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The heaving masses are apparently doing a great job of thronging at Chase Field today. I like the word "thronging". It's a lot of fun to say. Early reports from our on-site reporters Mrs. SnakePit and asteroid, seem to indicate that a giveaway ring has a lot more appeal for local fans than seeing a Cy Young candidate like Ian Kennedy, pitching for a first-place team. I'm not sure how I feel about this. It's good people are coming to the park at all; not so sure about having to bribe them with shiny baubles...
- Gerardo Parra LF
- Aaron Hill 2B
- Justin Upton RF
- Miguel Montero C
- Geoff Blum 3B
- Chris Young CF
- Lyle Overbay 1B
- John McDonald SS
- Wade Miley LHP
Lost in Montero's ongoing hitting streak has been Aaron Hill's. While a more modest 12 games, it is now tied for the second-longest by a second-baseman in Diamondbacks' history. It trails only the 18-game streak enjoyed by Junior Spivey from May 31st to July 4th, 2002. And this has not been a dollar-store run for Hill either: seven of those dozen games have been multi-hit outings, including a couple with three knocks, and he has hit at a .438 clip during the run. He and Montero are already ranked #3 and #1 respectively, for hitting streaks by Arizona players this year; #2 is J-Up's 14-gamer just after the break.
Parra back at the top of the line-up, in the absence of Willie Bloomquist. Ryan Roberts also gets a day, with McDonald and Blum taking over on the left-side of the infield. After waiting ages for an Overbay sighting, two come along in a row. And Miley will try to extend another streak. As noted earlier, the team has gone 15-2 over the last seventeen games. Diamondbacks starting pitchers have allowed three earned runs or less in every single one of those contests.