Welcome to the arena of pain
where everyone is a victim
We all are to blame
-- Front Line Assembly, Buried Alive
A series that started so well in Chicago, has finally come to a merciful end, and the D-backs head on to Houston, hoping for better things in that four-game set. At least the called-for protests against the Diamondbacks basically failed to materialize in any notable numbers. I think we had as many people here protesting our bullpen. And that's the last mention of any political topics you'll get from me. Instead, here are some recaps on today's game, with other stories of interest after the jump. And don't forget my chat with the ProSports guys at 7:30pm [not 7pm as I said] tonight. Click on the image below to join us, or you can Twitter your questions in.
Recaps
- [dbacks.com] D-backs fall behind, out early vs. Cubs - "Edwin Jackson suffered through another rough outing, while the D-backs remained scoreless until Rusty Ryal hit a two-run homer in the fourth. "
- [AZCentral] Diamondbacks routed by Cubs in series finale - "They scored eight times in four innings off Edwin Jackson (1-3), who has given up 18 runs over 6 1-3 innings in his last two outings."
- [Bleed Cubbie Blue] Soriano Hot Streak Leads Cubs To Series Win Over Diamondbacks - "I think it can safely be said, at least for the last several games, that Alfonso Soriano is making that huge contract look pretty good."
D-backs News and Notes
- [dbacks.com] Valdez to get start against Astros - "I think he's pitched the best," D-backs manager A.J. Hinch said. "He's had a good run of starts. He'll get his first taste of the big leagues and we'll give him the opportunity to stick."
- [Reno Gazette-Journal] Aces players remember 'getting the call' - "There are many firsts a major league baseball player will remember of the course of his career. But how about how he got there? How was he told he made the big leagues? "It's something they'll always remember," Aces manager Brett Butler said. And Butler likes to make it that much more memorable."
- [AZCentral] Kelly Johnson: Player of the Month for April? - "Here in the Wrigley Field press box, I was just handed my April awards ballot for the National League, and at first glance it looks like a pretty close call for player of the month between the Diamondbacks’ Kelly Johnson and St. Louis’ Colby Rasmus."
- [AZCentral] Drew gets first hit vs. left-hander - "Teammates gave shortstop Stephen Drew a hard time for finally getting his first hit against a left-hander on Thursday in Chicago. But despite Drew being just 1 for 16 against them this season, manager A.J. Hinch isn't ready to "pull the plug" on letting him face lefties."
- [dbacks.com] Collmenter dominates in Triple-A debut - "One night after joining the Reno Aces, Collmenter turned in a debut that made the unorthodox promotion look brilliant. He struck out eight over seven shutout innings in a 7-2 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers"
- [dbacks.com] Rosales to have surgery on right foot - "D-backs reliever Leo Rosales was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right foot on Saturday, which will require surgery. The injury could keep the right-hander out of action for at least two months."
Elsewhere in MLB
- [MLB.com] Schoeneweis rediscovers love for game - "I know that my time here has been a tenuous thing. I feel like I've mixed in pretty well and done what's been asked of me. Obviously, you grow to be a part of a team and get to know guys and stuff, and I obviously didn't want it to end. I am kind of happy to be here ... At least until the next move needs to be made, I can stay here."
- [MLB.com] Pena, Davis combine for amazing catch - "I had some teammates backing me up, so they saved my life," Pena said. "I stepped on his leg and tore his uniform, made him bleed and everything. I made sure he was fine, and he's doing OK."
- [Yahoo!] Matt Cain, Juan Uribe lead Giants past Rockies 6-1 - Cain gave up one hit over eight innings, and the Rockies continued to fall along with Arizona. Of course, it's not such a problem for us, as we didn't guarantee an NL West crown. They're now 6-13 in games not started by Ubaldo Jimenez.
- [MLB Daily Dish] Strasburg ticketed for Triple-A - "Top Nationals pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg has burned his way through Double-A and will be joining the Triple-A Syracuse squad early next week. Strasburg owns a 0.52 ERA in four Double-A starts, going 3-0 and striking out 23 to just 3 walks."
- [True Blue LA] Andrew Lambo Suspended 50 Games - Dodger not named "Manny" suspended for drug abuse...