Snake Bytes 8/7: Freight Trained Off

Arizona Diamondbacks 3, Philadelphia Phillies 2

Once again on a Monday night after a long extra inning affair, Snake Bytes was finished long before the game and any recaps. Zack Godley went toe to toe with Jake Arrieta, the latter who was slightly better after eight innings. Each man combined to allow eight hits and three walks over 15 ¹⁄₃ innings. The first half of the game zipped by, Godley allowing the only two runs in the game in the 7th inning. Philadelphia carried that two run lead into the bottom of the 9th with one out. That’s when the second half of this contest got off the ground. David Peralta obliterated an 0-1 meatball slider down the middle of the plate into the pool to bring the Diamondbacks within a run.

That meant a new career high in home runs, but he wouldn’t stop there for the D’backs went on to tie the game at two with a double from Eduardo Escobar who was driven in by Steven Souza. The game remained tied until the 14th inning, Arizona squandered multiple opportunities with runners in scoring position. The Freight Train came to the plate with one out and a triple shy of the cycle, but it mattered not to him because he ended the game with an opposite field solo shot that just barely squeaked over the fence. It was David Peralta’s first career walk off home run, and the latest chapter in the remarkable journey of a pitcher turned outfielder who has battled his entire career. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Diamondbacks News

[D’backs.com] Lamb eyes Spring Training return after surgery - Jake Lamb has scheduled surgery for his ailing shoulder. Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform the operation on August 15th in Los Angeles.

“We’re pleased with that,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “It was a decision that Jake made that he wanted to have the surgery and that was the guy that he wanted to have do it. We obviously want to get it done as soon as possible and get him charging and ready for a healthy Spring Training.”

[Arizona Sports] The D-backs prove a team can change everything you feel about a sport - Oh look, a hyperbolic opine. Major League Baseball is not even remotely close to becoming extinct. Yes, Chase Field can’t draw 30,000+ fans on a consistent basis, but it’s hot as hell in Phoenix and fans are just as likely to tune in on the tube or the radio. The ratings are there to prove it. Big facts. Flags fly forever, regardless of the cost. I don’t give a damn how Jerry Colangelo brought a World Series to the Valley, because it was one of the best the sport has ever seen giving us endless content to reflect on. Don’t worry, Bickley, the NFL season is just around the corner to pacify you.

[AZ Central] Diamondbacks reliever Archie Bradley still searching for last year’s form - It’s undeniable that Archie Bradley’s numbers aren’t as “pretty” as they were last season. He’s still been highly effective, but he has allowed almost twice as many home runs as he did all of last season. A comment was made about him tipping his pitches, which is inaccurate because he is essentially a one pitch reliever this season. Bradley has been dealing with a cracked fingernail which has limited his usage of the curveball. Archie is throwing his fastball roughly 72% of the time, so opposing hitters are basically sitting on the pitch.

“I think the league has made some sort of adjustment that has inflated his numbers,” Lovullo said. “They’re probably looking in a certain area and knowing that, ‘This spot is where I need to look to catch balls and do damage.’ ”

[The Athletic] Tied for first with 49 games to go, can the Diamondbacks find a way to pull away? - Ya’ll got any more of them two week win streaks? The National League playoff race is so close that it’s likely whichever team goes on a tear is going to make postseason play. For the Arizona Diamondbacks, doing so means they’ll probably walk away with the division title too.

Around the League

[ESPN] Power Rankings: Deadline deals help deliver a new No. 1 - No movement for the Diamondbacks in ESPN’s poll after a meh week who remain at #8. Sporting News drops Arizona down four spots to #12. Bleacher Report puts the snakes in the top ten at #9. CBS stands pat with the team at #10. The Athletic places the D’backs into a tie for #8.

[Cut4] Arts and crafts expert Mike Fiers taped an A’s logo over his Tigers cap for a post-trade interview - Sometimes you can’t contain your excitement when leaving a last place team to enter the playoff race, so you improvise on the fly.

[MLB Trade Rumors] Corey Seager To Undergo Hip Surgery - Before the Dodgers traded for Manny Machado, Corey Seager tried to get back on the field by learning to throw with his hip. I obviously made that up, but it’s interesting that Seager waited this long to have hip surgery considering he was out for the entire season following Tommy John Surgery. I guess this is the part where I break out my violin.

[MLB.com] Which players will be on the same team in 2025? - Let me save you a click. Paul Goldschmidt. The answer is always Goldy.