Snake Bytes 9/22: Finish Line Feast

Arizona Diamondbacks 4, San Diego Padres 2

[D’backs.com] Weaver retires six straight in his first start off IL - For the record, the D-backs beat the Padres, 4-2, on Saturday night, but the biggest development at Petco Park for the visitors was the fact Luke Weaver was back on the mound. The D-backs’ right-hander returned to action for the first time since May 26, when he suffered a right flexor pronator strain and a right UCL sprain in a start against the Giants. “The fact that he’s healthy, stood on the mound and felt good about the outing, that’s the most impressive thing for us,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said.

[Arizona Sports] Weaver throws 2 perfect innings in 1st outing since May 26 in D-backs win - The lead came via Domingo Leyba’s RBI sac-fly in the top of the first that scored Abraham Almonte following his leadoff triple. San Diego would get one back in the bottom of the fifth on a Hunter Renfroe solo home run. But the D-backs would get that run back and then some in the sixth and eighth innings. Eduardo Escobar had a pair of RBI at-bats, while Leyba would join him as the team’s RBI leaders on the day with two apiece. The Padres would make it interesting in the bottom of the eighth, scoring one run and loading the bases with two outs. But Archie Bradley was able to come on and get out of the jam by striking out Francisco Mejia on three pitches for the final out of the inning.

[AZ Central] Diamondbacks beat Padres in Rod Barajas’ managerial debut - Rod Barajas lost his debut as San Diego’s interim manager, falling 4-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night as former Padres player Abraham Almonte had three hits and scored three runs. Barajas was promoted from bench coach earlier in the day to replace Andy Green, who was fired because of the Padres’ second-half slide. The Padres were 45-45 at the All-Star break but have skidded to 69-86. Barajas is a former big league catcher who spent his first five seasons with the Diamondbacks.

Diamondbacks News

[Arizona Sports] By the numbers: Diamondbacks All-Star Ketel Marte’s season - Arizona Diamondbacks third base coach Tony Perezchica was emphatically waving Ketel Marte home as he sprinted around second base on Tuesday night. The cheers at Chase Field picked up as Marte’s strides turned into a slide across home plate. He had scored the first run of the game for the D-backs, but when he stood up, he grimaced. He was taken out of the game right there. Marte’s season is over due to a stress reaction in his lower back. His 2-for-2 with a run performance on Tuesday was a fitting end to one of the greatest seasons in D-backs history.

[AZ Central] Questions surround Jake Lamb’s future with Diamondbacks after another down year - The previous two seasons have blended into one for Diamondbacks infielder Jake Lamb, the struggles never seeming to end. The reasons for them are not hard to conjure, but Lamb chooses his words carefully. He is wary of how he might sound. During an interview at Petco Park this weekend, he settles on a word. He uses it multiple times. It rings of honesty. “It’s exhausting, man,” Lamb said. “Plain and simple.”

[D’backs.com] D-backs Arizona Fall League updates - Seven D-backs prospects are playing for the Salt River Rafters in the 2019 Arizona Fall League: First baseman Seth Beer (No. 4, MLB No. 97), shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (No. 7), outfielder Jake McCarthy (No. 28), left-hander Miguel Aguilar, right-hander Matt Brill, right-hander Matt Peacock, left-hander Cody Reed.

Around the League

[MLB.com] Semien’s big night, 7-run 1st power A’s to win - A’s manager Bob Melvin has stated multiple times that he believes Marcus Semien deserves to be in the American League MVP Award discussion. With seven games remaining, the shortstop is only strengthening his case. On a night when plenty of A’s hitters padded their stats, Semien led the charge by reaching base in all six of his plate appearances in a 12-3 victory over the Rangers on Saturday at the Coliseum. Oakland remains two games ahead of Tampa Bay for the top AL Wild Card spot.

[CBS Sports] MLB scores: Cardinals land death blow on Cubs; Rays walk it off to take second AL wild card lead - [The Chicago Cubs] were able to take a one-run lead in the bottom of the seventh on something you almost never see. Tony Kemp appeared to strikeout, but a balk was called, so he got another chance and hit a home run. The Cubs would hold that lead until the ninth, when closer Craig Kimbrel gave up back-to-back homers to Yadier Molina (wind-aided, like Kemp’s) and Paul DeJong (not even remotely wind-aided).