Rockies beat Diamondbacks 3-2 on 9th-inning error as Senzatela returns from Tommy John surgery

DENVER (AP) — Brenton Doyle scored the winning run on a ninth-inning throwing error, and Colorado dealt a blow to the Arizona Diamondbacks' playoff chances with a 3-2 win Monday night in a game that marked the return of Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela from Tommy John surgery.

Ezequiel Tovar and Hunter Goodman homered for the Rockies, who beat the Diamondbacks for only the third time in 11 meetings this season.

“Pitching won for us today, and we had great performances from the bullpen,” Tovar said through an interpreter.

Ketel Marte hit a two-run homer for the defending NL champion Diamondbacks (83-67), who are in the second NL wild card position, one game ahead of the New York Mets and two in front of Atlanta.

Doyle singled off Ryan Thompson (7-5) leading off the ninth and stole second. Ryan McMahon was intentionally walked, Brendan Rodgers hit a grounder to Marte, and the second baseman flipped the ball to shortstop Geraldo Perdomo for a forceout. But Perdomo’s throw to first trying for a double play was wide of Christian Walker as Doyle scored.

“He just yanked his throw off the line,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “It would have been a big double plays.”

Seth Halvorsen (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings.

Senzatela, a 29-year-old right-hander, allowed two runs and four hits in three-plus innings with two strikeouts and two walks. He threw 42 of 67 pitches for strikes and averaged 95 mph with 39 fastballs. He also threw 15 sliders, eight changeups and five curveballs,

Senzatela's 2022 season was cut short when he tore his left ACL on Aug. 18 during a game at St. Louis when he took a bad step rushing to cover first base on an infield grounder.

He returned last year and pitched on May 5 and 10, leaving the second start with a strained right elbow. He later was diagnosed with a torn UCL and had Tommy John surgery on July 26.

“I just want to say thank you to everybody who supported me during this long year, my teammates, my family, my trainers, my coaches,” Senzatela said. “It didn’t start very well, but it is what it is. I tried to to keep the game there for the team and at the end of the day we got a win and that’s all that matters.”

Corbin Carroll tripled leading off and Marte followed with his 32nd homer, a drive to straightaway center.

Arizona's Merrill Kelly gave up one run and two hits in six innings, allowing Tovar's 24th homer leading off the fourth.

Goodman tied the score in the seventh against Kevin Ginkel with his 12th homer.

“It’s frustrating, extremely frustrating, especially coming off the game yesterday where we had a lead and then gave up some costly runs,” Ginkel said. “With the Goodman at-bat, it was a slider. I think he was anticipating it. It wasn’t my best slider I’ve thrown, but it wasn’t horrible. I was not expecting that to be a home run. I was expecting maybe a double, if anything. So that part of it was extremely frustrating and allowed them to tie the game.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who has been sidelined with a left calf injury since Sept. 2, ran conditioning drills at 80% and is scheduled to go full tilt Tuesday in a game at the team's Arizona training facility.

Rockies: RHP Jake Bird was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque to make roster room for Senzatela, who was activated from the 60-day IL.

UP NEXT

Colorado RHP Ryan Feltner (2-10, 4.89) is set to make his career-best 28th start of the season Tuesday night. He’ll be seeking his first win in four career appearances against the Diamondbacks, who counter with LHP Jordan Montgomery (8-6, 6.25 ERA). Montgomery is 2-0 in his previous starts against the Rockies.

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Arizona Diamondbacks' Corbin Carroll, left, congratulates Ketel Marte as he crosses home plate after hitting a two-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela works against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela takes of his cap as he heads to the dugout after bing pulled from the mound in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela heads to the dugout after being pulled form the mound in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Brenton Doyle is congratulated after scoring the winning run on a force out hit into by Brendan Rodgers in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Brenton Doyle singles off Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Ryan Thompson in the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Seth Halvorsen works against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Charlie Blackmon smiles as he tries to douse television analyst Ryan Spilborghs after the Rockies' walkoff victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in a baseball game Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

A pilot from Alabama had just been promoted to major in January and had been deployed less than a week when the refueling aircraft he was aboard crashed in Iraq this week, killing him and five others, his brother-in-law said Saturday.

Alex Klinner, 33, leaves behind three small children: 7-month-old twins and a 2-year-old son, his brother-in-law, James Harrill, said Saturday while confirming his death.

“It’s kind of heartbreaking to say: He was just a really good dad and really loved his family a lot — like a lot,” Harrill said.

Klinner was one of three people killed in the Thursday crash who the U.S. government said were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida and who Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said were stationed in Birmingham. On Saturday, the U.S. government identified the other two as Capt. Ariana Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington, and Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky.

Three additional deceased service members on the aircraft were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. They were identified by federal and state officials as Capt. Seth Koval, 38, Capt. Curtis Angst, 30, and Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28.

The U.S. government listed Koval from Mooresville, Indiana, while the Ohio National Guard listed his home Stoutsville, Ohio. The Ohio National Guard listed both Angst and Simmons from Columbus, Ohio, while the U.S. government listed Angst as from Wilmington, Ohio.

The aircraft was in “friendly” airspace, supporting operations against Iran, when an unspecified incident involving another aircraft occurred, according to U.S. Central Command. The other plane landed safety, U.S. military officials said.

Klinner, a graduate of Auburn University and an eight-year U.S. Air Force veteran from Birmingham, Alabama, had just moved with his family into a new home, his wife, Libby Klinner, said in an Instagram post mourning his death.

An outdoorsman who enjoyed hiking, Klinner was also ready to help others. When Harrill last saw him in January, Klinner had shoveled Harrill’s vehicle out of the snow during a family wedding.

“Alex was one of those guys that had this steady command about him,” said Harrill, of Atlanta, who helped set up a GoFundMe site for Klinner’s family. “He was literally one of the most kindest, giving people.”

Libby Klinner said in a post that her heart is broken for their children, who will grow up not knowing their father.

“They won’t get to see firsthand the way he would jump up to help in any way he could,” she wrote. “They won’t see how goofy and funny he was. They won’t witness his selflessness, the way he thought about everyone else before himself. They won’t get to feel the deep love he had for them.”

Simmons was a boom operator responsible for transferring fuel from the tanker to the receiving aircraft, according to his Air Force biography.

His mother, Cheryl Simmons, said Saturday that she was making funeral plans for her son.

In a statement obtained by WCMH-TV in Columbus, Tyler Simmons' family said it was saddened beyond measure to hear of the fatal crash.

“Tyler’s smile could light up any room, his strong presence would fill it. His parents, grandparents, family and friends are grief stricken for the loss of life,” they said.

The Ohio National Guard said Koval was an aircraft commander with 19 years of service. A graduate of Purdue University, he served in the Indiana National Guard before transferring to an Ohio unit in 2017, according to his Air Force biography.

Angst was a pilot with 10 years of service who graduated from the University of Cincinnati, according to his Air Force biography provided by the Ohio National Guard.

U.S. Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, has said the crash occurred on a combat mission but was over “friendly” territory in western Iraq. Military officials said it is being investigated and was "not due to hostile or friendly fire.”

The KC-135 aircraft refuels other planes in midair, allowing them to fly longer distances and sustain operations without landing. The plane can also be used to transport wounded personnel and conduct surveillance missions, according to military experts.

The Congressional Research Service says the Air Force last year had 376 KC-135s, including 151 on active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard and 62 in the Air Force Reserve. It has been in service for more than 60 years.

In this photo provided by the U.S. Air National Guard, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, an in-flight refueling specialist with the 121st Air Refueling Wing, refuels a C-17 Globemaster with a KC-135 Stratotanker during a teacher orientation flight at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio, on April 27, 2023. (Airman First Class Ivy Thomas/U.S. Air National Guard via AP)

In this photo provided by the U.S. Air National Guard, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, a boom operator assigned to the Ohio National Guard's 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus, Ohio, speaks during the Enlisted Leadership Symposium at Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Youngstown, Ohio, on June 27, 2023. (Airman 1st Class Nicholas Battani/U.S. Air National Guard via AP)

FILE - A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft performs a flyover during the national anthem before an NCAA college football game between Central Florida and Georgia Tech, Sept. 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

FILE - A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refueling tanker aircraft takes off from the Kadena Air Base airfield in Kadena town, west of Okinawa, southern Japan, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, File)

In this Jan. 28, 2026 photo, U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Aaron Slupski, a crew chief with the 121st Maintenance Group, prepares to marshal a KC-135 Stratotanker at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Columbus, Ohio. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Friday that three of six crew members of an American KC-135 refueling plane were killed when it crashed in Iraq were from his state and had deployed with the Ohio Air National Guard's 121st Air Refueling Wing. (Ralph Branson, U.S. Air National Guard photo via AP)