Barry Enright hit the first home run of his major league career and the 18th all time by a Diamondbacks pitcher. But the big right-hander couldn't transfer that magic to the mound, as the Colorado Rockies defeated Enright and Arizona 6-4 Wednesday night at Chase Field.
Enright's third-inning solo shot to left field -- the first of three longballs for the D-backs -- came off Jhoulys Chacin and gave Arizona a 1-0 lead, but it didn't last long. The Rockies, the NL West leaders, scored three runs in the top of the fourth, one on a fly ball that Justin Upton let drop in the right field corner for a double and two more on Chris Ianetta's two-run home run.
"The one to Ianetta was an 0-2 hanger," manager Kirk Gibson said. "Didn't make pitches, didn't make the plays, didn't run the bases good, all around we weren't very good against a very good team, and they did what they should do."
"That's baseball and I think I let it affect me a little bit," Enright said of the outfield mishap. "I can't do that. It's going to happen. They're going to make great plays behind me sometimes... tough play. Gotta make that third pitch to get out of the inning 1-1 and different ballgame."
The Rockies (18-10) made it 6-1 with three more runs in the fifth off Enright, who shut them out over the first three innings. Two walks, a Todd Helton two-out, two-run double over Chris Young's head in center and Seth Smith's RBI single hurt Enright.
Helton tied Lou Gehrig for 30th on the all-time career doubles list with 534.
Enright (1-3 with 6.49 ERA) was finished after five innings, allowing six runs on six hits with four walks. Gibson said he isn't concerned about Enright yet.
"I allowed four walks, three guys scored, never a good thing," Enright said, then was asked about the two-out hits. "Can't happen if I want to keep pitching up here."
Chacin was in command for most of the night. He gave up Kelly Johnson's home run in the sixth but only allowed two runs on three hits with six strikeouts to improve to 4-2.
Gibson started Juan Miranda at first base and Miranda went 1-for-3 with a ninth-inning solo home run and a walk Wednesday. That's 11 starts for Miranda, compared to 10 for Russell Branyan and eight for Xavier Nady (both used as pinch hitters in the game) as the three-headed monster at first continues.
At third base, it was hot-hitting Ryan Roberts Wednesday but he is platooning with Melvin Mora. Gibson will also have to work in Willie Bloomquist when he returns from injury, though Bloomquist can play a number of positions.
Gibson said it is challenging to have to make decisions on whom to start every day but that such challenges are part of his job.
"I do the best I can. It's a good situation to be in, to be honest," Gibson said.
The Diamondbacks rallied with two runs in the ninth and had the tying run on second base with two out, but Rockies closer Huston Street struck out Johnson on a ball in the dirt. Arizona fell 5.5 games behind Colorado at 13-16 and hosts the Rockies in the series finale Thursday night before embarking on a 10-day, nine-game road trip through the NL West.
Pitchers update: Aaron Heilman and Zach Duke are moving closer to being ready. Heilman threw 15 pitches and commanded them well, Gibson said, in a throwing session Wednesday. Duke threw 20 pitches, sat down and threw 20 more. He's scheduled for a bullpen session Friday and then 30-35 pitches Monday.