Two Triple-A Rookies Crushed the D-Backs, and Nobody in Phoenix Is Ready For It

Okay, fam, you are NOT going to believe what went down in Phoenix last night. I'm still buzzing from it! The Rockies, yeah, *those* Rockies, pulled off a wild 3-2 comeback win against the D-backs, snapping Arizona's five-game winning streak. But the real story? It ain't their usual stars. We're talking about a couple of guys who were literally playing Triple-A earlier this week, Sterlin Thompson and Chad Stevens, stepping up HUGE in the ninth inning.

Fresh Faces Take Over

Can you even imagine? Earlier this week, Sterlin Thompson and Chad Stevens were just grinding it out in Albuquerque. Then boom, Mickey Moniak, the guy who's been crushing it for the Rockies with a .280 average, 12 homers, and 28 RBIs in 43 games, goes down with a right ankle injury and lands on the 10-day injured list. Total bummer, their manager Warren Schaeffer even said Moniak's a "warrior" who "never wants to go on the IL," but it was a "man-to-man conversation" for what's "best for him, what's best for the team." He agrees, which is good. That injury opened the door, and these two absolute legends burst through it. Stevens, a 27-year-old infielder, got called up Thursday and started the last two games. Thompson, 24, replaced Moniak on Friday. And what do they do? They go straight up Clutch City in the ninth. Thompson smashed a double, only his second career hit, and then Stevens, his former Triple-A buddy, followed with his third big-league hit, a game-winning, tiebreaking single that brought Thompson home. Thompson was absolutely hyped, saying it was "crazy" and a "great moment" to win with his Triple-A teammate. He's only played four big-league games this season, even got sent back down earlier this month when Tyler Freeman came off paternity leave. Talk about a wild ride!

D-Backs Get Slammed, Look Ahead

Meanwhile, the D-backs are probably wondering what just happened. They were up 2-0, looking good, and then the Rockies roared back. And to make things worse, their guy Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who drove in both their runs, had to leave in the sixth with left hamstring tightness after a sliding catch. Manager Torey Lovullo called it "unfortunate" and said they'd "figure out what that means," while Gurriel himself said it "doesn't seem to be too serious" through an interpreter. Still, not good for them, especially after they beat the Rockies 2-1 on Thursday. Looking ahead to Saturday night, it's going to be a battle on the mound. Arizona's trotting out Zac Gallen, their righty who's 2-4 with a 4.78 ERA. He's usually pretty good against the Rockies, rocking a 9-1 record with a 3.41 ERA in 18 career starts. He just broke a seven-start winless streak too, absolutely carving up the Giants for six innings. But don't sleep on Ezequiel Tovar, who's 6-for-13 with a homer off Gallen, or Hunter Goodman, who also has a dinger. For the Rockies, it's Michael Lorenzen, a righty who's sitting at 2-6 with a 7.03 ERA and is on a four-start losing streak, giving up a ton of runs and hits. He got lit up for seven runs by the D-backs just last Sunday! Watch out for Corbin Carroll, he's got two homers off Lorenzen already. This next game is going to be INTENSE! So, it's Rockies vs. D-backs again on Saturday in Phoenix. After last night's stunner, with Moniak out and Gurriel Jr. questionable, both teams are going to be playing with some serious fire. Can these Triple-A heroes keep the magic going for Colorado, or will Gallen shut them down? This series is getting spicy, and I'm here for all of it. Let's GO!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.