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This Day In Diamondbacks History: June 4

Overall: 4-8 - Home: 3-3 - Road: 1-5

  • 2001: Curt Schilling was named NL Pitcher of the Month for May after going 5-1 with a 2.35 ERA, and an impressive 43:8 K:BB ratio in 46 innings. However, you could argue a case that he wasn't even the best pitcher on his club, as Randy Johnson threw 41 innings with a microscopic 1.54 ERA and an amazing 62 strikeouts; however, he was only 2-1 in his six appearances. The whole Diamondbacks pitching staff combined for a 2.75 ERA on the month. far and away the best in the league - second were the Brewers, at 3.40.
  • 2002. The last time the draft fell on June 4th, the D-backs had a similarly-low pick to this year, not getting to choose until the 27th pick. Hopefully this year will go a little better for Arizona: while the guy they picked did reach the majors, it wasn't with Arizona, or even in anything like the role at which he was selected. It was Sergio Santos, then a shortstop, who saved 30 games last year with the Chicago White Sox. On the other hand, just a couple of picks earlier, the Giants got Matt Cain at #25, so there are gems to be had, certainly.
  • 2003: Jose Valverde earned his first save with the D-backs in an 8-6 win vs. White Sox. It came after Mike Myers failed to retire any of the four batters faced, and a five-run lead had become the tying man at the plate. It didn't take Papa Grande long: seven pitches resulted in a foulout to first, and then with a man on second, somehow Valverde got a double-play. Shea Hillenbrand had three hits and drove in three runs, to lead Arizona's 15-hit attack.
  • 2011: Hmm, this could be a nice omen. Last year, the D-backs posted their second straight shutout with a 2-0 win over the Nationals. It marked the ninth back-to-back shutouts in club history, and was the first since July 25-26, 2009 against the Pirates. And who started for us? None other than tonight's Arizona pitcher, Joe Saunders. He went seven innings, giving up only two hits and two walks, with five strikeouts. Arizona managed only four hits ourselves, but Xavier Nady and Stephen Drew drove in runs, with David Hernandez and J.J. Putz closing things out from there.