Young no-hits Rockies over 6 innings in Arizona’s 5-3 win
PHOENIX (AP) — Alex Young tossed six no-hit innings in his second career start, Eduardo Escobar had three RBIs and the Arizona Diamondbacks completed a three-game sweep with a 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.
Young (2-0) was stellar in his Chase Field debut, allowing one batter over the minimum after walking Tony Wolters in the third inning.
The 23-year-old left-hander was replaced by Yoshihisa Hirano to open the seventh inning after 71 pitches. Trevor Story hit Hirano’s first pitch down the third base line and beat Jake Lamb’s throw for Colorado’s first hit.
Nick Ahmed hit a two-run homer and Escobar finished a homer shy of the cycle for Arizona, which enters the All-Star break above .500 at 46-45. Christian Walker added a two-run single off German Marquez (8-4).
Chris Iannetta hit a two-run homer and Story had a solo shot off Greg Holland in the ninth. Holland got the next three hitters for his 14th save.
Colorado lost sixth straight and 11 of 14 entering the All-Star break.
Young had a strong major league debut on June 27, holding San Francisco to a run on three hits in five innings for his first win. He also pitched 2 1/3 hitless innings in relief against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday.
The 23-year-old left-hander had the Rockies hitting weak pop-ups and groundball outs by mixing speeds and locations well. The crowd booed when Hirano entered in the seventh and again when Story legged out the infield single.
Young struck out three and walked one to stretch his scoreless streak to 8 1/3 innings. He today matched Edgar Gonzalez (2004 against Cincinnati) for the longest no-hit outing to open a game by an Arizona rookie.
Marquez left his last start after six innings with an 8-5 lead on Tuesday, but Houston rallied to win 9-8. The right-hander was sharp early against the Diamondbacks, allowing a run in the third inning on Escobar’s double to the corner in right.
Marquez ran into trouble in the sixth, when Walker lined a two-run single and Ahmed hit his two-run homer to put Arizona up 5-0.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: INF Wilmer Flores (foot) and RHP Jon Duplantier (shoulder) played rehab games in the Arizona League.
UP NEXT
Neither team has named a starter for after the All-Star break. The Rockies return with a three-game series against Cincinnati and the Diamondbacks face former first baseman Paul Goldschmidt for the first time in a three-game series at St. Louis.