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Diamondbacks 8, Rangers 7: Walkoff win

Arizona came back to walk-off against Texas at Salt River Fields, Blake Lalli doing the honors with a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth.

By Jim McLennan
#Trumbomb! @Mtrumbo44 hits a 2-run jack into the 3rd row of cacti in center to cut the deficit to 5-3. #DbacksSpring
#Trumbomb! @Mtrumbo44 hits a 2-run jack into the 3rd row of cacti in center to cut the deficit to 5-3. #DbacksSpring
@Dbacks, via Twitter

Cactus League record: 15-14-2.

Definitely a game with some positives to talk away, as the offense came back from an early 5-1 deficit, and Trevor Cahill looked as impressive as he has all spring. But it wasn't all good news. Chase Anderson got the start, in place of Cahill (apparently for lining up the rotation purposes), and celebrated his anointment as part of our Opening Day rotation by pitching a bit of a stinker. He allowed eleven hits and a walk over his four innings, with two strikeouts, and six runs allowed, all earned.

Cahill replaced him, and worked two scoreless innings, but the number that stands out is that he fanned five of the eight batters faced. While there was also a hit and a walk, you can't complain about a 62.5% K-rate. All five of the K's were swinging, which either means he was getting hitters to chase out of the zone, or his stuff was simply untouchable. Now, all we need is about 200 more innings, just like this pair. Willy Paredes allowed a run over two innings, and Addison Reed got the win for a perfect top of the ninth - he struck out two, and hit 94 mph on multiple occasions, which is also encouraging.

On offense, Arizona got on the board in the first, thanks to Paul Goldschmidt's second home-run of the season. Then, after falling four runs behind, they scored three in the third, on Mark Trumbo's third homer, a two-run shot, and a Cody Ross groundout. A Chris Owings sacrifice fly brought us closer, and catcher Mark Thomas then rapped a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth, bringing home the tying and go-ahead runs. In the bottom of the ninth, Goldschmidt singled to lead things off, one out later, Jordan Pacheco doubled, and after an intentional walk loaded the bases, Lalli singled to win the game for the Diamondbacks.

Goldschmidt and Trumbo had three hits apiece, Jake Lamb a triple and a single, while lead-off man A.J. Pollock and Ross both drew a pair of walks. Owings stole a base, Pollock was caught stealing and there was also an error by Thomas. Tomorrow, the D-backs head over this side of town, to take on the Reds, and Josh Collmenter will get his final pre-season start, and try to complete his second successive Cactus League without allowing an earned run.

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