Rockies' Chacin helps outing with first homer

DENVER -- Jhoulys Chacin never retired the side in order Friday night, and he was far from efficient, issuing a season-high five walks in six innings with no strikeouts.

However, the Colorado Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-4, because Chacin got ground ball outs when he needed them most and hit one of the Rockies' four home runs.

"No command today was the biggest thing for me," Chacin said. "I couldn't control my sinker. My slider, I wasn't throwing for a strike. Too much behind in the count and runners every inning, but I'm happy I was able to keep the game there and finally we win the game."

Chacin (14-9) hit his first career homer in the third, against Randall Delgado, who made his Coors Field debut. It came on Chacin's 186th career at-bat and was a two-run shot that made up for the two-run homer he yielded to A.J. Pollock in the first.

"It was a slider that just was hanging there," Delgado said. "In this place, you hear from the pitchers to be careful with the hanging curveball. I never pitched here before, but I heard from everybody to be careful with the curveball. I made a mistake and I paid for it. I never thought it was going to be the pitcher, but this happens."

Charlie Blackmon and Corey Dickerson homered in the sixth, when the Rockies scored four runs. And Troy Tulowitzki hit a two-run homer in the seventh. The Rockies last hit four homers in a game Aug. 16 at Baltimore.

Chacin threw just 50 of 95 pitches for strikes. But he only allowed two runs as the Diamondbacks grounded into three double plays, helping Chacin get 12 outs on ground balls.

"That's what he's been able to do a lot this year," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "Even on the days when hasn't had his 'A' stuff, he's been able to induce the double play."

Two of Chacin's walks came in the sixth, enabling the Diamondbacks to load the bases with the score tied. But he escaped that jam by getting pinch hitter Willie Bloomquist to line to first on a nine-pitch at-bat.

"I got ahead 1-2, and then I get 3-2 and now I got to throw a strike," Chacin said. "It doesn't matter if he hit it anywhere, just throw a strike."

Mitchell Boggs relieved Chacin and surrendered a home run to Paul Goldschmidt. It was his 35th of the year, putting him one ahead of Pittsburgh's Pedro Alvarez for the National League lead. Goldschmidt also singled home a run with twos out in the ninth, extending his league-leading RBI total to 121.

The Rockies jumped on reliever Tony Sipp (3-2) with two homers for three quick runs in the sixth. Blackmon led off the inning with his fifth home run. After Josh Rutledge singled, Dickerson homered off the facade of the second deck in right-center.

It was Dickerson's fourth homer and finished Sipp's night after facing three batters in relief of Delgado.

J.J. Putz replaced Sipp and gave up the fourth run in the inning when Charlie Culberson singled with two out, scoring Todd Helton, who had hit career double No. 589.

Tulowitzki's homer was his 24th of the season and came off Matt Langwell.

"Three home runs from the relievers," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. "The relievers weren't very effective at all tonight. You have to keep the ball down here at Coors Field, and we didn't do a very good job of that."

The Rockies turned an unusual 3-5-4 double play to end the fourth after Martin Parra singled and Wil Nieves walked to open the inning. First baseman Helton charged Delgado's sacrifice attempt and fired the ball to third baseman Nolan Arenado, whose strong throw to second baseman Josh Rutledge covering first nailed Delgado. It was one of three double plays the Rockies turned behind Chacin.

NOTES: Rockies RF Michael Cuddyer received a cortisone injection in his sore left wrist Thursday, one day after he injured the wrist making a tumbling catch. He said he hopes to play Saturday and definitely will play Sunday. With a .331 average, Cuddyer is tied with Atlanta's Chris Johnson for the National League lead. Johnson went 3-for-4 on Friday and raised his average four points. ... Chacin's home run was the first by a Rockies pitcher since Alex White hit a three-run shot on Sept. 16, 2012, at San Diego. ... RHP Collin McHugh will start Saturday for the second straight time in place of LHP Jorge De La Rosa, whose sore left thumb has kept him from throwing a bullpen session this week. ... Arenado returned to the lineup. He had not played since Monday when he left the game after one inning because a bone bruise on his right thumb prevented him from swinging a bat.