Snake Pit Sim Season: 5/20 - More Strong Pitching

The Diamondbacks rode more strong pitching to victory on Wednesday evening. This time it was Luke Weaver providing the the knockout punch from the mound. Meanwhile, Jake Lamb picked up a second consecutive start, resulting in the game-winning hit in the third inning, a three-run home run off of New York starter, Marcus Stroman.

In many ways, this game was all about pitching for both sides. The game’s entirety came down to how both team’s performed in the third inning. In the top half of the inning, David Peralta drew a one-out walk. He was moved over to second on a single by Ketel Marte. Both then came home when Lamb followed with a 447-foot bomb to right. Another out later, Josh Rojas doubled, but the Diamondbacks were unable to bring him home.

The Mets responded in the bottom of the third. Stroman started the frame with a single. He was moved to second when Amed Rosario drew a walk. Stroman advanced again on a fly ball to right off the bat of Brandon Nimmo. Jeff McNeil singled, scoring Stroman and sending Rosario to second. Then, with Pete Alonso batting, the Mets successfully executed a double steal to put runners at second and third. Alonso then flew out to right, allowing Rosario to tag up and score. That brought Michael Conforto to the plate. Conforto, sporting a big shiner from his encounter with a Zac Gallen fastball the previous night, grounded out to Weaver to end the inning.

Both teams were scoreless in innings four through eight. In the ninth inning, the Diamondbacks added a pair of insurance runs before turning the ball over to Archie Bradley. Carson Kelly added the first run with a lead-off solo-shot. Then, Nick Ahmed drew a four-pitch walk. Ahmed then took second on a wild pitch. Two productive outs later, Ahmed crossed the plate for the second run in the inning, putting the Diamondbacks up three.

Archie Bradley pitched the ninth inning. Once again, things were a bit more exciting than some might have liked. For the second night in a row, Michael Conforto was hit by a pitch, this one to start off the action in the bottom of the ninth. Conforto was erased when Bradley then dialed up his filthy curve, getting J.D. Davis to ground into a 6-4-3 twin killing. This GIDP was followed up by allowing back-to-back singles to Luis Guillorme and Rene Rivera. Bradley then buckled down and induced a weak pop-up to first off the bat of pinch-hitter Dominic Smith to end the game.

Final Score: AZ 5 - NYM 2

The player of the game was Luke Weaver. Weaver continued the trend of providing the MLB’s best overall pitching for the Diamondbacks, allowing only two earned runs through seven innings of work.

These two team’s will have their final regular season match-up tomorrow night. Arizona sends Mike Leake (4-4 5.06) to the mound, while the Mets will turn to Rick Porcello (0-4, 4.76).

The win allowed the Diamondbacks to keep pace with the Dodgers and Cubs, holding on to sole possession of second in both the NL West and Wild Card races.