Diamondbacks 0, Rangers 1: Still Can't Make a Mess of Texas

Record: 30-32. Pace: 78-84. Change on Last Year: -3. Ennui Points: +3.

The Diamondbacks found themselves on the wrong side of a rain delayed game, one in which fantastic pitching overshadowed the complex lack of offense. Only a few minor events separated the winner from the loser, but those tiny variants were enough to doom the D-backs to at least a series loss. They'll need to work hard tomorrow if they want to avoid the sweep.

Wade Miley took the bump looking to continue his Rookie of the Year type season, and he didn't disappoint. Even with a rain delay in the 4th he was still able to battle into the 8th. And if not for some bad luck, he probably could have made it to the 9th. Ultimately his line after 7 2/3 innings of work was 8 strikeouts with only 3 hits and 1 walk. Unluckily for Miley, it was the 1 walk and 1 hit that did him in.

He had been dealing all night, putting away fearsome hitters like Nelson Cruz on only 3 pitches at times. He worked Mike Napoli to a full count, then executed a pitch to the lower left corner of the strikezone. Because it was still tailing down and out, however, the umpire Jeff Kellogg, missed the call and gave Napoli a walk. He was moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt by Yorvit Torrealba. Miley then struck out the pinch hitting Nelson Cruz on three strikes, and seemingly was on his way out of the only real threatening moment of the game for him.

Craig Gentry, a hitter on quite a hot streak, stepped up to the plate. He would take one ball, and then lasered a ball towards third. It was in a position that Ryan Roberts likely wouldn't have had to move much to make the play, but it came on him so quickly that the best he could do was get his glove on it, which caused the ball to carom into left field. Napoli easily scored, the only run of the game.

In the moments that it happened it felt right to feel anger towards Roberts for his lack in the play, but I don't think this would be correct. Third basemen often get snuff for plays that other positions have an easier time fielding. There are two things to consider, however, that a third baseman must fight. First, is that they often are playing a step in closer than the rest of the defense. The other is that on a right handed batter, like Gentry, the ball can absolutely explode on the third baseman. Imagine being on the balls of your feet, ready to react for a ball that might come your way. When it comes of a right hander's bat hot, then it almost disappears it comes so quick on a third baseman.

This isn't to excuse Roberts. I'm sure if I asked him, he'd feel he should have made the play. He certainly could make the play. But he didn't do it this time, because it was a tough play. Sometimes a little luck tips the balance, and there's nothing to be done.

If there's a real tragedy it isn't that Miley wasted a start. He didn't waste anything. The offense didn't get it done, and they had a couple opportunities. Compared to the 3 hits for the Rangers, the D-backs racked up 6 hits and 2 walks. Twice they had a runner at second and couldn't bring him home. But if we're going to praise Wade Miley, instead of lambasting the Rangers' inability to get their offense going, then we must do the same for the Rangers pitchers of Mark Harrison, Mike Adams, and Joe Nathan. Although the Diamondbacks certainly had some chances, they also were facing some tough pitching.

The offense that exploded at home has gone away for the Diamondbacks. What can be done to bring it back?

Far Lands: Wade Miley (27.1%)

Wolfie: David Hernandez (2.8%)

Bust: Paul Goldschmidt (-24.1%)

Creepers AAAAAAH: Ryan Roberts (-16.3%), Jason Kubel (-15.6%), Aaron Hill (-10.3%)

Oof. Never a good game where there are only 4 D-backs with a positive WPA. It's only the second time the D-backs have been shutout this season, the last being a 4-0 loss to the Rockies.

Not a particularly heavily trafficked Game Day Thread. Was it the earlier start? Ennui? Rain? Better things to do? Irregardless, we grounded out over 700 comments amongst 29 people. Clefo was the only member of the Century Club, and he was joined by: AzDbackfanInDc, PR151, soco, imstillhungry95, Ridster09, Jim McLennan, hotclaws, onedotfive, dbacks25, rd33, jjwaltrip, blank_38, SenSurround, shoewizard, Gildo, piratedan7, $-The Moneyman-$, dbacks79, txzona, Zavada's Moustache, Muu, Augdogs, Marc Fournier, asteroid, Fangdango, Bryn21, Airwave, Joel Preston

Not enough recs for any comment to go green, therefore no Comment of the Day. Gotta be either wittier or more giving of your recs if you want anything from me!

Diamondbacks try to salvage a game from this series tomorrow by matching Daniel Hudson up against Scott Feldman. Game time is at 5:05 Arizona time, again, so be here or be somewhere else.