Elias Díaz has 2 hits including a tiebreaking single in a six-run 7th, Rockies beat Rangers 8-3

DENVER (AP) — Elias Díaz had two hits including a tiebreaking single in a six-run seventh inning, Ryan McMahon tied a career high with four hits, and Colorado won its first series of the season with an 8-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night.

The Rockies, who had lost 11 of their first 12 series and split the other, won their third straight game for the first time this season.

Jacob Stallings had a two-run single and Charlie Blackmon had a two-run double in the seventh, when the Rockies scored all six runs with two outs. Blackmon had his 599th career extra-base hit, tying Larry Walker for second in franchise history.

Leody Taveras had two hits including a 389-foot homer off Jake Bird to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh.

Tyler Kinley (2-0) got out of a two-out, two-on situation by striking out Adolis Garcia to end the seventh.

David Robertson (2-1) did not retire any of the four batters he faced after entering with a 3-2 lead and a runner on second base with two outs in the seventh.

Jordan Beck singled to open the seventh off Jose Leclerc and was sacrificed to second before Robertson entered. McMahon singled to tie the game, took second on a wild pitch and scored Díaz's single. Robertson hit Sean Bouchard and walked Brenton Doyle before Cole Winn entered and gave up hits to Stallings and Blackmon.

Texas starter Andrew Heaney gave up eight hits and struck out a season-high eight in five innings.

Heaney has not issued a walk in his last 28 innings, since the first inning of an 8-3 loss to Atlanta on April 19. He has given up four runs over 18 innings his last three starts without receiving a decision.

Colorado starter Ryan Feltner gave up two hits in four scoreless innings before the Rangers scored twice in the fifth for a 2-1 lead.

Hunter Goodman hit a 444-foot homer leading off the third inning for the Rockies.

Colorado manager Bud Black was ejected by home plate umpire Chad Fairchild following a play in which Rockies’ leadoff man Ezeqiuel Tovar was called out for over-sliding second on a stolen base attempt to end the fifth inning.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rangers: RHP Max Scherzer (thumb) has not begun throwing again but is “coming along with the rehab,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “Improvement is starting to happen.” … OF Evan Carter (low back tightness) was a late scratch from the starting lineup. “For this to flare up at this point in the season, there is a little concern,” Bochy said. Carter missed much of the 2021 minor league season with a stress fracture in his back.

Rockies: OF Nolan Jones (back) and 1B/OF Kris Bryant (back) are scheduled to begin rehab assignments at Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday. Bryant, who has not played since April 13, took batting practice and did running drills before the game and could join the team on Monday.. … LHP Kyle Freehand (elbow) played catch for a third straight day Saturday, gradually increasing his intensity. He is a week to 10 days from throwing off a mound, manager Bud Black said.

UP NEXT

Rangers: RHP Jose Ureña (1-2, 3.86 ERA) will make his second start of the season after giving up one earned run in five innings in a victory at Oakland on Tuesday.

Rockies: TBA LHP Ty Blach (0-1, 3.46 ERA) will make his second start of the season.

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