a Diamondbacks victory without a gift from J.D. Martinez, now would it?
To lead off the third inning, Martinez hit a solo home run to center field.
Not only was it his 39th home run of the season, but his 23rd with the Diamondbacks. He has officially passed Luis Gonzalez for the most home runs in the second half of the season with the franchise. Martinez also earned his 49th RBI in 49 games.
If his days with the Diamondbacks truly are numbered, Martinez knows how to go out with a bang.
One weak spot in the lineup, at least against the Rockies, has been Ketel Marte. Marte was 2-for-16 in the series, but his defensive plays have been nothing short of perfect.
The win over the Rockies extended the Diamondbacks’ Wild Card lead once again. It also narrowed the number of games they need to win in order to clinch a postseason berth to just eight.
Back in California, the Los Angeles Dodgers had the day off, which means the Diamondbacks are less than 10 games away from the division again. The Diamondbacks head to San Francisco to face the Giants in a three-game series, while the Dodgers will head to D.C. to face the Nationals.
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