AZ Snake Pit - Game #111: 8/11, Diamondbacks 9 vs. Pirates 3An unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png2022-08-11T21:01:23-04:00http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/stream/230654822022-08-11T21:01:23-04:002022-08-11T21:01:23-04:00Diamondbacks 9, Pirates 3 - Lucky 7’s
<figure>
<img alt="Pittsburgh Pirates v Arizona Diamondbacks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TXJJSocs80DXGRkx2DAMHYSfFwQ=/1x0:2476x1650/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71234638/1414311479.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Merrill Kelly struggled for the first time in over two months, but the offense strung together some hits for a massive 7th inning to put this out of reach.</p> <p id="Jje9Oj">The last time Merrill Kelly couldn’t make it through 5 innings was all the way back in <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT202206030.shtml">June</a> against this same Pirates team when Kelly only managed 5 innings with 89 pitches. Since then? 11 starts, averaging 6 2/3rds innings a game with an ERA of 2.21. Was it a sign of things to come in this one? Early on it didn’t seem like it.</p>
<p id="106mw1">Kelly was as close to perfect his first 2 innings, allowing just a walk to ONeil Cruz. He was quickly erased on a pickoff and the Pirates followed, striking out twice in the inning.</p>
<p id="nn43S3">The 3rd was a little more strenuous, as old friend Josh VanMeter singled with two outs and Ben Gamel walked after VanMeter reached 2nd on a stolen base. BUT, Bryan Reynolds flew out to right field to end the inning.</p>
<p id="cflePj">The D-backs had an even worse time trying to start the offense against JT Brubaker, who stymied the team, allowing a lone walk to Jordan Luplow in the 3rd but no damage.</p>
<p id="U16fnc">Both offenses picked it up in the 4th, as the Pirates strung together a couple of hits and walks to score 3 runs. The big moment was a fielder’s choice from Tucupita Marcano after a double steal put runners at 2nd and 3rd. With the infield in, Walker fielded the routine grounder and had a momentary bobble before throwing home, allowing Ke’Bryan Hayes to score after he left 3rd base on contact. </p>
<div id="vOsts9">
<div><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com%2FFORGE%2F2022%2F2022-08%2F11%2F6f058046-96eb6374-32326a3a-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4&key=9ef4a209439e42bc59783ba959d50197" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media *;"></iframe></div></div>
<script async="" src="https://cdn.iframe.ly/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="OUzfuC">So instead of two outs in the inning and zero runs scored, we had runners on the corners with a <strong>1-0</strong> deficit. Greg Allen followed with a single, scoring O’neil Cruz from 3rd, and after getting caught in a rundown, Marcano scored when no one covered 1st behind Walker. Despite the youth, mental lapses still happen, and kudos to the Pirates for taking advantage for a <strong>3-0 lead.</strong> </p>
<p id="XzyJ90">Thankfully, the offense responded in kind. Emmanuel Rivera continued his hot start as a D-back, homering DEEP to left for a leadoff homer. Rojas walked and moved to 2nd on a Walker groundout, but a weakly hit ball from Carson Kelly dropped in for a hit, scoring Rojas and cutting the lead to <strong>3-2.</strong></p>
<p id="iMpC2O">Merrill worked around an error and single by striking out the side in the 5th, but the extra batters cost him, as he had thrown 99 pitches to that point, ending his night after that inning. He was alright in this one, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks, striking out 6 in his 5 innings.</p>
<p id="EInmYg">The bullpen was outstanding in relief, combining for 4 innings of shutout baseball. They combined to allow just a single hit, striking out 5 and giving the team a chance to come back, and boy did they ever.</p>
<p id="dzxWDo">McCarthy led things off with a single chopped-off home plate, Alcantara followed with a single of his own. Perdomo attempted to bunt, failing twice, and a third attempt hit him as he pulled the bat back for a HBP, loading the bases. Thomas grounded out sharply to a drawn-in infield, and Newman only had one play as he had it bounce off his chest to tie the game at <strong>3.</strong> Early hero Rivera doubled down the left field line, just out of the reach of Hayes at 3rd to score two more runs. That wasn’t it for the offense, as Rojas and Walker walked to load the bases, and Varsho doubled to DEEP center field to score all the runners, breaking this thing wide open with our final score of <strong>9-3</strong>. How deep? A homer in 27/30 ballparks. Unfortunately one of those was Chase Field. </p>
<div id="LDH2rm">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Daulton Varsho vs Yerry De Los Santos<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DBacks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DBacks</a><br><br>Double <br><br>Exit velo: 102.9 mph<br>Launch angle: 24 deg<br>Proj. distance: 441 ft<br><br>This would have been a home run in 27/30 MLB ballparks<br><br>PIT (3) @ ARI (8)<br> 7th <a href="https://t.co/iMnNoPlkE0">pic.twitter.com/iMnNoPlkE0</a></p>— Would it dong? (@would_it_dong) <a href="https://twitter.com/would_it_dong/status/1557857030810939392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2022</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="A line chart showing the Diamondbacks win probability, starting a 50% and going as low as 24% before ending as 100% win probability for the Diamondbacks." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_-1ZVT9rzajw-oND95yjVPSEZ08=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23939827/chart__4_.png">
</figure>
<p id="BBk7em">Emmanuel Rivera is your Player of the Game with his +.208 WPA after his 3 for 5 day with two doubles and a homer. Sergio Alcantara was 2 for 4 and a run scored for a +.126 of his own.</p>
<p id="oXetWS">A breezy 54 comments with 0 in the red, so no comment of the thread this day. Stop on by tomorrow as the D-backs head to Colorado for a 3-game set against the Rockies.</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2022/8/11/23302392/diamondbacks-pirates-game-recap-august-11thSteven Burt2022-08-11T15:30:00-04:002022-08-11T15:30:00-04:00Gameday Thread, #111: 8/11 vs. Pirates
<figure>
<img alt="Hedy Lamarr" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/IrJFDl16kdWEcn-evjiObYbUigA=/0x0:2992x1995/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71233588/119943047.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>On this day in 1942, actress Hedy Lamarr & composer George Antheil receive a patent for a communication system, later used in wireless telephones, two-way radio communications, and Wi-Fi.</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2022/8/11/23301439/gameday-thread-111-8-11-vs-piratesJim McLennan2022-08-11T14:30:00-04:002022-08-11T14:30:00-04:00Diamondbacks Game Preview #111: 8/11 vs. Pirates
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yYVfX6H-su5aJlRIBuiIy_Kje6g=/5x0:1256x834/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71233332/Screenshot_20220811_075807_Brave.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>Back down we go!</p> <div id="3gcAu9">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget lineup clearfix">
<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>
<div class="lineup">
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" class="zebra">
<thead>
<tr>
<th align="left">PIRATES</th>
<th align="left">DIAMONDBACKS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Ben Gamel - DH</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Alek Thomas - CF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Bryan Reynolds - CF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Emmanuel Rivera - 3B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Ke'Bryan Hayes - 3B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Josh Rojas - DH</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Oneil Cruz - SS</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Christian Walker - 1B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Bligh Madris - RF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Daulton Varsho - RF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Tucupita Marcano - 2B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Carson Kelly - C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Greg Allen - LF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Jordan Luplow - LF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Jose Godoy - C</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Sergio Alcantara - 2B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Josh VanMeter - 1B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Geraldo Perdomo - SS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name"></td>
<td class="td-first td-name"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">JT Brubaker - RHP</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Merrill Kelly - RHP</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="7RupNJ">
<p id="dUwc5I">Oh, well. It was nice while it lasted. The D-backs failed in their fifth consecutive attempt to match the season high winning streak of four games. I got quite excited in the ninth, when they loaded the bases with no outs, to bring the tying run to the plate. But then it all fell apart, with what I'd have to call one of the most bizarre plays in franchise history. It was complete rubbish all round, requiring incompetence from both teams and the officials, in order to achieve the final level of head-shaking weirdness. The old adage about there always being a chance of seeing something at a game you've never seen before, certainly came true there. Just not in a GOOD way. Won’t see it on any end-of-season highlights, I imagine...</p>
<p id="pPxWrA">This afternoon, Merrill Kelly seeks to extend his streak of seven starts without defeat. He’s 4-0 over that time, and deserved even better than that, with a 1.77 ERA across those three no-decisions (4 ER in 20.1 IP), all of which were quality starts. Though it’s not even the longest lossless streak currently active on the team, with Zac Gallen being unbeaten over his last ten outings. [Zac had a 12-game streak not long before that, and has just two defeats over 24 starts dating back to September 19] The all-time record holder there, incidentally, is probably not someone you’d expect. Answer at the bottom.</p>
<p id="j1pBHB">The fact that every one of those Kelly appearances was a quality start is a little more notable, especially in this era where, as noted yesterday, they only happen in slightly more than one-third of starts (36%). There hasn’t been a longer streak than seven for over three years, since Zack Greinke produced 11 quality starts in a row, during April and May 2019. The franchise mark belongs to Curt Schilling, who had 16 in a row during 2002. Though the more striking streak is probably Randy Johnson’s 14-game streak in 1999. Six of those were complete games, but the Big Unit still had a losing record over that time, going 5-6. That included four in a row which finished 0-1, 0-2, 0-1, 0-2, as Randy went 25 days with a single run in support!</p>
<p id="kycyad"><em>The all-time franchise unbeaten start streak belongs to... Brian Anderson, who was 10-0 over 19 starts in a row, from July 1999 through the following June. The big three’s longest streaks without an L were 14 games for Brandon Webb, 13 for Randy Johnson, and only 10 for Curt Schilling</em></p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2022/8/11/23301481/diamondbacks-game-preview-111-8-11-vs-piratesJim McLennan