Diamondbacks 7, Reds 5: Beercap: In the Hunt Edition

When last I wrote our Dbacks got steamrolled by the Brewers during the opening of Players Weekend. They’d ultimately lose that series, and seemingly lose any hope of competing for the Wild Card in the process.

What a difference a couple weeks makes.

Now we enter this road trip having won 9 out of the last 10, including a series win against everyone’s favorite Dodgers. 3 games out of the Wild Card is still a TON of ground to make up with only three weeks left, but there’s still a chance.

So, now begins my live beercap. Let the suds flow!

Beer 1: Hopperella IPA by Odd 13

Little bit of a late start on this since I just left a work function. Thus I’ve missed the opening frame but did hear enough in the car to know Ray is off to a rocky start of sorts. Luckily that just means giving up only 1run in the 1st, but I wager is could have been more than that, and easily.

0-1 going in to the 2nd, which stays at that thanks to another hapless inning by our bats. It’s early, I know, but but this ain’t no way to start a road trip.

Ray settles down nicely in the 2nd, as he strikes out the first 2 Reds and pops up the last. I have no fear this game will interfere with his K average, but I just hope his ERA doesn’t inflate as well.

Ahmed leads off the 3rd and quickly evens up the score with a no doubt later tatter in to our bullpen. Good feelings are back in full force my fellow droogs!

Beer 2: Chasing the Other Dragon IPA by Tombstone Brewing Co.

Tie game here in the bottom of the 3rd. Ray struck out the first batter he faced, but in very Ray fashion walks the second. Love Ray, but sometimes he drives me crazy.

Ray follows that frustration by then walking Vatto, putting men on 1st and 2nd with only 1out and Suàrez up to bat. No bueno, and he makes Ray pay as he just barely hits past Escobar, thus driving in the Reds second run. 1-2Reds

Nothing going for us in the 4th, but I can just start to see the chinks in the armor of Mahle. It feels like we’re oh so close. So very close.

Marte gets the ball rolling again in the 5th with a 3run blast (his 31st) followed by back to back doubles by Flores and Walker, which our young star Rojas capitalizes on, bringing the new total to 6-2 Dbacks. Yarrrr!!!!

Beer 3: Splurge Imperial IPA by Knee Deep

Good to have an IPA now and again that’s a true West Coast IPA (hop forward, clear amber and balanced) oddly enough it’s a style that’s almost dies out with the Haze Craze. I still like the old school though.

Well, I get home and discover XBox Live is down, which means my Fox Sports app is toast as well. Oh boy. Thankfully my At Bat App is on point and saving me from this tech problem. Yay

Speaking of toast, looks like Ray is pulled due to a blister and Crichton is brought in annnnnddd promptly gives up a three run blast to bring our lead back to meager level: 6-5 Dbacks going in to the 6th.

No dice in the 6th for us and Andriese starts things out here in the bottom of the 6th is hopes of keeping the lead intact.

Andriese gets a couple pop outs but after getting a runner on Torrey’s seen enough as Chafin’s questionable mustache comes to the mound to close things out. Chafin’s stache helps us through the frame and our lead is intact as we head to the 7th. 6-5 Dbacks

Escobar doubles in the 7th and Jones draws a 2out walk, bringing us to Ahmed who despite forcing a 6pitch at bat, grounds out and our delicate lead is forced to endure another frame: 6-5 Dbacks

Chafin starts things off in the bottom of the 7th with a walk and a hit. Not the greatest of ways to start things off to say the least.

Beer 4: PLP Double IPA by Pueblo Vida Brewing Co.

Xblox Live is still down, which means my imagination is left to run wild once more. So on that note this bottom of the seventh is nerve wracking with Chafin seemingly throwing away the inning but Ginkle has other ideas and somehow we get out of the inning still ahead.

Flores drives in Carson Kelly here in the 8th making it a 7-5 ballgame. Insurance runs are good runs!!!!!!

No more Snek runs are to follow, so we’re heading to the bottom of the 8th. 6-5 Sneks

Ginkel’s still in here in the 8th, and the radio voices tell me he’s throwing filth, but then he doesn’t and the he barely gets out of the inning Huzzah! Dbacks 7 Reds 5.

Beer 5: Project Dank by La Cumbre Brewing Co

Well, I really didn’t think the game would reach this point, but here we are.

I’ve enjoyed some hoppy goodness this night, and some frustrating baseball, but the net outcome is that I’ve has a great night.

Bradley tests my good feelings, and oh boy does he test them here in the 9th.

The first 2 batters reach but Archie gets two outs and then follows with a walk leading to a bases loaded situation. Nothing boring ever happens on Bradley’s watch.....

Archie gets the win by the grace of God and we find ourselves on top and still in the race for the wild card. Hell yes!!!!!!

BELLS AND WHISTLES BY JIM JAMES

To follow, since I am currently out enjoying a curry in San Diego

Big Buck Hunter: Kevin Ginkel +38.5%
Deer Hunter: Ketel Marte +32.6%
Duck Hunt: Andrew Chafin -14.6%

Tonight’s gameday thread had moderate activity, not too surprising for a Friday night game that started before some Arizonans got off work. There were 322 comments this evening. GuruB led the way with 75, followed by DeadmanG with 32, and Jack Sommers with 29. Despite the activity , there was not a single Sedona Red comment tonight, so I am going to declare the comment of the night a null field. Roll call for the thread was as follows:

AzDbackfanInDc, DeadManG, GuruB, Jack Sommers, Makakilo, Michael McDermott, MikeDavisAZ, MikeMono, MrMrrbi, Rockkstarr12, Snake_Bitten, SongBird, Sprankton, The-Icon, William Kubas, Xerostomia, edbigghead, gzimmerm, kilnborn, onedotfive, sb24ws2005, since_98, suroeste

The Diamondbacks are at it against the Reds again tomorrow, looking for their fifth victory in a row. It is an afternoon game. First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. MST. Alex Young (6-3, 3.84 ERA) takes the mound against Luis Castillo (14-5, 3.25 ERA).