PHOENIX -- The way things are going for Vidal Nuno, he could pitch a no-hitter and not win.
The left-hander had his best start since coming to Arizona, allowing a run on two hits and retiring the last 20 he faced before leaving after eight innings.
But still he got the loss in the Colorado Rockies' 2-0 victory on Saturday night.
"I don't know what more he can do," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. "He gave up a home run and retired 20 in a row. He didn't walk anybody. He struck out seven guys. It is a shame."
Nuno (2-9) is 0-4 in 10 starts since he came to Arizona in the trade that sent Brandon McCarthy to the New York Yankees. In seven of those starts, he has allowed two runs or fewer.
"There's no frustration," he said. "You got to love this game and just go out there and try your best."
The Diamondbacks are 1-9 in games Nuno has started.
"He has been good the whole time he has been here," Gibson said. "If you go look at this starts since he has been here, not many guys have thrown the ball that good. We have not scored for him."
Nuno allowed his only run on Matt McBride's second-inning homer, then didn't allow a runner to reach base again.
But Colorado rookie Tyler Matzek shut out the Diamondbacks in his seven innings.
The 23-year-old left-hander gave up three hits in seven innings.
Maztek (4-9) struck out four and walked three. The win came on the heels of a strong seven innings in a 3-2 victory over San Francisco on Monday.
"He's been close to dominant the last couple of times out," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "It's good to see. It's good to see a kid developing as we speak. He's getting better and better. It's real encouraging what we see from Tyler."
The Rockies had lost four in a row since then.
Charlie Blackmon homered off reliever Matt Stites in the ninth.
LaTroy Hawkins walked a batter and gave up a single in the ninth before striking out Didi Gregorius for his 22nd save in 23 tries.
Matzek said Nuno's performance kept him on his toes.
"When you know the other guy's doing good you definitely stay more focused," Matzek said. "You can't get distracted. Seeing him doing what he's doing out there definitely helps me to remind me this is what I need to do to get the win."
Four relievers completed the shutout.
Arizona threatened against Colorado's bullpen in the eighth, getting runners at first and second with one out.
But David Peralta struck out and Mark Trumbo bounced to third, where Nolan Arenado barehanded the ball and threw to first.
"The play was huge," Weiss said. "I told him that was a money play right there, the game on the line."
The Diamondbacks wore throwback uniforms, wearing white with purple lettering. After the game, there was an alumni contest that included six members of Arizona's 2001 World Series championship team. Fans got a bobblehead of Bob Brenly, manager of that team.
Arizona shortstop Cliff Pennington made a lunging catch of Drew Stubbs' pop-up in short left, tumbling over left fielder Nolan Reimold but holding on to the ball.
With one on Friday night, Blackmon has 60 RBIs from the leadoff spot in the lineup, most in the majors. All of his 16 homers have come in the leadoff position.
Rockies: Reliever Christian Freidrich and C Jackson William were called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs this week when LHP Boone Logan (left elbow inflamation) and C Willin Rosario (left wrist inflammation) went on the 15-day DL.
Diamondbacks: RHP Daniel Hudson, recovering from two Tommy John surgery, pitched a scoreless inning with one strikeout from Triple-A Reno on Friday night. He is expected to join the major league club for the first time in two years, probably on Monday when the rosters expand.
Rockies: In the series finale on Sunday, LHP Jose De La Rosa (13-9, 4.19 ERA) goes for his first win in the desert, where he is 0-6 with a 4.15 ERA in eight starts.
Diamondbacks: RH rookie Chase Anderson (7-6, 3.90) takes the mound for Arizona Sunday. He is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in two starts against Colorado.
