Diamondbacks 1, Rangers 7: Wade, And Found Wanting

While both teams managed nine hits this afternoon, the Rangers' did a lot more damage, as the majority were for extra bases, and three of theirs didn't come back. But they started off with some relatively small ball, getting to Wade Miley quite fast, with three of the first four batters he faced this spring, reaching, on two hits and a walk. That drove in the first run of the day, and another followed on a sacrifice fly. A third was added on a solo homer, leading off the second inning, and though Wade avoided any further damage, the final line of three hits, one walk, and three runs, all earned, without a strikeout, suggests that he might have some catching up to do on the batters.

After him, Randall Delgado completed the second outings for the three candidates battling to see who'll occupy the fifth spot in the rotation. While this one wasn't as bad as his first - like Miley, he allowed three hits and a walk without a K in two innings, but only conceded one run - it still wasn't anything much to write home about, containing several hard-hit balls. With the obvious caveat that we are still talking very small sample sizes, here are the numbers for the three pitchers, after the first couple of appearances for them all. Though so far, going by the stats (which as we all know, are no guarantee of regular-season results), it hasn't exactly been much of a competition.

The rest of the pitching unfolded as expected, with those you'd predict to do well, doing well, and everyone else allowing a home-run. Brad Ziegler had another outing without a ball out of the infield. He struck out two and got a ground-out, around an error by 2B Josh Wilson, a late replacement for Aaron Hill who experienced a balky quad before the game). Matt Reynolds also struck out two in a scoreless and hitless eighth. But Chase Anderson allowed two runs, one unearned, in his two innings, and Bo Schultz allowed a home-run in the ninth, to a name you might remember: Brandon Allen. He's on a minor league deal, after playing in Japan last season.

For a good while this afternoon, looked like Arizona were going to endure their first spring shutout since a 0-0 tie with the Brewers last March.. It took until two outs in the eighth inning before the Diamondbacks got on the board: Chris Owings just missed a home-run to center-field, but reached third-base, and came home on a single off the bat of Matt Davidson. That was our only hit with a runner in scoring position all afternoon, the home time going 1-for-7, and the offense didn't draw a walk all afternoon either.

There were two hits apiece for Davidson and Paul Goldschmidt; the latter seems to have found his form nice and early, his 1.155 OPS currently leading all Diamondback hitters who have had double-figure at-bats. Particularly impressive is a K:BB ratio of 1:5. Yes, those numbers are the right way round: one strikeout, five walks. The latter leads the team, and helps contribute to an on-base percentage for Goldzilla of .625. [Y'know, I really think the D-backs need to play this after every Goldschmift walk, as he trots down to first. Crap. Now I have an overwhelming urge to listen to this]

So, we drop back to 4-4 on the spring campaign, and tomorrow, it's into Scottsdale to take on the Giants at their park, and I imagine, probably another sellout crowd. Josh Collmenter and David Holmberg are the anticipated pitchers for the D-backs.