AZ Snake Pit - Game #39, May 14: Diamondbacks 4, Pirates 6An unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png2017-05-14T20:23:38-04:00http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/stream/154021772017-05-14T20:23:38-04:002017-05-14T20:23:38-04:00Diamondbacks 4, Pirates 6
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<img alt="Pittsburgh Pirates v Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MfbN1Dwogd66lrUFcXndpoc4-PE=/0x0:4875x3250/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54781429/683093084.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>A host of wasted opportunities came back to cost the D-backs, who ended only splitting this four-game series.</p> <p id="yR4M1s">It was a second consecutive poor outing for <span>Robbie Ray</span>, who was undone by poor control (three walks) and the long-ball (two homers allowed). He lasted only four innings, being charged with four runs on six hits, striking out two. However, <span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> helped keep the D-backs in the game, blasting a pair of home-runs, including one which hit off the video-board. Arizona spurned their share of chances, including having the bases loaded with one out in the sixth, when <span>A.J. Pollock</span> grounded into a double-play. But four walks in the eighth - three by former D-back Daniel Hudson tied the game back up. </p>
<p id="sqZov5">Arizona had a chance to walk it off in the ninth after leading off with two hits. But Chris Herrmann popped up a bunt, and <span>Nick Ahmed</span> hit into a double-play. <span>Tom Wilhelmsen</span> came on to pitch the tenth, but after getting the first two outs, allowed a walk and a two-run homer which proved the final margin of victory. However, we somehow ended up with Patrick Corbin pinch-hitting, Zack Greinke pinch-running and Pollock leaving the game with a worrying leg issue. The D-backs left 15 men on base, even after the key double-plays. <span>Jake Lamb</span> had three hits, Goldschmidt and <span>Chris Owings</span> two apiece. Dano_from_Tucson will be along with the full guest recap in a bit. </p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2017/5/14/15639374/arizona-diamondbacks-pittsburgh-pirates-scoreJim McLennan2017-05-14T15:00:01-04:002017-05-14T15:00:01-04:00Preview, #39: Arizona Diamondbacks vs Pittsburgh Pirates
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<figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The final in this series, and a game the D-backs will really want to win.</p>
<div class="pane sports_data_widget lineup clearfix">
<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>
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<th align="left">PITTSBURGH PIRATES</th> <th align="left">ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS</th>
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<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Adam Frazier</span> - LF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>A.J. Pollock</span> - CF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Josh Harrison</span> - 3B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>David Peralta</span> - RF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Andrew McCutchen</span> - CF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> - 1B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Gregory Polanco</span> - RF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Jake Lamb</span> - 3B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Josh Bell</span> - 1B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Chris Owings</span> - 2B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Francisco Cervelli</span> - C</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Chris Herrmann</span> - C</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Jordy Mercer</span> - SS</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Nick Ahmed</span> - SS</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Gift Ngoepe</span> - 2B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Gregor Blanco</span> - LF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Ivan Nova</span> - RHP</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Robbie Ray</span> - LHP</td>
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<p>The D-backs have not won a series since April 27, when they finished the set against the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Padres</a>. Since then, they have lost two to the <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rockies</a>, one to the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Nationals</a>, and split the pair versus Detroit. That's not the mark of a team with hopes of contention, and settling for a split at home against the <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pirates</a> would certainly be disappointing. But last night's defeat means that the part to series victory goes through Nova, who has been Pittsburgh's best starting pitcher to date. In his seven starts, he has a 2.23 ERA, and has averaged almost seven innings per outing, with a pair of complete games.</p>
<p>That may explain why the team went with a lighter line-up yesterday, but appears to have wheeled out the big guns, offensively, with Herrmann behind the plate and the struggling <span>Yasmany Tomas</span> - 4-for-30 this month, with 11 strikeouts - sitting in favor of Blanco. The obvious exception here is <span>Brandon Drury</span> sitting, Torey Lovullo preferring to stick with the <i>very</i> hot hand of Nick Ahmed for the middle infield, after Ahmed had his first career multi-homer game yesterday. In May, he's 9-for-24 with three home-runs, and his 1.236 OPS is the best of anyone currently on the 25-man roster. Drury's key error yesterday may also suggest a "mental day", over-riding his earlier web gem.</p>
<p>Ray is still striking people out at a very commendable rate: Among qualifying starters in the National League, his K-rate of 12.41 per nine innings, trails only the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mets</a>' Jacob DeGrom (12.66). The problem is, as we all know, the walks, where Ray flat out leads the National League so far, with 23 bases on balls. The odd thing is, thus far, there hasn't been that obvious a correlation between Ray's walks and the results. His best start by Game Score, the April 11 one in San Francisco, was a five-walk outing which still is tied for the season high. And his worst start, on April 22 against the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a>, was a two-walk game. But in general, the fewer BB's he issues, the happier I'll be!</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2017/5/14/15638052/preview-arizona-diamondbacks-pittsburgh-piratesJim McLennan