Snake Bytes 8/26: Poop Emoji. Burger Emoji.

Arizona Diamondbacks 3, Seattle Mariners 4

[D’backs.com] D-backs can’t answer Mariners’ late rally - The D-backs are off to a slow start in what could be considered their most daunting stretch of the season. The Seattle Mariners, who tied the game with two runs off closer Brad Boxberger in the ninth inning, used a leadoff homer by Denard Span (D-Span) in the 10th inning to escape with a 4-3 victory at Chase Field on Saturday.

[Arizona Sports] D-backs’ Boxberger blows sixth save of the season in loss to Mariners - Arizona Diamondbacks’ starting pitcher Robbie “Bob” Ray was able to get himself out of several bases loaded jams unscathed, but closer Brad “Box emoji burger emoji” Boxberger who couldn’t escape untouched. Boxberger’s sixth blown save of the year cost the D-backs late in Saturday’s game as they dropped game two of the series to the Seattle Mariners 4-3 in extra innings. Former D-back Mitch Haniger started the game with a bang, connecting with a lead-off home run. He has been thriving as a member of the visiting team at Chase Field, going 4-9 with two solo home runs and two walks in the last two games.

[AZ Central] Diamondbacks’ Brad Boxberger blows save in deflating loss to Seattle Mariners - The loss was especially frustrating for Lovullo given how the Diamondbacks had put themselves in position to win the game after struggling offensively in the early going. Shortstop Nick Ahmed kicked off the seventh inning with a leadoff single and second baseman Ketel Marte followed with a walk. Murphy then dropped a sacrifice bunt down the third-base line, putting runners at second and third with just one out. Jon Jay was announced as a pinch-hitter and, for the second time this homestand, came off the bench only to be hit by a pitch. It was the 15th time he was hit by a pitch since being acquired by the Diamondbacks on June 6, which is the most over that stretch. The next batter, outfielder A.J. Pollock, poked a 2-2 offering through the left side of the infield to score Ahmed and Murphy and give the Diamondbacks a two-run lead.

Diamondbacks News

[D’backs.com] D-backs statements on passing of Sen. McCain - “John McCain has always been a member of the D-backs’ family and was one of this team’s biggest fans since day one,” said D-backs president & CEO Derrick Hall. “He was in attendance at the expansion Draft, the World Series and countless other games, remaining a fan through thick and thin. I am honored to consider him a friend and we will miss seeing his smiling face in the stands and our heartfelt thoughts go out to his entire family.”

“Senator McCain was not only a great man and patriot, but a great D-backs fan and I am proud to consider him a dear friend,” said D-backs legend Luis Gonzalez. “We always knew we could count on him to root us on -- from the ballpark, from his home and from all the way across the country. On behalf of my entire family, our thoughts and prayers are with Cindy and his family and we are very grateful for all that he did on behalf of his country.”

[Arizona Sports] Arizona sports teams, athletes react to death of Sen. John McCain - The D-backs gave a tribute to McCain on the big screen during the game against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday, to which the crowd gave a standing ovation. After the game, manager Torey Lovullo paid his respects to the senator and veteran. “I had a couple of interaction with him,” Lovullo said. He was a tremendous man, he was a tremendous leader. He represented the state of Arizona proudly and he’s going to be missed.”

[AZ Central] Hitting for cycle, throwing no-hitters? Study says no big deal for Diamondbacks - Paul Goldschmidt and David Peralta almost hit for the cycle this week? That’s about right. Watch enough games involving the team that plays down on East Jefferson, and you’re bound to see something fluky enough to give stat geeks goosebumps and make fans save their scorecards. The Arizona Diamondbacks have the highest rate of cycles, immaculate innings, perfect games and no-hitters in all of Major League Baseball, according to a Ryan Serpico, a number-cruncher at OnlineGambling.ca, a guy we can talk to now that the Supreme Court says sports betting is legal. One of these four feats comes every 1.67 years for the Diamondbacks, the study shows. Compare that to the pitiful Padres, at the bottom of the list with one every 16.33 seasons.

[The Athletic] Jerry Narron is the selfless — and savage — bench coach the Diamondbacks never knew they needed - Jerry Narron​ once ended an opposing​ pitcher’s​ career​ with a sentence. He didn’t mean​ to,​ of​ course.​​ The Diamondbacks bench coach is too kind to wish ill fortune on anybody. Just about everyone who’s ever known Narron describes him as one of the nicest, most selfless people they’ve ever met. Beat writers in Milwaukee, where he was bench coach from 2011-15, rave about him. Those covering the Rangers, whom Narron managed in 2001-02, call him one of the good ones. When Narron was fired as manager of the Reds in 2007, the criticism was that he didn’t have enough of an edge to maintain a hold on the clubhouse.

[The Japan Times] Shumpei Yoshikawa signs with D-Backs - Right-handed pitcher Shumpei Yoshikawa has signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks and broken amateur baseball rules in the process, informed sources said Friday. The 23-year-old Yoshikawa was expected to go high in Nippon Professional Baseball’s amateur draft this October. He is the first marquee amateur to skip NPB and sign directly with a major league club since pitcher Junichi Tazawa signed with the Boston Red Sox in December 2008. Japan’s amateur baseball federation requires players to have their player registrations deleted the day before they enter into a pro contract, but his corporate league team, Panasonic, announced Friday that Yoshikawa had violated that rule. It is said that Yoshikawa began contract negotiations with the Diamondbacks before filing the proper documents — and was in touch with the American club even before the end of the Intercity Baseball Tournament last month.

Around the League

[Sports Illustrated] What is the X-Factor for Every Playoff Contender? - Thanks in large part to the 1-2 punch of Zack Greinke and Patrick Corbin atop the rotation and the league’s best defense, Arizona has rallied to take hold of the NL West. But surviving the advances of the Dodgers and Rockies, as well as a brutal September schedule that may well be the toughest in baseball, will require a third starter to step up his game: Ray. Last year, the lefty was a revelation, with a 2.89 ERA and 218 strikeouts in 162 innings. This season, though, he’s crumbled, with a 4.91 mark through 80 2/3 frames. An oblique injury cost him a big chunk of time, and his velocity is slightly down, but more problematic is his shaky control.

[Yahoo Sports] Giants C Posey out at least 6 months - Catcher Buster Posey is expected to be sidelined up to eight months after opting for hip surgery, the San Francisco Giants confirmed. Posey, 31, recently got a cortisone injection and missed last month’s All-Star Game. The operation is scheduled to be performed Monday by Dr. Marc J. Philippon, in Vail, Colo. The procedure is needed to repair his labrum and to remove a bone spur in his right hip. The recovery timeline could cause him to miss part, if not all, of spring training, but Posey was optimistic. “If things go smoothly with no hiccups, I’ll be ready to go next Opening Day,” Posey said.

[MLB.com] 9 super-subs making an impact for contenders - Back in early April, when Jake Lamb suffered his initial shoulder injury, the veteran Descalso flourished in a rare opportunity as an everyday player, posting an .855 OPS in the season’s first two months. Eventually, Lamb returned, so Descalso went back to roving. Later, when Lamb was re-injured and needed season-ending shoulder surgery, the D-backs acquired Eduardo Escobar. So for the majority of the season, Descalso has been the infield utility type he was expected to be. But the 31-year-old’s plate production has never been better (his .843 OPS, 119 OPS+ and 33 extra-base hits are all career highs), and he gives the Snakes a dependable bat off the bench.