Recap
[FOX Sports] Bats come alive as Diamondbacks dump Yankees in series opener - The win ended a five-game losing streak and snapped a seven-game skid at home. "It was big. We were all, we weren't stressing but we were all kind of feeling it, weren't getting it done," said Lamb, who finished a triple shy of the cycle." A game like this, where everyone was a part of it, including Robbie Ray, was big for us. A game like this, you can take a deep breath."
[AZ Central] Diamondbacks cruise to series-opening win vs. Yankees - "People say it a lot but I think that hitting is a little contagious," Lamb said. "Just to get a game like this, it’s kind of like you can take a deep breath and go, ‘OK, we can hit.’" In an eight-pitch at-bat, Lamb hit one over the swimming pool beyond the right field fence for his fifth homer of the season. "Especially in that situation, a guy on second, I was trying to get a base hit," Lamb said. "Just because we’ve been struggling a little bit, you don’t want to do too much in that situation. I got the barrel on it and the ball flew."
[dbacks.com] D-backs' offense breaks out in rout of Yankees - After struggling in a four-game sweep at the hands of the Giants, the D-backs offense finally flexed its muscle, delivering 15 hits, including six with runners in scoring position. That's two more hits than they got in those situations in all four games against San Francisco. And with that, a weight was lifted. "If you watched the guys during the game, that was happening as the game was going on," Hale said of the release of tension. "The guys really came out with good at-bats right out of the shoot. Obviously Goldy hitting the home run was big."
[Arizona Sports] Diamondbacks bats come alive to blast Yankees, end skid - The D-backs scored five more runs in this one than they did in their entire four-game series with the Giants over the weekend. Meanwhile, Ray got the job done on the mound, scattering six hits and two runs over 7.0 innings for his second win of the 2016 campaign. He also struck out six, which included fanning pitcher Chad Green with the bases loaded to close out what could have been a damaging fourth inning.
Team News
[AZ Central] Michael Bourn: ‘I still believe I can play’ - "Last year, I had a down year," Bourn, 33, said. "I have no excuses about that. … "After the season was over, I reflected on it and saw what I needed to do. I made a little bit of an adjustment here and there and I think I’m ready to play. As long as I get to play, I can hopefully do some things on the baseball field that can help us a lot." All he can ask for, he said, is a chance, particularly after he unexpectedly was designated for assignment by the Braves on April 2.
[dbacks.com] Grampa Yogi's pal was no ordinary Joe - They were the best men in each other's weddings and the best men in each other's lives, until my grandfather passed away on Sept. 22. Joe had called Grampa just a few days earlier, and I was privileged, as I was on many occasions, to be in the room for the conversation. Grampa had been snoozing all afternoon, but when he got on the phone with Joe, he came alive. When they talked, their voices crackled with the joyfulness of youth and the better part of a century of love, and it made you feel like all was right with the world.
[AZ Central] Diamondbacks pay tribute to Joe Garagiola in ceremony - "He loved coming here," Joe Garagiola Jr. said. "He loved coming here as a broadcaster, and he loved coming here as a fan. Him and my mom would sit initially downstairs, and then they had their seats upstairs and they had their whole little routine worked out where they’d park and they’d walk across the bridge. They’d have their sandwiches. This was a special place for him. With everything that’s going on (Monday), it continues to be a special place for all of us."
[Inside the 'Zona] Were the Projections Right About the D-backs All Along? - Before the A.J. Pollock injury, this team was forecast for a sub-.500 record. This seemed crazy — Ryan and I both predicted win totals in the mid-to-high 80’s. After the injury, the team was projected for 73-75 wins, depending on where you go for your #analysis. In fairness, Chris Owings has been a valuable replacement given Socrates Brito’s struggles, David Peralta’s lack of range and injury, and Chris Herrmann somehow playing center field. The latter of those is truly mystifying. With Pollock on the mend, we dropped our predicted number of wins to the low 80’s.
[CBSSports.com] Collmenter: Will make start for Triple-A Reno on Tuesday - Collmenter has struggled in his last two rehab starts with High-A Visalia, having given up nine earned runs in 4.2 innings over that span. Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale commented that Collmenter "needs to show some positive results" in his upcoming rehab start if he hopes to return to Arizona's 25-man roster.
[Arizona Sports] D-backs trade minor league OF Jason Bourgeois to White Sox - The 34-year-old Bourgeois signed with Arizona in December and in 33 games with Triple-A Reno this year is slashing .356/.385/.442. Bourgeois fought for a roster spot in Arizona’s unsettled outfield during spring but did not push others such as Socrates Brito and Rickie Weeks Jr. to make the opening day roster. The Diamondbacks recently signed veteran outfielder Michael Bourn to add a body following David Peralta’s injury that has put him on the 15-day disabled list.
And, elsewhere...
[Detroit News] Tigers’ Ausmus puts on display after ejection - Ausmus got ejected in the fourth inning of Monday night’s game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park, then proceeded to put on a display that had the fans roaring in approval. Nick Castellanos was called out on strikes by plate umpire Doug Eddings. After some gestures from the dugout, Ausmus was tossed. But it didn’t end there. After a lengthy screaming match, Ausmus went over to home plate and kicked dirt on the inside corner. For good measure, Ausmus then ripped off his navy blue sweatshirt and covered home plate with it before getting off one last hand gesture.
[ESPN] You like a good baseball brawl? Here were 10 of the best - #6 might be familiar. "What makes this one so fascinating is the Mark McGwire-Matt Williams coaching standoff, managers Don Mattingly and Kirk Gibson hurling insults, and Diamondbacks coach Don Baylor still looking like the baddest dude on the field. Hey, it's not their fault: They were products of the 1980s. Teams fought all the time back then!"
[Big League Stew] FOX's trailer for 'Pitch' offers plenty of baseball, drama - "Ever wonder how things will go when the first woman makes the majors? FOX's new TV series, "Pitch," attempts to answer that question. "Pitch" has been in development for a while now, and the series finally released its first trailer Monday. Visually, it looks pretty great. The shots are composed well, and the baseball action looks convincing (aside from the obvious CGI baseball spin at the end of the trailer)." Less plausible? A world in which the San Diego Padres are relevant.