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Diamondbacks Line-up
- Gerardo Parra, CF
- Cody Ross, RF
- Jason Kubel, LF
- Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
- Miguel Montero, C
- Eric Chavez, 3B
- Josh Wilson, 2B
- Cliff Pennington, SS
- Patrick Corbin, P
Still, I suppose the win's the thing, extending our record in extra-inning contests to 6-0. Last year, we didn't even reach our sixth extra-inning game until September 4. It was also our third walk-off win of the season, surpassing the number we had all last season. It's nice that Wade Miley regressed in such a spectacular fashion...without actually conceding a run. Although that part of the equation is thanks largely to Brad Ziegler, who has now inherited 16 runners this year, and allowed only two to score [average rate is around one in three]. And now, it's series finale time, where we are also undefeated in 2013.
A win this afternoon would pull us level with the Rockies at the top of the NL West, which would be a satisfactory place to be as we come toward the end of the first month of the season. To get there, we need to go through former D-back and now journeyman pitcher, Jon Garland, famously traded from Arizona to Los Angeles, during a game against them. Since then, he has bounced around most of the NL West - the Giants are the only team yet to use his services - missed 2012 with shoulder issues, and joined the Rockies after opting out of his spring-training contract with Seattle. His first three starts went well, but the Braves torched him for 10 hits and four walks in six last Tuesday.
The two Erics, Hinske and Chavez, have a lot of experience against Garland, with 40+ plate-appearances apiece, though hardly any of it is recent. Hinske hasn't seen him since 2008, while Chavez had three PAs since then. Montero, Ross and Parra are all batting over .300, in ten to fifteen PAs, and even Josh Wilson is 2-for-5 lifetime. One would like to think that tacos could be in the offing - ideally without the need to go to extra innings, which have been the sole factors responsible the last two occasions. We haven't scored six runs in regulation for 15 consecutive games, so it's time for the offense to break out.
Corbin has likely been the best pitcher for Arizona thus far, and can cement that position with another good showing this afternoon. Patrick could easily have been 4-0, but for J.J. Putz, who blew ninth-inning leads with home-runs that cost Corbin the decision, in both New York and San Francisco. I can only imagine what Corbin might be thinking, if it comes to the ninth inning this afternoon, and it's another save situation for the Diamondbacks. With David Hernandez having worked two innings last night, while JJ threw only six pitches, you know who will be used... Still, Putz has looked pretty good the last couple of days, so I'm hopeful the worst is over.
imstillhungry95 will be your guest recapper for this one, so stick about for that. Fang Food and the SnakePit Video RoundTable will be along after the game too.