Rockies 5, Diamondbacks 3
Greg Reynolds came to camp healthy this spring and its made a big difference in his mindset. His results are getting better, too.
Reynolds pitched five strong innings, Todd Helton drove in a run in his third consecutive game and a Colorado Rockies split-squad beat an Arizona Diamondbacks split-squad beat 5-3 Saturday night.
''I've kept my head dow the last year or so, working hard to get back to where I was,'' Reynolds said. ''I have to take care of business. My confidence level is so much higher than its been the past couple of years.''
The Rockies' first round pick in 2008 was bothered by injuries the past two years, which affected his pitching.
''It was tough,'' he said. ''I never got into a rhythm. Sometimes I'd go a month or two between starts. I needed to prove to myself I was healthy and it has put my mind at ease. That's all in the past.''
These days he's pitching his way into the conversation as the Rockies' fifth starter.
''I'm not ready to sit here say so and so is our No. 5 guy,'' Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. ''With the additional depth this organization has created there are interesting options. People are pushing day in and day out.''
Ben Paulsen drove in two runs and Dexter Fowler and Matt Pagnozzi each had an RBI for the Rockies, who won their sixth straight.
Chris Young had two hits and drove in two runs for the Diamondbacks, who lost their fifth straight. Henry Blanco hit a home run.
Diamondbacks starter Zach Duke left the game after getting hit on his left hand by a line drive off the bat of Charlie Blackmon in the second inning. He said he didn't think it will be much of a setback. Duke gave up an unearned run in his inning of work, walking one and striking out one.
''I've done so much throwing and gotten quite a bit of pitching in that it won't set me back at all,'' Duke said. ''I felt good and I was controlling the ball the way I wanted.''
Reynolds became the first Rockies pitcher to complete five innings. The right-hander gave up two runs on two hits, did not walk a batter and struck out three.
''Just keeping the ball down is the biggest thing for me,'' Reynolds said. ''I threw a lot more fastballs than I have in previous outings and that's a good sign for me when I can get outs with the fastball.''
Helton had five hits and a walk in six consecutive plate appearances, over three games, until flying out to left in the third. He has driven in runs in each of his past three games.
NOTES: Game time temperature was 80 degrees, four degrees warmer than the afternoon game. ... D'backs RHP Jarrod Parker, who took over when Duke left, pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. ... Paulsen has four triples and took over the team lead in RBIs with nine. ... Both games of the day-night doubleheader were sellouts, with a combined attendance of 23,600. ... Rockies RHP John Maine will pitch in a 'B' game Monday in Tempe.