Game #118: Diamondbacks vs. Rockies

Franklin Morales LHP, 5-6, 5.08

Wade Miley LHP, 7-8, 4.61

Corey Dickerson - LF	Ender Inciarte - CF
Brandon Barnes - RF	Aaron Hill - 2B
Nolan Arenado - 3B	David Peralta - RF
Wilin Rosario - C	Mark Trumbo - 1B
Drew Stubbs - CF	Alfredo Marte - LF
Ben Paulsen - 1B	Jake Lamb - 3B
Charlie Culberson - SS	Tuffy Gosewisch - C
DJ LeMahieu - 2B	Didi Gregorius - SS
Franklin Morales - LHP	Wade Miley - LHP

Yeah, we needed that. :Last night's game was only the second time this year we've won by more than eight runs - the first was back on May 17, when we crushed Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers, 18-7 [It's worth pointing out that Kershaw's ERA there was 37.79. His ERA in every other start this year is 1.35. I would really, really laugh if that evening turned out to be the difference-maker in Kershaw NOT winning the Cy Young and/or MVP] We have a chance at the sweep this afternoon - and if the Red Sox also lose, Arizona would leapfrog them in the standings. And they spent $50 million more than we did.

Victory today will depend on Wade Miley bouncing back from the worst start of his career, lasting only 2.2 innings. Admittedly, that wasn't entirely his fault - Bo Schultz's first-pitch grand-slam in relief didn't help - but it adds Miley's name to the Roll of Dishonor, Diamondbacks' pitchers who have given up ten earned runs. The other six are Ian Kennedy, Edwin Jackson. Edgar Gonzalez, Steve Sparks, Randy Johnson and Eddie Oropesa - the last-named managing to do it in relief. Still, ten runs is only one more than we scored in the eighth inning. if the offense batters the ball like they did last night, we'll be okay.

Bonus fact: as measured by bWAR, the D-backs have three of the top four rookie position players in the National League this year.