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We've seen the in-game resilience of this team a number of times in the past couple of weeks, but we require a different kind of fortitude tonight . We need the ability to bounce back from one of the worst implosions in franchise history, blowing a six-run lead in the space of just three outs, from one out in the eighth, to one out into the ninth. It was one of those days where just about everything that could go wrong, did - but that doesn't make the loss any more palatable.
To make things more... interesting, shall we say, Max Scherzer goes for Arizona - so you know that means we will be relying on the bullpen for three innings this evening. After last night, I think it's safe to say that Diamondbacks fans will be walking on pins and needles, regardless of the score. And probably ready to storm the field if anyone taller than, say, 6'8" is seen coming out of the bullpen. Yes, we know it wasn't entirely his fault last night - blame could also be applied to a number of other people. However, when you are almost seven foot tall and heavily tattooed, you can't really expect to slide under the radar. Maybe if he grew some endearing facial hair, people would like him more.
Otherwise, repeat last night's comments regarding the pitching match-up. Correia has yet to win a game away from Petco, so doesn't appear to be all that, and we definitely appear to have the edge in this pitching match-up. It's definitely a game we need to win, as I don't look at tomorrow's contest [Peavy vs. Buckner] with a great deal of confidence, Buckner's excellent performance in Oakland acknowledged. But no matter the score, I don't think anyone in Arizona will be taking victory for granted until the final Padres out is acknowledged.
Lineup
- Parra LF
- Ojeda 2B
- Upton RF
- Drew SS
- Reynolds 1B
- Montero C
- Young CF
- Roberts 3B
- Scherzer/P
Felipe Lopez appears to have been a late scratch from the Diamondbacks line-up tonight, resulting in some late shuffling of the line-up - Ojeda moving up from his originally-scheduled #8 spot. Reynolds starts again at 1B, and I suspect we will see a lot of him there against RHP, especially while Jackson remains out.