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Diamondbacks pound Rockies

Jul 24, 2011 - 4:39 AM Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Justin Upton was 3-for-5 with six RBI, including a seventh-inning grand slam, as the Diamondbacks pounded the Rockies, 12-3, to take the second of a three game set at Chase Field.

Miguel Montero went 2-for-4 with five RBI including a two-run homer in the second inning, as Arizona picked up its 15th win against divisional foes.

Josh Collmenter (6-5) earned his second consecutive win after giving up three runs on six hits over seven innings.

Troy Tulowitzki was 2-for-3 with a solo homer and Ty Wigginton added a two-run single for Colorado, which lost for the fifth time in eight games.

Rockies starter Jason Hammel (5-10) was pegged with the loss. He gave up eight runs on 12 hits in 5 2/3 innings despite feeling like an historic night was in the works.

"The whole way, from the get go, I was thinking no-hitter stuff," said Hammel. "It's pretty frustrating when you get tagged for eight (runs) after that. You just have to keep plugging along.

"It's very frustrating, because I know that I have all the talent in the world and for this team to take the next step I need to be a big part of that, so I've got to take the next step, too. Tonight, I thought, was going to be a good night."

The Diamondbacks, already up 8-3, put an exclamation point on their 54th win when Upton launched a two-out grand slam into the second deck in left field -- aptly dubbed "UpTown" -- during the seventh inning. Pinch-hitter Xavier Nady hit a ground-rule double before Bloomquist was intentionally walked. Gerardo Parra was then hit by a pitch to load the bases before Upton blasted a hanging slider to clear the bases and put the game out of reach.

Arizona jumped ahead early after putting together a five-run first. After Willie Bloomquist singled and Parra walked, Upton roped a double down the left field line, knocking in both runners. Chris Young followed with a single to center before scoring when Montero doubled to left. Upton also scored on the play. Collmenter then dropped a single to center to knock in Montero.

"Anytime you get a 5-nothing cushion, you just have to stay aggressive and not get complacent," said Collmenter. "In this ball park and against that team, a lead can disappear really quick."

Colorado answered back in the second after Tulowitzki sent a 2-2 offering to right for a solo homer, cutting the lead to 5-1.

But the Diamondbacks came right back with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Parra singled to open the inning and Montero later smoked an 0-2 curve over the right-field wall.

The Rockies added two more in the fourth after Mark Ellis singled then moved to third when Todd Helton hit a ground rule double to open the frame. After the next two hitters were retired Ty Wigginton singled to center to plate Ellis and Helton.

Arizona added one more in the sixth to take a 8-3 lead after Eric Stults walked in a run. Hammel loaded the bases before the lefty walked Montero on five pitches.

Game Notes

The D-Backs move to 10-11 with the Chase Field roof closed...Montero needs just three doubles to reach 100 for his career...Colorado fell to 22-27 on the road...Ellis has hit safely in six straight games.