Snake Pit Sim Season: 4/26 - More Brooms!

The Diamondbacks got off to a quick start in this one. Tim Locastro started the game off by hitting a 1-2 pitch just over the wall for a home run. Unfortunately for the Diamondbacks, the celebrating was short-lived. Tyler Mahle did not let the home run bother him. He got out of the inning and let his teammates go to work on Zac Gallen. Go to work they did.

Joey Votto led the inning off with a base on balls. Then, two outs later, Eugenio Suarez worked his own free pass.That brought up Derek Dietrich. Dietrich ambushed Gallen’s 0-2 offering and hit it 385 feet, putting the Reds up by a pair. Gallen then retired Barnhart to get out of the inning.

With his teammates picking him up, Mahle struck out the Snakes in the second inning; all of them swinging. It was quick, and the Reds were ready to get back to work. But, Gallen had other ideas. Throughout the game, Gallen struggled with his command. Even when he was throwing strikes, he was missing his spot. It took some great glove work by Carson Kelly to get Gallen through his five and a third innings. However, get through it they did. Gallen did not allow another hit in the game, though he did walk three more, while striking out seven.

For their part, the Diamondbacks threatened again in the third inning. David Peralta banged out a double. He was followed by Ketel Marte, who laced a single into left. The ol’ windmill was going and Peralta tried to score on the play but was thrown out by Jesse Winker in a close play at the plate. That would be the last real threat for either team for some time. With one out in the sixth, at 98 pitches, and still struggling with his command, Gallen was taken out of the game. He handed the ball off to Yoan López. Lopez did his job. That left it up to the Arizona offense to finally figure out Mahle. The Diamondbacks did “chase” Mahle in the inning. A one-out double and a walk to pinch-hitter Stephen Vogt ended Mahle’s night. Another out and a walk loaded the bases with two out, but the Diamondbacks were unable to capitalize.

Hector Rondon came out to pitch the eighth inning and threw up a zero on the scoreboard. With Mahle out of the game for the Reds, the Diamondbacks took advantage. A walk by Calhoun and a single by Kelly brought up Kevin Cron who struck out watching three pitches go by. Next was Jake Lamb, who smacked a double to center, scoring Calhoun and sending Kelly to third. Pedro Strop then came in to pitch. He hit Nick Ahmed in the shoulder with the first pitch he threw. Then, on a 1-0 count, Josh Rojas got around on a Strop fastball and sent it into right for a double. Kelly and Lamb both scored on the play. Nick Ahmed took third. Tim Locastro then poked a ball into right where it was run down by Dietrich at the line. This allowed Ahmed to tag up and score.

With the Diamondbacks now in the lead, they turned to Kevin Ginkel for the eighth. He pitched a perfect frame, setting things up for Archie Bradley in the ninth. Bradley had another adventurous outing. He allowed singles to Suarez and Dietrich before he struck out Barnhart. At that time, Virtual Lovullo came out of the bullpen and, in something of a surprise move, called in Alex Young. Young finished off the inning, stranding Bradley’s two base runners and securing the Arizona victory; their ninth in a row.

Final Score AZ 5 - CIN 3

The player of the game award was handed to Derek Dietrich for the offensive day he had. The award could just as easily have been given to Tyler Mahle for the way he handled the Diamondbacks’ lineup.

The Diamondbacks are off tomorrow as they head home to take on the Houston Astros in another two-game series. The expected starters are Luke Weaver (1-3, 2.65) for Arizona and Jose Urquidy (2-2. 3.62) for the Astros.