Snake Bytes 8/22: Snapback

Arizona Diamondbacks 2, Colorado Rockies 5

[AZ Snake Pit] Diamondbacks 2, Rockies 5 - Zac Gallen Sidelined - Zac Gallen had the lead through 7 innings and was only 96 pitches deep before Manager Torey Lovullo pulled the plug to start the top of the 8th. The Dbacks went with Noe Ramirez, who had just come off the Covid-IL list, and to his credit pitched a good frame last night. His short term fortunes were not enough to ward off the Rockies offense and our desire to let Gallen ride.

[D’backs.com] Gallen K’s 9, dazzles for 7 scoreless at Coors - It was a tough ending for the D-backs on Saturday night, as Elias Díaz cranked a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to propel the Rockies to their MLB-high 12th walk-off win of the season, this one by a 5-2 margin. But wins and losses stopped defining this D-backs season a while ago, and these final six weeks are about figuring out which young players they can build around. It’s also important for them to get key pieces, like right-hander Zac Gallen, to finish the season strong as a springboard for 2022.

[Arizona Sports] Rockies walk off D-backs despite 7 scoreless from Zac Gallen - Noe Ramirez relieved to start the bottom of the eighth, trying to protect the Diamondbacks’ 2-0 lead. He walked Díaz to start the inning. One out later, Hampson, batting for Tyler Kinley, connected for his second pinch-hit homer of the season and eighth overall to even the score at 2-2.

[AZ Central] Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen returns to form before bullpen falters vs. Rockies - After each inning, Gallen would find the dugout iPad and make sure his delivery looks the way it should. He said using the tablet is nothing new for him, but using it as often as he does for delivery checks — rather than, say, reminds of how to pitch opposing hitters — is something he has done more of this year. “I hadn’t really felt comfortable (this year),” Gallen said. “It’s been a work in progress, to say the least. Last year, obviously, I didn’t look as much.”

Around the League

[MLB Trade Rumors] Kenta Maeda To Undergo MRI On Forearm - Twins right-hander Kenta Maeda left today’s start due to right forearm tightness. Maeda allowed one run in his first four innings against the Yankees but then ran into trouble in the fifth, retiring only one batter and then allowing the next four New York hitters to reach base. Maeda had thrown nine consecutive balls before finally leaving the game. Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli told Phil Miller of The Minneapolis Star Tribune (Twitter links) and other reporters that Maeda will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the injury.

[CBS Sports] MLB umpire Angel Hernandez supports young fan hit by a home-run ball from Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton - MLB umpire Angel Hernandez has long drawn the ire of fans for his on-field calls, but he made the right one for a young fan on Thursday during a game between the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees. Up two in the bottom of the eighth, Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton smacked a line-drive home run into right field to extend his team’s lead to three when it mattered most. Yankee Stadium erupted after the play, but the mood flipped once fans realized Stanton’s 106-mph rocket struck a young fan. Stanton’s home-run ball hit the young fan in the forehead as he tried to catch it, but he got right back up and laughed the frightening moment off seconds later. Hernandez, who was serving as the second-base umpire, saw the situation unfold and decided to help by tossing the young fan a souvenir ball after the inning.

[Sportsnaut] MLB players to testify in drug case related to Tyler Skaggs death - A handful of Major League Baseball players are prepared to testify in the upcoming federal trial of Eric Kay, the former Los Angeles Angels employee connected to the fatal drug overdose of pitcher Tyler Skaggs. The Los Angeles Times reported that court documents filed late Friday related to the case against Kay said federal prosecutors will present testimony from “approximately” five players who will say they received oxycodone pills from Kay. Kay was indicted by a grand jury in Texas last fall. Charges include distributing the drugs that allegedly caused Skaggs to overdose.

[WSET] Man found dead after falling from staircase at MLB park - The NYPD is investigating a suspicious death at Citi Field in Queens on Friday night. Investigators say a 46-year-old man appeared to have fallen from a second-floor staircase, anywhere from 30-to-50 feet, and it’s unclear if his death was accidental. While Citi Field is home of the New York Mets, rock band Dead & Company had a concert there Friday night.