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Games until the blessed, merciful end of the season: 15.
After snatching defeat from the jaws of victory on Wednesday, coming within two strikes of a sweep, it's back to Chase, and a potentially interesting series against the Rockies - albeit not quite as interesting as it might have been, had Colorado not stranded the tying run at third on Wednesday, and so avoided their own sweep by the Giants. It is now up to the Diamondbacks, and it is out duty to beat the Rockies as often as possible, and make the NL Wild-card race more interesting. The Giants trail them by 3.5 games, but the Braves have won seven straight and are only 4.5 back, with the Marlins half a game further behind. A home sweep could leave things highly amusing.
However, I can't say I look at tonight's pitching match-up and feel confident of marking it in the books as a win. Mulvey's first start as a Diamondback was basically an unmitigated disaster; about the best thing you can say is, he didn't walk anyone. However, the eleven hits allowed in four innings of work tell a more accurate tale. The game wasn't televised here, but it seems he didn't pitch terribly; however, you get measured in this game by results, not how you look, and if Mulvey wants to avoid Reno next season, he needs to deliver tonight.
That said, Marquis has been permeable of late, with an ERA of six over his last four games. He also has a better ERA at Coors than on the road, which is just....wrong. [He must be getting his baseballs from the "special" humidor] His last two road starts involved five runs in 5.2 innings at Petco, and five runs in six innings against the Giants' pop-gun offense. That converts to roughly nine billion runs pitching in Chase, if my math is right. Ok, maybe not. But definitely a free tacos-worthy performance.
Line-up
- Chris Young CF
- Stephen Drew SS
- Justin Upton RF
- Miguel Montero C
- Mark Reynolds 3B
- Gerardo Parra LF
- Ryan Roberts 2B
- Brandon Allen 1B
- Kevin Mulvey RHP
Not going to be about for this one, since we're running Black Friday over at the MADCAP theatres on Mill Avenue. Should be fun. As I won't be home until gone midnight, 'Skins is on the recap. This is probably a good thing in another way - whatever happens in the Gameday Thread, he is sure to be absolved of any blame or responsisiblity by the post-game report...