AZ Snake Pit - Game #5: April 3, Diamondbacks 6, Dodgers 1An unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png2018-04-04T04:34:41-04:00http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/stream/169590412018-04-04T04:34:41-04:002018-04-04T04:34:41-04:00Diamondbacks 6, Dodgers 1: Godley does what we need
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BpaOMTpmroUMcdO1DiPGbCvL-e4=/0x61:4290x2921/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59262959/usa_today_10764859.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Godley >>> Kershaw</p> <p id="0vyZsg">As you may have heard, the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> and <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/2018/4/3/17191782/arizona-diamondbacks-los-angeles-dodgers-recap">played a really long game yesterday.</a> Because of that, they didn’t have a lot of options in the bullpen today. Sure, they called up <span>Matt Koch</span> to replace Lamb, who has headed to the DL, because we can’t have nice things, but it was still looking pretty thin down there. Tory Lovullo needed a strong outing from <span>Zack Godley</span>, and he delivered.</p>
<p id="w6S8MS">Both Godley and <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> had solid firsts. Godley gave up a lead off single to Chris Taylor, but, after he advanced to second on a passed ball, stranded him there sitting Corey Seager, <span>Yasiel Puig</span>, and Cody Bellinger down in order to end the inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Paul Goldschmidt drew a two out walk, but nothing came of it.</p>
<p id="JxlHia">The second inning brought us the first of a few #YCPB moments we saw tonight. <span>Daniel Descalso</span>, a lefty, hit a solo home run off Clayton Kershaw. Definitely not something I think anyone can say they saw coming. <strong>1-0 Diamondbacks</strong></p>
<p id="opDrO3">The Diamondbacks wouldn’t keep that lead for long. Godley struggled briefly in the top of the third, giving up a double to start the inning to Austin Barnes. Kershaw moved him to third with a sac bunt, and Taylor brought him home with a sac fly. <strong>Tied at 1</strong></p>
<p id="m9Wzvm">The third inning brought us another #YCPB moment. <span>David Peralta</span>, another lefty, hit another home run off Kershaw. Tonight was the first time ever that two lefties have ever hit home runs of Kershaw in the same start. To give it even more context, in six out of the last ten seasons, Kershaw has only given up three or less home runs to left handed hitters in the entire season. Always nice to see him fail in such spectacular fashion against us :-) <strong>2-1 Dbacks</strong></p>
<p id="NPVV1t">Okay, perhaps that’s a bit of an exaggeration since that’s all he allowed through his six innings pitched. However, Godley was even better. After the third inning, he only allowed two more baserunners, while holding the Dodgers to just the one run. After a game like last night, you have to hope from a performance from the next day’s starter like this, and Godley stepped up in a big way. Final line 7 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 R, 3 K. </p>
<p id="x6dKls">And if that’s where the game ended, I think we’d all be satisfied, but the Dbacks weren’t done yet, bringing what might still be the biggest #YCPB moment yet in the game. Deven Marrero and <span>John Ryan Murphy</span> both singled to start the inning. Jorge De La Rosa hit for Godley, since Lovullo was short two bench players (Lamb on the DL, and Ahmed unable to play do to illness). De La Rosa walked, loading the bases. Peralta struck out, and that’s where the fun began. Marte, Goldschmidt, and Pollock, all walked, back to back, driving the score to <strong>5-1 Diamondbacks. </strong></p>
<p id="OAt9Ld">That was pretty much the ball game. John Ryan Murphy added some salt to the wound by hitting a solo shot in the eighth, but that’s about it. Yoshihisa Hirano and <span>T.J. McFarland</span> pitched an inning each, neither allowing a baserunner.</p>
<p id="zbympY"><em><strong>Stars of the Game</strong></em></p>
<p id="HrSMcL"><em><strong>*** </strong></em><em>Zack Godley: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 ER</em></p>
<p id="UJswUR"><em><strong>** </strong></em><em>David Peralta: 2-for-5, 1 HR, 1RBI</em></p>
<p id="DFeI3r">* <em>Daniel Descalso: 1-for-4, 1 HR 1 RBI</em></p>
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<b>The Hero:</b> Zack Godley (pitching), 38.2%</center>
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<b>The Villain?:</b> Zack Godley (hitting), -4.4</center>
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<p id="8YQv5t">I feel like it’s typically a good sign when your pitcher has both the highest and lowest WPA.</p>
<p id="v0pTgH">580 comments split 38 ways. Michael McD lead the way with 91 and no one else even came close. All present were:</p>
<p id="Nz1Zre">Anachronistic1, AzRattler, BenSharp, CumulusChoir, DORRITO, Dano_in_Tucson, Dcarbajal, DeadManG, DesertWeagle, Diamondhacks, FormerlyChelsea75, GuruB, Jim McLennan, Makakilo, Michael McDermott, MikeMono, Mr Butterworth, MrMrrbi, SaguaroCactus, SongBird, SonomaComa1999, Sports Racer, Sprankton, The so-called Beautiful, TucsonPete, Wesley Baier, asteroid, david.munter, dbrowell, edbigghead, hobgobnob, hotclaws, onedotfive, red_leader, rustynails77, since_98, smartplays, suroeste</p>
<p id="o0MJvk">It’s a little irregular, but I’m going to give CotN to a comment from the quick recap. </p>
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<p id="eQqBLO">▼ Fans video bombing the post game show with signs </p>
<p id="9YvclB">One of them read, “I came from New York to watch Kershaw choke”</p>
<p id="DUzveC">Posted by <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Michael%20McDermott">Michael McDermott</a> on <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/2018/4/4/17196490/arizona-diamondbacks-los-angeles-dodgers-score#469455497">Apr 3, 2018 | 9:45 PM</a> reply rec (14)</p>
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<p id="N9Zxsr">It’s a day game tomorrow. 12:40 first pitch. With the series sweep and winning homestand already put away, <span>Patrick Corbin</span> takes the mound looking for the sweep and to continue his strong start from Opening Day. We’ll have it all for you here!</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2018/4/4/17196740/diamondbacks-6-dodgers-1-zack-godley-clayton-kershaw-daniel-descalso-david-peraltaImstillhungry952018-04-04T00:29:33-04:002018-04-04T00:29:33-04:00Arizona Diamondbacks 6, Los Angeles Dodgers 1
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xlWXAdff3R_Jz-khEatVonQ5LLY=/0x0:4752x3168/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59261577/usa_today_10764420.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Zack Godley did what we needed him to do, and the humidor apparently worked in our favor. </p> <p id="QBn8kX">After last night’s marathon, the team really needed <span>Zack Godley</span> to give a good strong outing, and he delivered. Godley became the first Arizona starter this year to work six innings - and went one better, tossing seven innings of one-run ball. He only had three strikeouts, but his ground-based attack was working well, and the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> managed only four hits and a walk. He made the big pitches when he needed to, keeping LA to 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. <span>Yoshihisa Hirano</span> and T.J. McFarland worked the final two frames.</p>
<p id="mdNQlw">It was a pait of left-handers, <span>Daniel Descalso</span> and <span>David Peralta</span>, who were responsible for tagging <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> with the loss, both going deep off the Dodgers’ ace. But it was the seventh inning where Arizona broke through, taking advantage of LA wildness. There were four walks in the frame, including one to Jorge De La Rosa, who was up there to bunt - the other three walks all came with the bases loaded. <span>John Ryan Murphy</span> completed the scoring with his first home-run as a D-back in the eighth. Arizona scored five runs, despite going hitless with runners in scoring position themselves (0-for-6). Peralta and Murphy each had a pair of hits. </p>
<p id="BIHtkv">ish95 will be along with the full recap a bit later. </p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2018/4/4/17196490/arizona-diamondbacks-los-angeles-dodgers-scoreJim McLennan2018-04-03T20:30:01-04:002018-04-03T20:30:01-04:00Preview: 4/3 vs. Dodgers
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<img alt="MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at New York Mets" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0KL3xnhm2G9-U20q0MPkheBRj6o=/0x12:2544x1708/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59258467/usa_today_10235874.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>This will be hard pushed to come close to last night’s game. I’d not mind if it didn’t even try...</p> <div id="mCCvA0">
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<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>
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<th align="left">LOS ANGELES DODGERS</th>
<th align="left">ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS</th>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Chris Taylor - CF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">David Peralta - LF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Corey Seager - SS</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Ketel Marte - SS</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Yasiel Puig - RF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Paul Goldschmidt - 1B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Cody Bellinger - 1B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">A.J. Pollock - CF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Matt Kemp - LF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Chris Owings - RF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Enrique Hernandez - 2B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Daniel Descalso - 2B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Logan Forsythe - 3B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Deven Marrero - 3B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Austin Barnes - C</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">John Ryan Murphy - C</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Clayton Kershaw - LHP</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Zack Godley - RHP</td>
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<p id="UQYcNC">Last night’s victory was important for the D-backs, especially in its manner. After being swept in the NLDS, it would not be a good way to start the season. for the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> to come to Chase Field and lead, almost from first to last pitch. <span>Chris Owings</span> saved us from that fate, with his last out home-run, and planted a serious seed of doubt about LA closer Kenley Jansen. He’s paid $11.3 million this year, with a further $57.3 million (!) due over the net three seasons, unless he opts out. While two games don’t make a trend, that’s now four earned runs, and it’s only April 3. Last year, Jansen had allowed four earned runs on July 22. He had more walks in the ninth last night than in <em>all of April-June 2017</em>. I’m enjoying LA’s panic. </p>
<p id="6o4CKZ">After that, it felt like the rest of the game was played with house money, since I’d already resigned myself to a loss before Owing’s blast. That’s why I wasn’t particularly mad when the Dodgers scored in the top of the 15th inning. Losing a game that you’d previously written off is no big deal. But, the D-backs did what the D-backs do, first coming back to wipe out the third Los Angeles advantage of the evening, then securing their first lead of the game on the 530th and final pitch. Evidence that it’s not how you start that matters, it’s how you finish. </p>
<p id="twHJa0">Tonight will be a tough one, even if this is the only time in Kershaw’s career that he has lost his first start. Of course, the D-backs have had their share of success against him, but you now have to go back a bit into history to find it. Last year, we scored one run off him, over 15.1 innings, with a K:BB ratio of 19:3. I get the feeling that the most likely win for the D-backs is going to be something along the lines of the 1-0 victory the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> took on Opening Day. We’ll need <span>Zack Godley</span> to keep us in the game, and our hitters can hopefully take advantage of opportunity when it comes knocking. But, just as long as this one doesn’t end up going into its sixth hour, I think we’ll be happy!</p>
<p id="lmks8L">This will be the end of our first time through the rotation, and we’re still looking for a starting pitcher to go six innings. Indeed, including the four post-season games (where it didn’t happen either), and the tail end of last season, it has now been <strong>15 consecutive games</strong> without a D-back starter going six innings - the last man to do so, was Patrick Corbin’s 6.2 innings on September 24. Over that same time, Zack Greinke’s 105 pitches in Game 3 of the NLDS is the only man to reach 100 pitches. I don’t know if this is a deliberate tactics by the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a>, but it’s certainly interesting. </p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2018/4/3/17195008/preview-arizona-diamondbacks-los-angeles-dodgersJim McLennan