Diamondbacks 6, Dodgers 1: Godley does what we need

As you may have heard, the Diamondbacks and Dodgers played a really long game yesterday. Because of that, they didn’t have a lot of options in the bullpen today. Sure, they called up Matt Koch to replace Lamb, who has headed to the DL, because we can’t have nice things, but it was still looking pretty thin down there. Tory Lovullo needed a strong outing from Zack Godley, and he delivered.

Both Godley and Clayton Kershaw had solid firsts. Godley gave up a lead off single to Chris Taylor, but, after he advanced to second on a passed ball, stranded him there sitting Corey Seager, Yasiel Puig, and Cody Bellinger down in order to end the inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Paul Goldschmidt drew a two out walk, but nothing came of it.

The second inning brought us the first of a few #YCPB moments we saw tonight. Daniel Descalso, a lefty, hit a solo home run off Clayton Kershaw. Definitely not something I think anyone can say they saw coming. 1-0 Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks wouldn’t keep that lead for long. Godley struggled briefly in the top of the third, giving up a double to start the inning to Austin Barnes. Kershaw moved him to third with a sac bunt, and Taylor brought him home with a sac fly. Tied at 1

The third inning brought us another #YCPB moment. David Peralta, another lefty, hit another home run off Kershaw. Tonight was the first time ever that two lefties have ever hit home runs of Kershaw in the same start. To give it even more context, in six out of the last ten seasons, Kershaw has only given up three or less home runs to left handed hitters in the entire season. Always nice to see him fail in such spectacular fashion against us :-) 2-1 Dbacks

Okay, perhaps that’s a bit of an exaggeration since that’s all he allowed through his six innings pitched. However, Godley was even better. After the third inning, he only allowed two more baserunners, while holding the Dodgers to just the one run. After a game like last night, you have to hope from a performance from the next day’s starter like this, and Godley stepped up in a big way. Final line 7 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 R, 3 K.

And if that’s where the game ended, I think we’d all be satisfied, but the Dbacks weren’t done yet, bringing what might still be the biggest #YCPB moment yet in the game. Deven Marrero and John Ryan Murphy both singled to start the inning. Jorge De La Rosa hit for Godley, since Lovullo was short two bench players (Lamb on the DL, and Ahmed unable to play do to illness). De La Rosa walked, loading the bases. Peralta struck out, and that’s where the fun began. Marte, Goldschmidt, and Pollock, all walked, back to back, driving the score to 5-1 Diamondbacks.

That was pretty much the ball game. John Ryan Murphy added some salt to the wound by hitting a solo shot in the eighth, but that’s about it. Yoshihisa Hirano and T.J. McFarland pitched an inning each, neither allowing a baserunner.

Stars of the Game

*** Zack Godley: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 ER

** David Peralta: 2-for-5, 1 HR, 1RBI

* Daniel Descalso: 1-for-4, 1 HR 1 RBI

I feel like it’s typically a good sign when your pitcher has both the highest and lowest WPA.

580 comments split 38 ways. Michael McD lead the way with 91 and no one else even came close. All present were:

Anachronistic1, AzRattler, BenSharp, CumulusChoir, DORRITO, Dano_in_Tucson, Dcarbajal, DeadManG, DesertWeagle, Diamondhacks, FormerlyChelsea75, GuruB, Jim McLennan, Makakilo, Michael McDermott, MikeMono, Mr Butterworth, MrMrrbi, SaguaroCactus, SongBird, SonomaComa1999, Sports Racer, Sprankton, The so-called Beautiful, TucsonPete, Wesley Baier, asteroid, david.munter, dbrowell, edbigghead, hobgobnob, hotclaws, onedotfive, red_leader, rustynails77, since_98, smartplays, suroeste

It’s a little irregular, but I’m going to give CotN to a comment from the quick recap.

▼ Fans video bombing the post game show with signs

One of them read, “I came from New York to watch Kershaw choke”

Posted by Michael McDermott on Apr 3, 2018 | 9:45 PM reply rec (14)

It’s a day game tomorrow. 12:40 first pitch. With the series sweep and winning homestand already put away, Patrick Corbin takes the mound looking for the sweep and to continue his strong start from Opening Day. We’ll have it all for you here!