clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

This Day In Diamondbacks History: July 2

Record: 4-8 - Home: 1-4 - Road: 3-4

  • 1965: Steve Sparks born. Contrary to what you may believe, R.A. Dickey is not the first ever ever ever knuckleballer. Indeed, one of them finished up his career with the D-backs, Sparks going 3-7 with a 6.04 ERA in 2004. His best season was likely 2001, when he went 14-9 with the Tigers, including eight complete games, one of which was an 84-pitch effort against the Yankees, an economy only surpassed eight times since (three times, oddly, by Aaron Cook). In 1994, he dislocated a shoulder trying to tear a phone-book in half.
  • 2001: Luis Gonzalez earned his second NL Player of the Month award of the season, hitting .417/.496/.854, an OPS of 1.350, with 12 home runs and 35 RBI in June. He had fifteen multi-hit games in the month in 27 appearances, getting three hits on six occasions. That included seven multi-hit games in a row from June 6-13, setting a franchise record which still stands - only two NL players have had longer streaks since, the Marlins Chris Coghlan and Nationals Cristian Guzman both reaching eight.. Over that time, Gonzo went 17-for-29 with four home runs.
  • 2010: Kirk Gibson earned a 12-5 win in his managerial debut vs. Dodgers, becoming the second D-backs manager in franchise history to win his debut - the first being Bob Brenly on Opening Day 2001. Arizona put up three-spots in each of the first three innings, taking a 9-3 lead. Chris Young led the barrage, with three hits, driving in five runs, while Miguel Montero and Mark Reynolds each had a pair of hits and two RBI. Edwin Jackson did a "five and dive", getting the win despite allowing seven hits, three walks and four earned runs in five frames/
  • 2011: Joe Saunders took a shutout into the eighth, and the Diamondbacks beat the Athletics 4-2 in Oakland. Chris Young had a great day, driving in all four of Arizona's runs and falling a triple short of the cycle, including his 16th home-run of the year, off Josh Outman. Willie Bloomquist had a pair of hits for the visitors. Saunders scattered eight hits and a walk, but was lifted after the first two runners reached in the eighth. Yhency Brazoban allowed both to score and put the tying run on base before fanning Conor Jackson. David Hernandez got his first save as closer since J.J. Putz went on the DL.