AZ Snake Pit - Game #57, June 2: Diamondbacks 6, Marlins 2An unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png2018-06-03T05:27:39-04:00http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/stream/171853112018-06-03T05:27:39-04:002018-06-03T05:27:39-04:00D’backs 6, Marlins 2: Return of the Offense
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<img alt="Miami Marlins v Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BD-xNV_sklhog2w9cM4Zfon4LaI=/0x0:4445x2963/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59936261/966465696.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>For a moment it seemed that robotic prosthetic arms were the only hope for Diamondbacks’ bats. Turns out they just needed to train their force against lesser opponents. </p> <p id="D7GqHd"><strong>Record: 30-27. Pace: 85-77. Change on 2017: -4. </strong></p>
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<p id="zR3HGl">Unlike my highly entertaining co-author, Turambar, I am trying to pack on the pounds to reach previously unmatched weight for myself. That means that beer, albiet cheap and not of the craft variety, is very much in play.</p>
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<p id="v2E29r"><strong>Beer one: Pabst Blue Ribbon (Groans from the audience)</strong></p>
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<p id="a0ayGx">As the galaxy would have it, here I am recapping yet another <em>Star Wars </em>night this season for the umpteenth time. Seems like the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> have been participants in the occasion more times this season than they had runs on the last road trip. Sarcasm. Kind of. <span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> was the recipient of a <em>Star Wars </em>bobblehead promotion, his second such gift from the Rebel Alliance in as many seasons. 34,117 friends of the cause were in attendance in hopes to collect their memorabilia. </p>
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<p id="NayWmm">Kerwin Danley was behind the plate tonight taking the call for <span>Zack Greinke</span> and left hander <span>Caleb Smith</span> of the <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Miami Marlins</a>. Unsurprisingly, he attempted to rob Goldy of his first at bat with his predictably unpredictable strikezone on a called strike one, inside 94 MPH fastball. Unfazed by the betrayal, the smooth talking #PaulSolo turned on another 94 MPH heater inside later in the at bat driving it 430 feet down the left field line into the diamond level to give Arizona a 1-0 lead in the 1st. Paul is the first D’back to homer on his bobblehead night since <span>Chris Young</span> in 2011 according to the Fox Sports Arizona broadcast.</p>
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<p id="goCZUg">Greinke, perhaps trying to catch the opposition off guard, pumped a healthy dose of fastballs to the Marlins in the top of the 1st. He’d nearly concluded his half of the 1st frame having thrown only a single breaking pitch, but <span>Justin Bour</span> questioned the power of his force with an eight pitch at bat refusing to go down quietly. Fortunately, nothing came of his two out single. Goldy got the job done on both ends of the field in the early goings. After Greinke allowed a one out single to <span>Miguel Rojas</span> in the 2nd, Paul knocked down a <span>JT Riddle</span> liner with a swift backhand and cut down Rojas at second base. </p>
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<p id="Rk4hqp"><span>Chris Owings</span> played the role of Ewok in the bottom of the 2nd with a leadoff bunt single on the first pitch. Ketel “Extra Base Hits Recently” <span>Marte</span> drove him in with a scorching triple to the gap in left center as the next batter up to make it 2-0. Marte was subsequently driven in himself on a one out sac fly from from <span>Jeff Mathis</span>. 3-0 D’backs. </p>
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<p id="f68Rdq"><strong>Beer two: Pabst Blue Ribbon (You should know where this is going by now)</strong></p>
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<p id="HWmURI"><span>Starlin Castro</span> was a thorn in Greinke’s side all evening, hitting his first of two doubles of the game in the 3rd inning with one out. <span>J.T. Realmuto</span> followed with a smash liner, except it was hit right at <span>Jarrod Dyson</span> for the 2nd out of the inning (what’s the deal with some of these guys having periods between their two-letter first names while others do not?) . Greinke then retired Bour on a soft bouncer to keep the Marlins scoreless at the time.</p>
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<p id="j4QHAP">For the second inning in a row, Arizona began their half with the leadoff runner reaching base. Dyson hit a line single to left field, only to be cut down on the basepaths during <span>Nick Ahmed</span>’s at bat taking off for second base too early. Caleb Smith took the term “backfoot” slider a tad too literally hitting Goldy to put him on first with two outs bringing up <span>David Peralta</span>. He entered the game hitting a pathetic .217/.299/.283 against southpaws, yet it did not stop him from putting together an 8 pitch at bat and driving a two run blast to the right field bleachers. That’s two consecutive nights Arizona achieved tacos by the conclusion of the 3rd inning for those of you keeping track. What, you were worried about the offense?</p>
<blockquote><p id="oqyivu">“Uh, we had a slight weapons malfunction, but uh…everything’s perfectly all right now. We’re fine. We’re all fine here now, thank you. How are you?” - Han Solo</p></blockquote>
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<p id="OudBOo"><strong>Beer three: Pabst Blue Ribbon (Why mess with a good thing?)</strong></p>
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<p id="hHiFxz">Greinke cruised in innings 4 and 5 allowing only <span>Brian Anderson</span> to reach base, but erasing the runner with a GIDP at the hands of Miguel Rojas. Tyler Cloyd (what an odd last name) was brought in relief of Caleb Smith for the Diamondbacks’ 5th and had difficulty recording outs. Nick Ahmed drove a double down the left field line on the first pitch, putting the leadoff hitter on base for the third consecutive inning for Arizona. Peralta was given the intentional pass after working the count to 3-1 to bring Owings to the plate with the force at any base. He was retired after a check swing bunt on a 2-0 count. <span>Deven Marrero</span> was due up after Marte and already had two strikeouts in the game, so Marte was the second batter of the inning to earn the free pass, loading the bases. Don Mattingly’s plan backfired in his face after <span>Marrero</span> drew a full count walk bringing Ahmed in to score. 6-0 D’backs. </p>
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<p id="fskJ4X"><strong>Beer four: Pabst Blue Ribbon (Look, it gets the job done for me. It’s ok to laugh)</strong></p>
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<p id="2zcaAr">Sure enough Starlin Castro made his return in the 6th inning, just as Darth Maul did in <em>Solo: A Star Wars Story. </em>He blasted a 2-0 fastball off the plate from Greinke all the way to the fence in right center. The ball bounced directly on top of the yellow home run line and back into the field of play. After a lengthy official review, Castro was directed to stay put at second base. One fan in the pool area was shown on camera suggesting that the ball had rebounded off of a utility box back into the field of play, which would likely constitute a home run in my opinion if true. Said fan probably had too many craft brews because that was ultimately not the call that was made. Greinke set down the next two batters on a popout and strikeout, but <span>Anderson</span> notched his second hit of the game with a triple to right field scoring Castro. Chris Owings looked like a cat chasing a ball of yarn in the outfield on the play, so not his most glorious defensive moment. 6-1 D’backs.</p>
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<p id="UZigoB">Greinke was lifted from the game in the 7th inning with two outs following a pinch hit walk from Cameron Maybin. In 6 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings tonight, he recorded 6 strikeouts, 1 walk, 7 hits, and 1 earned run. He allowed some hard contact in this one, but fortunately most of the balls in play against him were hit right at defenders obviously working to his advantage. Miami added their final run of the game in the top of the 9th with a solo homer from <span>Lewis Brinson</span> against <span>T.J. McFarland</span>.</p>
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<p id="Ui4323">Because the <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Colorado Rockies</a> had been thumped earlier in the day by the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a>, Arizona once again sits a half game on top of the National League West standings. Only 5.5 games separate the Diamondbacks from the cellar dwelling <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">San Diego Padres</a>, so this division is still entirely up in the air a third of the way into the season. At this point in 2017, only half a game separated Arizona, Los Angeles, and Colorado for the division lead.</p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vrlBYScLDWG7qNhvHpJ-UdK5caU=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11468533/chart.png">
<cite>Fangraphs</cite>
<figcaption>6/2/18, D’backs 6 vs. Marlins 2</figcaption>
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<p id="LuuFSS"><strong>Han Solo: Zack Greinke 21.7%, </strong><span><strong>Ketel Marte</strong></span><strong> 11.6%</strong></p>
<p id="TN44gN"><strong>Lando Calrissian: Paul Goldschmidt 9.3%, David Peralta 9.1%</strong></p>
<p id="PUfen6"><strong>Kylo Ren: Jarrod Dyson -4.8%</strong></p>
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<p id="HkRdUP">Total comments: 279</p>
<p id="kHM0qs">Total commenters: 22</p>
<p id="too6Qt">Commenter list: <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/AzDbackfanInDc">AzDbackfanInDc</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/AzRattler">AzRattler</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/DORRITO">DORRITO</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/DeadManG">DeadManG</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/GuruB">GuruB</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Jackwriter">Jackwriter</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Keegan%20Thompson">Keegan Thompson</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Makakilo">Makakilo</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Michael%20McDermott">Michael McDermott</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/MikeMono">MikeMono</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/MrMrrbi">MrMrrbi</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Renin">Renin</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/ShirtOffYourBack">ShirtOffYourBack</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Sprankton">Sprankton</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Xerostomia">Xerostomia</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/asteroid">asteroid</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/hotclaws">hotclaws</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/kilnborn">kilnborn</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/lildbackfan21x">lildbackfan21x</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/onedotfive">onedotfive</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/shoewizard">shoewizard</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/smartplays">smartplays</a></p>
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<p id="k9VNkc">Somehow DC led the comment count in this one. I find that most impressive given tonight’s 7:10 P.M. start time. An otherwise light showing in the GDT.</p>
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<p id="yReOJg">Only one Sedona red comment to choose from, so in the words of Lebron James, “Do better tomorrow.”</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/diamondbacks-gamedays/2018/6/3/17421878/dbacks-6-marlins-2-return-of-the-offense-paul-goldschmidt-david-peralta-ketel-marte-zack-greinkeKeegan Thompson2018-06-03T01:14:23-04:002018-06-03T01:14:23-04:00Arizona Diamondbacks 6, Miami Marlins 2
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<img alt="Miami Marlins v Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MnhyOWqKU4f5rXYsC3qkBzzLoK0=/0x0:3978x2652/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59935835/966464236.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>In the battle for control over the universe, or rather the National League West, Arizona has regained its rightful throne at the top of the division. </p> <p id="lNYrpJ">Back to back series against two of the worst teams in the league is hopefully what was needed to turn around the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a>’ fortunes on offense. At the conclusion of the 3rd inning of intergalactic battle, Arizona had banked enough runs to secure tacos for tomorrow. <span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> became the first D’backs player since <span>Chris Young</span> in 2011 to hit a home on his bobblehead night, according to the Fox Sports broadcast. After a called boderline strike on a fastball in, he turned on a 95 MPH heater later in the at bat to give Arizona an early 1-0 lead. The blast sailed 430 feet down the left field line into the second diamond level, a good sign to see from #PaulSolo.</p>
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<p id="rm1PU3"><span>Ketel Marte</span> added to the tally with an RBI triple in the 2nd, and was subsequently brought in himself on a sac fly from Jeff Mathis. David Peralta brought home tacos in the 3rd with a two run blast to the right field bleachers on a 1-2 count after fouling off a few pitches. </p>
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<p id="SDtstz"><span>Zack Greinke</span> opposed <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a>’ lefty <span>Caleb Smith</span> on the mound and was respectable scattering 7 hits and a walk over 6 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings to go along with 6 strikeouts. <span>Starlin Castro</span> had two doubles to right center off of Greinke, scoring in the 6th inning on a <span>Brian Anderson</span> triple for one of Miami’s two runs. </p>
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<p id="n0wA50">With the victory Arizona achieved its second series win in a row. Full PBR cap to follow.</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/diamondbacks-gamedays/2018/6/3/17421852/arizona-diamondbacks-6-miami-marlins-2-paul-goldschmidt-zack-greinke-star-warsKeegan Thompson2018-06-02T21:00:02-04:002018-06-02T21:00:02-04:00Preview #57: 6/2 vs. Marlins
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<img alt="London 2012 - Restaurants And Bars" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/P75vflpcosQ-stkY6nRWvREGsUE=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59934269/109344412.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Any leftovers from yesterday available?</p> <div id="IbyGrA">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget lineup clearfix">
<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>
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<th align="left">MIAMI MARLINS</th>
<th align="left">ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS</th>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Starlin Castro - 2B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Jarrod Dyson - CF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">J.T. Realmuto - C</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Nick Ahmed - SS</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Justin Bour - 1B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Paul Goldschmidt - 1B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Brian Anderson - RF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">David Peralta - LF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Derek Dietrich - LF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Chris Owings - RF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Miguel Rojas - 3B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Ketel Marte - 2B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">JT Riddle - SS</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Deven Marrero - 3B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">J.B. Shuck - CF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Jeff Mathis - C</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Caleb Smith - LHP</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Zack Greinke - RHP</td>
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</tbody>
</table>
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<p id="NFF4ie">A roster move, not entirely unexpected, before today’s game. Jorge De La Rosa has been put on the disabled list with right Achilles tendon bursitis, and <span>Jake Barrett</span> makes a return to the roster in Jorge’s stead. <span>Barrett</span> has appeared for the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> before this year, but if you blinked, you probably missed it: there was only a single appearance, coming at the end of a 3-1 loss to the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> on May 11. He worked a scoreless ninth with one K. He has put up a 1.71 ERA over 21 innings this year for the Reno Aces, The walks have been a bit of an issue, with 14 of those, but that’s mostly the result of early struggles. Including his MLB frame, over his last 12 IP, Barrett has a very good K:BB of 19:4. </p>
<p id="sW5Ehc">No word as yet on any timeline for De La Rosa. He has an ERA of 3.54 this year, which is a good deal lower than it feels, and his FIP is almost two runs higher at 5.44. That’s largely a result of an unimpressive K:BB of 11:9. Regression has also bitten with a vengeance in regard to inherited runners: after stranding all but one of the 33 he received last year, in 2018 De La Rosa has already let six of sixteen score. He has been good enough with the platoon advantage, holding left-handed batters to a .182 average and .556 OPS. But he has walked more right-handers than he has struck out, helping them to a .375 OBP. I can’t say I feel his absence will hit us particularly hard, even if limiting platoon options a bit. </p>
<p id="25LdcE">Incoming complaints about <span>John Ryan Murphy</span> not being in the line-up in 3.. 2.. 1.. But, of course, it’s a <span>Zack Greinke</span> start, and so that means <span>Jeff Mathis</span> is behind the plate. Murphy has been getting his share of outings. Of the last 12 games, he has started six (including once as the DH), with <span>Alex Avila</span> starting four (all against right-handed bats) and Mathis three (two of which were Greinke starts). I’m fine with the way Lovullo has handled things: fans have a tendency to over-react to small sample sizes, e.g. many (including me) were calling for <span>Fernando Rodney</span> to lose his closer’s spot in April last year. That worked out okay. So, in Torey we trust...</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2018/6/2/17421278/preview-57-6-2-vs-marlinsJim McLennan