SnakeBytes, 8/7: Royals pain edition

Recaps

[AZ Central] Diamondbacks can't convert at the plate, lose to Royals - "We should have done a better, more productive job of taking care of our opportunities," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. "I guess you want to give the Royals some credit at the same time. But you have to have better at-bats in those opportunities."

[dbacks.com] Walks come back to bite Collmenter in loss - "I got the first two guys, I think, and after that I don't know if I was trying to make too good of a pitch or whatever it was. You can't have that. The team gave me a chance, got back in it," Collmenter said. "Went out to have a shutdown inning, got the first two guys, and then walked two guys and gave up a hit, and that was the difference in the game. So that was all on me. The guys played well, put pressure on them a bunch of times, even coming back there in the ninth. But I'll take that one. It's unacceptable."

[FOX Sports] D-backs strand 11, again fall to Royals - The Diamondbacks just couldn't come up with the big hits when they needed them, finishing 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position. "That is the difference: him (Ventura) pitching and getting out of jams and me pitching myself into a jam and not getting out of it," Collmenter said. "I just put myself in bad counts. You just can't have that and be successful."

[ArizonaSports] D-backs strand several in loss to light-hitting Royals - With one out in the third, Hill ripped a 2-0 fastball to center to drive in the D-backs first run of the game. It was his 1300th career hit, and the team's first with runners in scoring position, having gone hitless in their previous six such at-bats. All Peralta does is hit, and he hits well. His two-strike, two-out line drive single to center tied the game at 2 in the the third inning. Peralta went 2-for-4, his 23rd multi-hit effort, and is now batting .340 (17-for-50) in his last 14 home games.

Team news

[MLB.com] Bernie Pleskoff: David Peralta a worthy Rookie of the Year candidate - Peralta is a story of tenacity and self-confidence. Peralta believed in himself and his abilities, and he didn't give up when his career could have been derailed by an injury. Peralta is a story of good scouting and trusting in sound player evaluation. It's a story that proves how important it is to personally scout players at every level. Peralta is a story of listening to good advice and trusting in people that know you best.

[AZ Central] Diamondbacks prospects on move within farm system - After shifting from catcher to the outfield due to throwing problems during spring training, [Stryker] Trahan has moved back behind the plate. "Sometimes, you just need a fresh start," Diamondbacks farm director Mike Bell said. "He is a prospect, and moving him back is hard to do, but I think Stryker trusts us well enough that he knows we care about him and have his best interests in mind. He's gone down there and he's playing pretty good."

[FOX Sports] Hudson, D-backs still eyeing Sept. return - The game was the same, and after the initial pitch, so appeared Hudson's twice-reconstructed right elbow. "That was the mental hurdle I was thinking I was going to have to get over," Hudson said. "It was actually surprisingly easier than I thought it was going to be. I don't know why. Once I got on the mound and started warming up a little bit, I told myself, 'You're fine. Whatever happens, happens. Just go out there and do what you know how to do and give it my all.'"

[AZ Central] Diamondbacks saved money but must spend it wisely - All told, they saved enough that despite entering the year with a franchise-record-high payroll, it looks like they might finish below the roughly $103 million spent on the 2002 team. Club officials insisted throughout the process the savings will allow them to immediately reinvest in areas of the team in need of upgrading. That means — it goes without saying — the starting rotation.

[dbacks.com] D-backs activate Pennington, send down Schultz - "Obviously, you want to be swinging the bat well," Pennington said. "Felt good the 10, 12 days I was playing with those guys." Pennington was in the starting lineup for his first day back, playing third base -- a position he has played only 11 games at in the Major Leagues. "I just want to play," he said. "If Miggy goes down, I'll put the catcher's gear on. It's definitely a new position. There's no denying that. … But at the same time, it's still a ground ball."

[AZ Central] Huddy's outing - Gibson said Hudson's fastball sat around 93-94 mph, and he expects that to tick upward as the 27-year-old works back into form. Hudson will return as a reliever and is only expected to throw one inning in each of his outings as he rehabs. "It was weird being there at 5 o'clock," said Hudson. "I didn't know what to do all day yesterday with myself, and then getting there and not taking BP or anything, it felt weird. Just sitting there waiting for 7 o'clock."

And, elsewhere

[ESPN] MLB asks feds for names in Biogenesis probe - Major League Baseball officials have contacted the DEA and U.S. Attorney's office in Southern Florida in an effort to unmask the names of any players who might have violated the league's drug policy, sources told ESPN's "Outside the Lines." Federal officials are discussing how to honor the request, which follows months of mutual frustration between MLB and the DEA over their parallel investigations into the Biogenesis clinic and related criminal activity.

[CBSSports] Bud Selig, Jerry Reinsdorf at odds over upcoming commissioner vote - What makes this vote especially interesting is that most owners are strongly supporting [MLB chief operating officer Rob[ Manfred, Selig's right-hand man for many years, while word is that Selig's close friend and ally for decades, longtime White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, is backing one the other two candidates. Reinsdorf might possibly also favor a potential fourth fall-back candidate, Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall.

[AP] Baseball Hall of Fame Plans Traveling Exhibit - The National Baseball Hall of Fame is teaming with IMAX, Major League Baseball and other partners for a national traveling exhibit featuring historical artifacts from the Cooperstown museum and state-of-the-art interactive digital media. The announcement made Wednesday in New York says the tour will visit major league cities and spring training sites starting in the spring of 2016.