Major League Baseball

Rockies 8, Diamondbacks 3

Published Sep. 7, 2011 5:56 a.m. ET

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The bullpen has played a key role in Arizona's rise to the top of the NL West this season.

This time, it didn't work out so well for the Diamondbacks' relievers.

Troy Tulowitzki homered, Seth Smith tripled twice and the Colorado Rockies rallied to beat streaking Arizona 8-3 on Tuesday night.

It was a rare blown save for the Diamondbacks, who came into the game with a 65-3 record when leading after seven innings and were four outs away from another victory when the Rockies erupted for seven runs against three relievers.

''It was a normal game, just the ending was different,'' Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. ''Something we haven't experienced yet. It's disappointing we lost the game but we'll regroup, come back tomorrow and be fine.''

Arizona led 3-1 and appeared headed to its fourth straight win when the Rockies rallied two outs in the eighth. With Dexter Fowler on first, Mark Ellis singled to left and Carlos Gonzalez knocked in a run with a single to center off David Hernandez (3-3).

Tulowitzki followed with his 30th homer to make it 5-3.

Hernandez has been reliable all year long but admitted he wasn't sharp Tuesday.

''I've had three of those nights where I've given up multiple runs,'' Hernandez said. ''I hung a slider to Tulo and he did what he's supposed to do to it.''

Hernandez gave up a single to Ty Wigginton before Joe Patterson came on, and Smith greeted him with an RBI triple that made it 6-3. After Wilin Rosario walked, Jordan Pacheco followed with a run-scoring single.

Sam Demel relieved Patterson and hit Kevin Kouzmanoff with a pitch to load the bases, then walked Fowler to make it 8-3.

''You never expect that,'' starter Josh Collmenter said. ''Anytime you turn the ball over to our bullpen you expect good results. I'll give it to them every time and they'll pick me up.''

After he was lifted from the game, Hernandez was ejected by home plate umpire Todd Tichenor for arguing balls and strikes as he left the field.

''I threw a few off-speed pitches I wanted,'' he said. ''That's really not me, I don't show emotion but when you lose a ballgame it adds a little to it.''

The late rally spoiled a good outing for Collmenter, who gave up one run and five hits in 6 1-3 innings before leaving with runners on first and second. Brad Ziegler got out of the jam when Eric Young Jr. was tagged out at home trying to score on a pitch that went to the backstop and Rosario struck out.

''Josh threw a great game, Ziegler did a great job, it just didn't go good after that,'' Gibson said.

Jordan Pacheco and Carlos Gonzalez had two hits apiece for Colorado, which beat Arizona for just the fifth time in 17 games.

Aaron Hill and Justin Upton had two hits each for the division-leading Diamondbacks, who had won 12 of 13.

Matt Belisle (10-4) got the win in relief.

Arizona snapped a 1-all tie in the seventh. Paul Goldschmidt led off with a double, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on Gerardo Parra's single to left.

The Diamondbacks made it 3-1 when Hill scored from third on a throwing error by third baseman Pacheco in the eighth.

The Diamondbacks took a 1-0 lead in the first. Hill and Upton hit consecutive one-out singles to put runners at the corners and Miguel Montero followed with a run-scoring grounder.

The Rockies tied it in the fifth when Smith led off with a triple to center and scored on Pacheco's grounder to third.

Colorado starter Jason Hammel went seven innings, allowing two runs, one earned, and six hits.

NOTES: Rockies 1B Todd Helton didn't play for the third straight day due to back stiffness. ... Rockies OF Ryan Spilborghs (right foot) will likely not play the rest of the season. ... The Rockies promoted Pacheco and right-hander Jim Miller from Triple-A Colorado Springs, and brought up catcher Rosario from Double-A Tulsa. They placed INF Jonathan Herrera (right index finger) on the 60-day DL. ... Arizona LHP Joe Saunders will face RHP Kevin Millwood in the series finale Wednesday night.

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