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Let's hope that this series goes exactly the same way as the one earlier this month, where de la Rosa shut us down in the opener, but the Diamondbacks then came back to take the next two games, facing Cook and Jimenez - the same two we faced previously. We need to improve just about every aspect of our game from yesterday's performance, probably beginning with our starter not allowing eight earned runs in 2.1 innings of work. That'd be helpful. Scoring more than one run before the eighth inning - definitely a help, too.
Scherzer gave us a quality start in the preceding series, albeit only just - exactly the minimum six innings, allowing the full three earned runs permitted. He's nothing if not consistent, as that mirrored precisely his only other start against Colorado, in September last year. I am therefore predicting the same again, and I think we'd probably settle for that. Cook ended with a no-decision when he faced us on July 4th, allowing two earned runs in five innings. He left with a lead, only for the bullpen to blow it, allowing Arizona to score six earned runs in the eighth, on the way to an 11-7 win. I am not predicting the same again there, however, I know we'd settle for that.
Line-up
- Stephen Drew SS
- Gerardo Parra LF
- Justin Upton RF
- Chad Tracy 1B
- Mark Reynolds 3B
- Miguel Montero C
- Chris Young CF
- Ryan Roberts 2B
- Max Scherzer P
Well, that's.... interesting. Special K out of the clean-up spot, for the first time since June 16, with Tracy taking over the role instead. Still no sign of Josh Whitesell getting a start, even though there are a lot of left-handers at the top of the order today - four of the first six. That's kinda curious, as lefties don't hit Cook better this year [.277 vs. .283]. They do, however, seem to get a lot more walks: in 221 RHBs, he's given up five free passes, compared to 33 in 271 for LHB. We'll see how that plays out.
I should be about for this one, though if it goes down the tubes as fast as last night, reserve the right to bail in favor of more Torchwood, without notice. I trust that will not be necessary, however. Nor do I want to see the home team making a comeback like happened in last night's Twins-A's game, where Oakland rallied from ten runs behind to win. Yeah, you thought our bullpen was bad... And finally, here's AJ Hinch talking on today's Gambo + Ash show off KTAR:
Audio courtesy of KTAR 620