Jason Giambi’s pinch-hit homer in 9th gives Rockies 10th straight win, 4-2 over Arizona

Giambi’s HR in 9th gives Rockies 10th straight win

DENVER — Pinch-hitter Jason Giambi connected for a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 on Sunday to extend their winning streak to 10 games.

Jonathan Herrera started the winning rally when he reached on an error by second baseman Kelly Johnson. Clint Barmes struck out for the second out before Giambi, batting for Dexter Fowler, drove a 1-1 pitch from Sam Demel (1-1) to center for his seventh homer of the season.

Colorado’s winning streak is the longest in the NL this season and one game short of the major league best held by the Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers.

Huston Street (3-4) pitched a perfect ninth for the win.

Arizona starter Ian Kennedy was masterful for six scoreless innings, giving up just two hits, striking out six and walking three. After allowing a two-out single to Troy Tulowitzki in the first and walking Todd Helton, Kennedy retired the next 15 batters before yielding a two-out double to Carlos Gonzalez in the sixth.

The right-hander was in line for his sixth win in his last seven starts when, for the second straight game, the Rockies rallied. Helton drew a leadoff walk from Blaine Boyer in the seventh and two outs later Miguel Olivo walked. Pinch-hitter Ryan Spilborghs hit a bloop double off the outstretched glove of shortstop Stephen Drew in shallow left field to drive in both runners and tie the score at 2.

The Diamondbacks took the lead in the third with the help of an error by Colorado starter Jhoulys Chacin. Kennedy led off with a single and, after Drew struck out, Chacin threw a potential double-play grounder by Chris Young into center field to put runners at the corners.

Johnson walked to load the bases, Adam LaRoche followed with a sacrifice fly and Miguel Montero doubled in Young to make it 2-0.

Chacin loaded the bases again in the fourth but got Johnson to ground out, ending the inning. Chacin gave up two unearned runs in four innings, struck out four and walked four.

The Rockies had a chance to score first when they loaded the bases in the first, but Melvin Mora grounded out to end the threat.

Notes: Rockies C Chris Iannetta left after the first inning with a right calf strain. … Diamondbacks 3B Mark Reynolds was ejected in the sixth for arguing balls and strikes with plate umpire Gerry Davis. … Arizona OF Justin Upton (left shoulder soreness) was not in the starting lineup.