AZ Snake Pit - Game #79, 6/23: Diamondbacks 3, Giants 2An unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png2019-06-23T20:34:00-04:00http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/stream/184657352019-06-23T20:34:00-04:002019-06-23T20:34:00-04:00Diamondbacks Walk off Giants in the 10th, 3-2
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<figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>DBacks break a 6 game losing streak</p> <p id="XKohww"><span>Tim Locastro</span>’s bases loaded walk off single to left just over the glove of third baseman <span>Evan Longoria</span> helped the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> finally snapped their 6 game losing streak. It also helped them get that first elusive win of this 9 game home stand, having been swept by the Rockies and losing the first two to the Giants. It was <span>Locastro</span>’s 2nd walk hit this season, the first coming on June 1st against the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>. It seems every time he is in lineup he does something positive to help the team, and today was no exception as he had two basehits on the day and drove in two of the DBacks three runs.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tim Locastro gives the <a href="https://twitter.com/Dbacks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dbacks</a> a much-needed win on a walk-off! <a href="https://t.co/eWc3df2ZmO">pic.twitter.com/eWc3df2ZmO</a></p>— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSPORTSAZ/status/1142937361115824128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2019</a>
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<p id="c77hYP"><span>Merrill Kelly</span> had an excellent rebound from his last outing. He pitched 6 innings , giving up 2 runs on 4 hits, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts, and a homerun. The homer came from the first batter of the 7th inning, <span>Kevin Pillar</span>, who hammered the DBacks all series. That tied the game at two and there was some discussion and debate over whether Kelly should have been allowed to go back out for the 7th, as he was at 99 pitches. </p>
<p id="6jVoI1">Manager Torey Lovullo said after the game : “<span>Merrill Kelly</span> continued to throw the ball extremely well. It’s one of those situations where I asked him to go out there and get an extra out and it didn’t work out the way we wanted to. But I’m not going to focus on that at all because he was outstanding and paced us all day long on a day we really needed a starting pitcher to step up:”</p>
<p id="hRtMCh">Kelly has already done that quite a few times this season, and has been a real find for Mike Hazen and the front office. </p>
<p id="hthwLU">The bullpen was great today. <span>Andrew Chafin</span>, <span>Yoan Lopez</span>, <span>Greg Holland</span>, and <span>Matt Andriese</span> each pitched one inning without allowing a baserunner to shut down the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> offense over the last four innings. </p>
<p id="pMcube">Giants Rookie Shaun Anderson also pitched a very good game, going 6 innings and allowing just 2 runs on 5 hits , a walk and 2 strikeouts. </p>
<p id="r7iIzB">There was a moment in the bottom of the 7th where it seemed like the Diamondbacks were going to be Snakebit and were destined to lose the game. <span>Eduardo Escobar</span> lead off with a bloop single to centerfield that <span>Brandon Crawford</span> couldn’t hold on to. <span>Christian Walker</span>, who is 12 for 30, .400 during his current 8 game hit streak, hit a smash over the right fielder’s head but the ball hopped the wall for a ground rule double. Had it not bounced over, <span>Escobar</span> might have scored. Then with <span>Nick Ahmed</span> at the plate, Giants Reliever Reyes Moronta threw a wild pitch that seemingly should have scored Escobar, but the ball hit the backstop and bounced back so sharply to the catcher that he just had to turn around and tag Eduardo, who was out by 10 feet. <span>Ahmed</span> proceeded to ground out. <span>Domingo Leyba</span> came in to pinch hit, and hit a very long and loud foul down the line into the Giants bullpen, but it was foul, and then a few pitches later he struck out. </p>
<p id="LX02bU">It seemed like a wrong button pushed by Torey in the top of the 7th, and the bad luck and execution in the bottom of the inning were going to be the epitaph for the Dbacks season. Instead, The <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a>, <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a>, <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a>, and <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> all lost. Once again the DBacks find themselves just 2.5 Games back in the Wild Card with only three teams ahead of them. Will they will live to fight another day, a week , a month , or however long, and stay Mike Hazen’s hand from a trade deadline selloff ? We shall see</p>
<p id="1XEklz">It doesn’t get any easier, as they start a three game series with the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> tomorrow night at 6:40. You won’t want to miss this one, as it will be <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> facing off against <span>Zack Greinke</span></p>
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<p id="yMpyz6"><a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2019-06-23&team=Diamondbacks&dh=0&season=2019">Fangraphs Box Score</a></p>
<p id="M1aGzj">Sunday Heroes: <span>Christian Walker</span> +.336, <span>Tim Locastro</span> +.209</p>
<p id="AVcXgS">Sunday Zeroes: <span>Nick Ahmed</span> -.191, <span>David Peralta</span> -.110</p>
<p id="D7alpW">There were 214 comments by 22 posters today. Roll Call:</p>
<p id="JwUNpL"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/AZPerson">AZPerson</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/AzCutter">AzCutter</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/AzDbackfanInDc">AzDbackfanInDc</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/BobDolio">BobDolio</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/DeadManG">DeadManG</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Gore4HOF">Gore4HOF</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/GuruB">GuruB</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Jack%20Sommers">Jack Sommers</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Jim%20McLennan">Jim McLennan</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/MrMrrbi">MrMrrbi</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/NikT77">NikT77</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Rockkstarr12">Rockkstarr12</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Schilling2001">Schilling2001</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Smurf1000">Smurf1000</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Snake_Bitten">Snake_Bitten</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Sprankton">Sprankton</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/The-Icon">The-Icon</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/kilnborn">kilnborn</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/onedotfive">onedotfive</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/suroeste">suroeste</a></p>
<p id="m985L0">No Sedona Red Comments today. C’mon people...either be funnier or be more generous with the rec’s, or both. :)</p>
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https://www.azsnakepit.com/2019/6/23/18714822/diamondbacks-walk-off-giants-in-the-10th-3-2-tim-locastro-merrill-kelly-christian-walkerJack Sommers2019-06-23T16:00:00-04:002019-06-23T16:00:00-04:00Gameday Thread #79, 6/23 vs. Giants
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<p>Not much has changed in the Wild West.</p> <div id="J7FbA2">
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">June 23 - 1878: U.S. - Martin Sweeny, an Indian agent and Arizona mining entrepreneur, was killed near Tombstone, in a dispute over a mining property. <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/1142782608583090176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2019</a>
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https://www.azsnakepit.com/diamondbacks-gamedays/2019/6/23/18714661/gameday-thread-79-6-23-vs-giants-dbacks-tombstoneKeegan Thompson2019-06-23T15:00:00-04:002019-06-23T15:00:00-04:00Preview, #79: 6/23 vs. Giants
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<img alt="MLB: San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nRVYY59pPkxCTGh1I8IQfjE2J3A=/0x0:1866x1244/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64079045/usa_today_12944222.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Arizona looks to avoid its second straight series sweep.</p> <div id="qea4iD"><div data-anthem-component="table:6441459"></div></div>
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<p id="JmFNks">The <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> are struggling mightily against National League West opponents, and it couldn’t come at a worse time. They are a collective 11-24 against teams within the division which is easily the worst among the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>, <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a>, <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a>, and <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>. That’s unfortunate because they do not play a team outside of the division until after the All Star break. It’s a span of eighteen straight divisional games of which they’ve already dropped the first five. Put simply if they keep this up there is a chance they could be at the bottom of the division by the Midsummer Classic.</p>
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<p id="kAlJnj">This takes us to today’s starting pitcher for the D’backs, Merrill Kelly. Signed out of Korea having never pitched in the majors before, most expected nothing more than a back of the rotation starter. Fortunately, he’s provided much better results than what you’d expect from a back of the rotation arm in numerous starts this season. He’s pitched into and beyond the seventh inning more often than not and given up two runs or less in nearly half of his fifteen starts. He’s efficient and almost never has a problem throwing strikes, and it’s been a relief having him in the rotation surrounded by serious depth concerns. Kelly already has one victory against the San Francisco Giants this season coming against <span>Jeff Samardzija</span> on May 17th. In that start, he pitched 5 & <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings giving up no runs on six hits. The D’backs are going to need another gem from him today in order to end this six game losing streak.</p>
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<p id="rQMDpB">Arizona has already faced today’s starter for the Giants, <span>Shaun Anderson</span>, as recent as last month. On May 26th, the D’backs blasted him for nine hits and four runs in only five innings in the midst of an offensive onslaught road trip through San Francisco. He’s given up at least two runs in all of his starts this season, so the D’backs offense should do everything to turn fortunes around in today’s series finale.</p>
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<h2 id="GUv48n">Pregame Audio courtesy of Jack</h2>
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<li id="O0ItQg">Torey’s message to the fans is to be patient. Baseball season is a long grind and these tough stretches are budgeted for. He will not allow this team to play below his expectations. Feels that the potential for the team to be greater than they are is there.</li>
<li id="70Q18K">Confident with Merril Kelly on the mound. He is accountable for his results. He’s worked hard and finds himself pitching deep into games.</li>
<li id="m2eBf6">Ketel might play off the bench today, but chose to withheld him from the starting lineup to ensure he is healthy for the remainder of the season.</li>
<li id="IvmUrq">Thought Archie threw the ball well yesterday, but threw too many fastballs to a good fastball hitter.</li>
<li id="YNQQ90">Around the five minute mark Jack draws attention to other relievers in the bullpen, outside of <span>Archie Bradley</span>, also with ERA’s north of five and the fact that the team currently does not have a fifth starter or an effective fourth starter. Asked if the team has discussed making any changes. Torey stated that the team is currently looking within the organization (meaning the minor leagues). Torey does not feel that the numbers are indicative of how the relievers are throwing the ball.</li>
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<span>Jake Lamb</span> played for the third day in a row last night and has an off day today. <span>Wilmer Flores</span> will have a diagnostic scan next week to see how he is healing. <span>Alex Avila</span> is still a ways off having not resumed baseball activities. <span>Luke Weaver</span> will also have a diagnostic scan next week. <span>Taijuan Walker</span> has yet to resume throwing.</li>
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https://www.azsnakepit.com/diamondbacks-gamedays/2019/6/23/18714509/preview-79-6-23-vs-giants-dbacksKeegan Thompson