Baby ‘Backs show their inexperience

PHOENIX – After spending most of the playoffs looking like seasoned contenders, the Arizona Diamondbacks are showing their age.

Arizona’s 3-2 loss in 11 innings to the Colorado Rockies on Friday night left the Diamondbacks in a 2-0 hole as the best-of-7 National League championship series heads to Denver.

The young Diamondbacks won’t admit it, but their lack of postseason experience may be catching up to them.

Weary closer Jose Valverde, working his second inning, walked Willy Taveras on four pitches to force in the winning run in the 11th. It was only the second time that Valverde, the major league saves leader, had worked more than one inning this year.

“I’m not tired,” Valverde said. “My arm felt good.”

Stephen Drew had a costly brain freeze in the ninth. With Arizona trailing 2-1, Drew singled to center, sending Chris Young to third. Then Eric Byrnes hit a slow chopper to second baseman Kaz Matsui, whose flip to second pulled Troy Tulowitzki off the bag.

Young scored and Drew was called safe at second. But Drew, apparently thinking he was out, began jogging toward the dugout. Tulowitzki, who had started to argue with second base umpire Tom Hallion, saw Drew run and tossed to third baseman Jamey Carroll, who tagged Drew for the second out.

Also, third baseman Mark Reynolds opened the door for the game’s first run when he let Todd Helton’s hard smash go through his legs in the second. Helton scored on Yorvit Torrealba’s two-out single.