It’s Another Defeat for Diamondbacks

Three consecutive losses coupled with three consecutive victories by San Francisco have the Arizona Diamondbacks looking over their shoulders.

Todd Helton homered and drove in five runs, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Diamondbacks, 11-7, Sunday at Coors Field to sweep their three-game series, keeping Arizona’s magic number at three for clinching the National League West title.

San Francisco’s third consecutive win, 3-1 over Milwaukee, reduced the Diamondbacks’ division lead to 4 1/2 games.

Arizona’s magic number for clinching at least a wild-card spot remained at one after the Dodgers defeated San Diego, 4-3.

Arizona reliever Mike Myers said he didn’t sense any worry in the Diamondbacks’ clubhouse.

“One win could turn it around for us. As bad as we played in this series, this could be the best thing that could happen to this team,” he said. “We’re still loose and having fun.”

Said first baseman Mark Grace: “We’re fine. All we’ve got to do is win a couple of games. Hopefully, we’ll right the ship in St. Louis and do some damage.”

The Diamondbacks open a three-game series at NL Central champion St. Louis today, then play their final four games at home against the Rockies.

“Our magic number is three,” Myers noted. “That’s not much, not with seven games left.”

Manager Bob Brenly said his team “didn’t play well in any aspect of the game in this series. But we’ll be in St. Louis and we’ll get back after it again.

“All you can do is forget about this one and move on. In the past, we’ve been pretty good about letting bad games or bad series go and moving on, and we’re going to have to do it again,” he said.

Colorado’s Jay Payton went four for four, including a club record-tying three doubles, and scored four runs, a career high.