Nolan Arenado hit a first-inning grand slam, Zack Littell won his Arizona debut, and the Diamondbacks blanked the Colorado Rockies 9-0 in Phoenix on Monday.
Littell (8-8) gave up two hits in 4 2/3 scoreless innings after replacing starter Michael Soroka. Littell, who signed earlier Monday after being released by the Washington Nationals on Friday, struck out two and walked two.
Arenado added a single and a stolen base and Gabriel Moreno and Ketel Marte had two hits and an RBI apiece for the D-backs (64-56), who have won three of four and are eight games above .500 for the first time this season.
Troy Johnston had two of the Rockies’ five hits. Colorado was shut out for the sixth time this year and has lost 10 of 14.
The D-backs are 19-9 since July 9, the best record in the National League during that span. Arizona is tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the second NL wild-card spot, one game ahead of the San Diego Padres.
Arenado has hit six of his 371 career homers against the Rockies since leaving Colorado ahead of the 2021 season. He has two grand slams this season, a career high, after hitting one against the San Francisco Giants on May 18. The latest slam was the eighth of Arenado’s career
Soroka gave up three hits, walked three and struck out four in 4 1/3 scoreless innings before leaving when his pitch count reached 77. He was activated from the injured list before the game after leaving his June 19 start due to a left glute injury.
Littell entered with one out in the fifth and runners on first and second. He walked Jake McCarty before getting Cole Carrigg to ground into double play. Littell ended the ninth with another double play.
The D-backs got their offense started early. Moreno tripled off Gabriel Hughes (0-4) with two outs in the first and appeared to score on a wild pitch. Colorado challenged the call, and Marte was ruled to have been hit by the pitch to put runners on first and third. Lars Lootbaar walked to bring up Arenado, who sent a 382-foot homer out to left.
Arizona bumped its lead to 7-0 with a three-run second. Corbin Carroll and Marte had run-scoring hits, and the other run scored on a wild pitch.
Jorge Barrosa and Moreno added RBI hits in the eighth.
D-backs shortstop Geraldo Perdomo was replaced before the top of the fifth because of left knee soreness.
