Arenado Homers as D-backs Sink Rockies

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado ripped three hits including his 28th home run Tuesday night at Coors Field, and Michael Soroka punched out nine over seven strong innings as the visiting D-backs beat the Colorado Rockies 7-2 to stay alive in the National League wild-card race while handing Colorado its 100th loss of the season. Arizona sits at 83-74, four games behind Philadelphia for the last wild-card spot with five games left. The Rockies fell to 57-100, the first club to lose 100-plus games in four straight seasons since the 1962-65 New York Mets.

Arenado doubled to lead off the third and scored, then went deep leading off the seventh to make it a five-run game. He had a shot at the cycle in the ninth and popped out to short. Geraldo Perdomo also collected three hits, and Ildemaro Vargas added two as Arizona jumped on Kyle Freeland early. Corbin Carroll's RBI double was part of a first-inning burst that made Coors feel like a road problem for Colorado again.

Soroka (9-5) allowed just two hits and matched his longest outing of the year, closing his night by striking out the side in the seventh. Mickey Moniak's 23rd homer was the Rockies' loudest answer. Freeland (4-11) lasted only three innings in what could be his last home start for Colorado before free agency.

Soft fantasy note only: ride Arenado through the final week if you still have him active in a playoff push, and treat Arizona's wild-card math as live until the Phillies board closes it. Five games at four back is thin air, not fiction.

D-backs fans needed every Arenado swing and every Soroka punchout. October is still a maybe, but Tuesday kept the maybe breathing in Denver. Rockies fans are staring at a historic losing streak that now has a round number next to it.

Coors Field has seen better Septembers. This one just stamped 100 the hard way. Arizona still has to eat into Philadelphia's cushion over five games, and that is a steep ask, but Tuesday kept the standings math from turning into a eulogy.

Arenado did not need a farewell speech in Denver. Three hits and a 28th homer against his old club already said enough for one night on the wild-card bubble.

Standings board

D-backs 83-74, 4 GB Phillies for last WC, five to play.

Rockies 57-100. Fourth straight 100-loss season.

Fan closer

Arenado kept Arizona breathing. Colorado just crossed a century nobody wanted.