AZ Snake Pit - Game #8, 4/5: Diamondbacks 15, Red Sox 8An unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png2019-04-05T23:28:00-04:00http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/stream/180608962019-04-05T23:28:00-04:002019-04-05T23:28:00-04:00D-backs 15, Red Sox 8: Arizona blows roof off Chase Field
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<figcaption>Jack Sommers, <a class="ql-link" href="https://twitter.com/shoewizard59/status/1114295885888770048" target="_blank">via Teitter</a></figcaption>
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<p>And not even a haboob in sight. </p> <p id="nLuNp1"><strong>Record: 4-4. Pace: 81-81. Change on 2018: -2. </strong></p>
<p id="pObUGQ">Opening Day at Chase Field is a time to shine, with a capacity crowd in attendance. The D-backs offense certainly got that memo, pounding <span>Rick Porcello</span> and the Boston pitchers. [The now 2-7 <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a> have not had a worse start to their season since World War II ended] However, word of the festivities did not apparently reach the roof at Chase Field, which made a literally half-hearted attempt at opening, before failing, due to what the team said was an electrical fault. Despite my helpful suggestion that they should try turning it off and back on again, it instead remained closed for the rest of the contest.</p>
<p id="b4Wa8C">After that, it proved a rather violent start to the game. The first inning alone saw <span>Alex Avila</span> get pinged, a Red Sox batter foul the ball off himself, <span>Adam Jones</span> reach on catcher’s interference and <span>David Peralta</span> follow that up by swatting the Boston catcher on the side of the mask with his follow through. [Maybe a good way to get him to stay further back behind the plate?] Fortunately, there seemed to be no permanent injuries as a result, and <span>Zack Godley</span> had his good form early, starting with two remarkably quick innings where he needed only 17 pitches to get the first six outs. </p>
<p id="2J6yA4">However, just as in Los Angeles, the scheduled <span>Godley</span> wobble arrived, like clockwork, in the third inning. A lead-off single was followed by two ground-ball outs, each moving the runner. But after a long, loud foul-ball, <span>Godley</span> couldn’t get the third out. Not for the first time this season, <span>Peralta</span> seemed to struggle with a fly-ball, getting all turned round before both it and he banged off the wall for an RBI double. Godley then allowed an infield hit to put runners on the corners, but was able to escape without further damage, except to his pitch-count. </p>
<p id="47kv9z">Godley redeemed himself with a lead-off single in the bottom of the inning, and <span>Jarrod Dyson</span> then reached base on an infield squibber that two Red Sox players each failed to field. <span>Eduardo Escobar</span> walked, bringing up <span>Peralta</span> with the bases loaded and no outs, for his own shot at rapid redemption. It was not to be. While the tying run did score, Godley came across as Peralta hit firmly into a ground-ball double play. <span>Jones</span> walked to keep the inning alive, then undid his own work by getting picked off to end the third, leaving home fans with a very late 2018-esque feeling of unfulfilled disappointment in the D-backs offense.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">¡Para la calle! That ball is gone! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RattleOn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RattleOn</a> <a href="https://t.co/ArlKXDSRch">pic.twitter.com/ArlKXDSRch</a></p>— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dbacks/status/1114327334838919168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2019</a>
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<p id="EPETSi">There was a bigger meltdown in the fourth. Fortunately, it wasn’t by Godley, who worked a clean top of the inning. It belonged instead to <span>Rick Porcello</span>, who allowed five consecutive D-backs to reach, beginning with <span>Ketel Marte</span>’s second home-run of the season, a 443-foot no-doubter to right (above). After a <span>Nick Ahmed</span> double and <span>Avila</span> walk, Godley got his second hit of the game - this one a RBI bloop between three converging Red Sox which could not have been better placed if it has been guided in to the grass by laser targeting. <span>Dyson</span> followed with another RBI single, and though <span>Eduardo Escobar</span> still can’t hit, did get an RBI with a groundout, to deliver the first free home tacos of the season. </p>
<p id="DMGo0w">Our hitters were not done with <span>Porcello</span>, who was chased in the next inning. <span>Adam Jones</span> is now on pace for 81 home-runs this season, getting his fourth with a laser down the left-field line (below), and after a single by <span>Ahmed</span>, Avila made it 7-1 with a double, ending the night for the Red Sox pitcher, who didn’t find mush-room inside Chase Field. Oh, hang on: that’s Portobello. My mistake... Meanwhile Godley had been doing a solid job, getting through his first five innings with just the one run allowed, on three hits and - this is probably the best thing - no walks. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome to <a href="https://twitter.com/ChaseField?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChaseField</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/SimplyAJ10?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SimplyAJ10</a>. We think you're going to like it here. <a href="https://t.co/OmIIDE5MLg">pic.twitter.com/OmIIDE5MLg</a></p>— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dbacks/status/1114330807416397825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2019</a>
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<p id="ylacLo">There was another wobble in the sixth, as with one out, he walked the next batter on four pitches, then uncorked a pair of wild pitches to move the runner to third. But Zack did a nice job of re-grouping, to get <span>Mitch Moreland</span> swinging over the top of a curve. After getting ahead of <span>J.D. Martinez</span> 0-2, Godley couldn’t finish him off, and ended up issuing another walk, bringing Mike Butcher from the mound. After some discussion, Godley was allowed to continue, but his third free pass of the inning loaded the bases and ended his night. <span>Andrew Chafin</span> took over, and I’ll confess to rather nervous, since there was nowhere to put his usual opening base-runner. But he got a groundball to end the threat. </p>
<p id="fxrN1X">That was also the end of the game as a meaningful contest, because the D-backs piled on with a seven-run sixth. This included a demonstration of what you <em>should</em> do with the bases loaded. After a <span>Jones</span> RBI double put runners on second and third, the Red Sox put Christian Walker on board and turned <span>Marte</span> around. It didn’t matter. Ketel hit his second home-run of the night and first career grand-slam (below). That merited a curtain-call out of the dugout for him, thanks to delivering a 12-1 lead to Arizona. Even Ildemaro Vargas then got in on the fun, hitting a two-run shot. I don’t even have room for the video, but if you’re counting at home, that’s four home-runs, sixteen hits and fourteen runs. In six innings. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Absolutely electric. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RattleOn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RattleOn</a> <a href="https://t.co/17Bp349nyp">pic.twitter.com/17Bp349nyp</a></p>— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dbacks/status/1114340000168960000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2019</a>
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<p id="OUxFa3">They can probably therefore be excused for slacking off a bit over the last couple of frames, having more than done enough to send the local fans home thoroughly satisfied. <span>Matt Koch</span> came in for some positive mop-up work, and after a scoreless seventh, inevitably allowed a two-run homer and a two-run double in the eighth, as the Red Sox made the score at least somewhat more respectable. It was, however, only putting off the inevitable. We got to see a position player pitch the ninth - and I can certainly say, this is a lot more fun when it’s someone from the opposition, and you are winning the blow-out. <span>Alex Avila</span> homered with two outs, and that set a franchise record for most runs scored through eight games (56).</p>
<p id="K8KxRV"><span>Koch</span> came out for the eighth, and gave up three more runs while retiring one batter. His ERA for the season is now 18.41, thanks largely to six home-runs in 7.1 innings. He has literally not had a good outing this year. Matt became the first Arizona reliever ever to allow 3+ earned runs in each of his first three outings, and the first NL pitcher to do is since Joey Hamilton for the 2003 <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a>. Yoan Lopez came on and got the last two outs, and we heard <em>D-backs Swing </em>for the first, hopefully of many times this season. <span>Dyson</span> and <span>Ahmed</span> had three hits apiece, with Peralta, Jones, <span>Marte</span>, Avila and Godley also enjoying a multi-hit night. I know I did. :)</p>
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<div id="rwQnMs"><p style="text-align:center">[<i><a href="" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>, at Fangraphs.com</i>]
<br><b>The roof, the roof: Jarrod Dyson, +12.9%</b>
<br>The roof is on fire: Godley (pitching), +11.6%; Marte, +11.1%; Godley (hitting), +10.4%
<br><b><i>We don't need no water: David Peralta, -9.4%</i></b></p></div>
<p id="AP4Mul">Well, I think I’ll be checking “Highly satisfied” on my customer survey for my first recap of the year. And, hey, we got the Roll Call tool, back just in time for the home opener! 851 comments from: AZDovs11, AZPerson, AzDbackfanInDc, BenSharp, CA_Yankee_Fan, DBacksEurope, DORRITO, DesertWeagle, Diamondhacks, EphBoston, Fangdango, GuruB, Hannibal4467, Imstillhungry95, Jack Sommers, Jim McLennan, JoeCB1991, LafferCap, Makakilo, Michael McDermott, MikeDavisAZ, MikeMono, MrMrrbi, NikT77, SedonaRed24, ShirtOffYourBack, Xerostomia, asteroid, gamepass, kilnborn, onedotfive, ponus and rustynails77, with comment of the night to EphBoston:</p>
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<p id="7VrutF">On Saturday, <span>Luke Weaver</span> starts for the D-backs, with a more normal start time of 5:10pm. Somehow, tomorrow’s game has to try and live up to this one. </p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/diamondbacks-gamedays/2019/4/5/18297627/diamondbacks-red-sox-recapJim McLennan2019-04-05T19:00:00-04:002019-04-05T19:00:00-04:00Gameday Thread, #8: 4/5 vs. Red Sox
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<figcaption>Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Will Zack Godley be the Miracle Worker for our home opener?</p> <div id="tpwC7h">
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">April 5 1887: U.S. - teacher, Anne Sullivan, made a historic breakthrough when her deaf and blind pupil, Helen Keller, learned "water" via Manual Alphabet. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/history?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#history</a></p>— Today In History (@Yesterday_Today) <a href="https://twitter.com/Yesterday_Today/status/1114184165371588609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2019</a>
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<p id="WdSinP">In related news, we welcome Ron Kulpa to Chase Field for this series...</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Umpire Ron Kulpa is assigned to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RedSox?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RedSox</a> v <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dbacks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dbacks</a> series here at Chase Field. Kulpa is the umpire who told <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Astros</a> A J Hinch "I can do anything I want on a baseball field." I still have to wonder why MLB hasn't disciplined him. Very bad image for a major league umpire.</p>— Bernie Pleskoff (@BerniePleskoff) <a href="https://twitter.com/BerniePleskoff/status/1114249792018833410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2019</a>
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https://www.azsnakepit.com/diamondbacks-gamedays/2019/4/5/18297509/gameday-thread-8-4-5-vs-red-soxJim McLennan2019-04-05T18:30:00-04:002019-04-05T18:30:00-04:00Preview, #8: 4/5 vs. Red Sox
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<img alt="MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/daPi1zC1Ec5mjilsxKN3-fEWnLw=/0x0:3548x2365/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63363503/usa_today_12448047.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The D-backs open at home by taking on the reigning World Series champions. </p> <div id="qXvLjB">
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<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>
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<th align="left">RED SOX</th>
<th align="left">DIAMONDBACKS</th>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Andrew Benintendi - LF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Jarrod Dyson - CF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Mookie Betts - CF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Eduardo Escobar - 3B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Mitch Moreland - 1B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">David Peralta - LF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">J.D. Martinez - RF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Adam Jones - RF</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Xander Bogaerts - SS</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Christian Walker - 1B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Rafael Devers - 3B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Ketel Marte - 2B</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Blake Swihart - C</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Nick Ahmed - SS</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Brock Holt - 2B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Alex Avila - C</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Rick Porcello - RHP</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Zack Godley - RHP</td>
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<p id="HfvKUB">There are some strangely upside-down standings after the first week of the season. The <a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> prop up the AL West. The <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> are in the basement of the NL Central. But perhaps the biggest shock is looking at the AL East and seeing the reigning champion <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Boston Red Sox</a> occupying last place. I mean, they’re two and a half games back of the <a href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Orioles</a>, f’heavens sake. Of course, there’s a LONG way to go. At this point last year, the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> were 2-5, and their season ended up going okay, I suppose. But this is already the furthest the Red Sox have been below .500 since the end of the 2015 season. They tend not to tolerate failure very well in Boston, so be interesting to see what happens if this continues. </p>
<p id="YyS6cO">In the first day of the “<span>Jake Lamb</span> on the DL” era, we find <span>Christian Walker</span> getting his first start of the season against a right-handed starter. <span>Wilmer Flores</span> is also on the bench, with <span>Ketel Marte</span> playing second, and <span>Jarrod Dyson</span> taking over in center, flanked by <span>David Peralta</span> and Adam Jones. Alex Avila catches Godley, which is the same battery-mate as in Zack’s first start. So far, Godley and <span>Zack Greinke</span> have been matched with the same catcher, while <span>Robbie Ray</span> switched from Avila to <s>Caleb Joseph</s> Carson Kelly. Be interesting to see if Godley ends up with Avila as a “personal catcher” Mind you, if he struggles with his mechanics as badly as in his first start, who’s behind the plate might not matter,</p>
<p id="OJWToH">His final line wasn’t helped by <span>Matt Koch</span> allowing both inherited runners to score. But Godley also had one of his trademark meltdowns in third, after his failed attempt to field a bunt by the opposing pitcher seemed to cause a loss of focus. We seemed to see that a lot last season, so it cropping up in the first start this year wasn’t a good sign. With Jon Duplantier now having got his feet wet in the big leagues, I wonder how long of a leash the team will give Godley? Swapping roles for the two men, and making Godley a long reliever, could be something we see down the road. But rather than being forced into making Duplantier a starter, I’d much prefer Godley to sort himself out. </p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/diamondbacks-gamedays/2019/4/5/18297428/preview-8-4-5-vs-red-soxJim McLennan2019-04-05T13:00:00-04:002019-04-05T13:00:00-04:00Chase Field Opening Day: What to expect
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<figcaption>Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>If you’re going to Chase for the game, you might want to get there early...</p> <p id="FGhMLN">There may be more than a week’s worth of games in the books, but the home opener of the season is always special. As mentioned, you probably want to get there early - not least, because with the crowd going to be in excess of forty thousand, so simply getting through security and into the park is going to involve a lot of queuing. Things around the park will kick off at noon, when the Pregame Fiesta starts outside of the main entrance. Activities there include live cover music from JJ’s Band, a beer garden for those of appropriate age, and D-backs inflatables. Portillo’s will be offering free samples in addition to various food trucks including Tai’s Tacos, Cousins Maine Lobster, American Poutine and Kona Ice. </p>
<p id="BmM4dq">Rehabbing D-backs pitcher <span>Taijuan Walker</span> will be giving fans free tacos, featuring his special taco recipe, out of a specially-designed food truck for an hour from 1:30 pm, during the street festival to benefit Arizona Helping Hands. In lieu of payment, fans will be encouraged to donate to Helping Hands, a non-profit organization providing basic essential needs to boys and girls in foster care in Arizona. The main gates open to the general public at 1:45 pm, and there is a lengthy list of pre-game celebrations, which will get under way a 3:30 pm, before <span>Zack Godley</span> throws the first pitch at 4:10 pm. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Arizona, and streamed on Fox Sports Go, if you can’t make it to the park.</p>
<p id="uY6QmL">The pre-game festivities will include:</p>
<ul>
<li id="86dkJp">Wilson Defensive Team of the Year presentation to Torey Lovullo </li>
<li id="I4CRLw">Louisville Silver Slugger Award presentation to <span>David Peralta</span>
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<li id="51hlel">Rawlings Gold Glove Award presentations to <span>Nick Ahmed</span> and <span>Zack Greinke</span>
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<li id="83II4U">Wilson Defensive Player of the Year presentation to <span>Greinke</span>
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<li id="dvI8fJ">Ceremonial first pitch by ASU Head Basketball Coach Bobby Hurley</li>
<li id="QWWqXP">National anthem sung by local country musician Austin Burke</li>
<li id="ouCtxD">Flyover by four F-35s from the 309<sup>th</sup> Fighter Squadron from Luke Air Force Base at the conclusion of the anthem </li>
<li id="1VzOD4">D-backs season ticket holders will unfurl a large American flag that will cover the majority of the outfield during the national anthem</li>
</ul>
<p id="oJVNhq">We’ll be back a little nearer the start time, with our regular preview. But if you’re there, share pics, details and experiences in the comments!</p>
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https://www.azsnakepit.com/2019/4/5/18296836/chase-field-opening-day-what-to-expectJim McLennan