AZ Snake Pit - Game #95: Diamondbacks 2, Giants 0An unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png2014-07-12T20:47:03-04:00http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/stream/56575522014-07-12T20:47:03-04:002014-07-12T20:47:03-04:00Diamondbacks 2, Giants 0: Turnabout shutout
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<figcaption>Thearon W. Henderson</figcaption>
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<p>The day after being kept scoreless by Tim Lincecum and the Giants, Wade Miley and the Diamondbacks did the same, four-hitting San Francisco for their third shutout of this season. </p> <p><b>Record: 40-55. Pace: 68-94. Change on 2013/2010: -10/+3.</b></p>
<p>Through <span>Wade Miley's</span> first 17 starts, he had been far from the pitcher who deserved his spot in 2012 as runner-up in Rookie of the Year voting. He had a 4.78 ERA, was walking more people than any year since his debut in 2011, and was allowing home-runs at a clip: 17 in 105.1 innings. But since the calendar reached July, it's as if Miley turned the page with it. His three starts this month have been a whole new ballgame, literally. He has allowed three earned runs in 21.2 innings, without allowing a homer, and has a K:BB ratio in that time of 22:4. But for <span>Addison Reed's</span> Pittsburgh meltdown, he could well have won all three starts.Here's what <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fmlb%2Fdiamondbacks%2F2014%2F06%2F26%2Fwade-mileys-recent-struggles-baffling-diamondbacks%2F11444677%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azsnakepit.com%2F2014%2F7%2F12%2F5894303%2Fdiamondbacks-giants-wade-miley-aaron-hill" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">Nick Piecoro wrote</a> before that outing:</p>
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<p>Miley plans to go back to the basics and refine a few things in the days leading up to his next start. He'll be focusing on how he approaches hitters the first time through the lineup and ways to get more shut-down innings. The latter have been hard to come by because he's been issuing too many walks and leaving too many pitches up in the strike zone. "That's something he's going to have to work on and we're going to practice on some things in between his starts and really focus on a good routine between starts," Gibson said. "He's looking for results."</p>
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<p>Mission accomplished, it would appear., going by seven shutout innings this afternoon, holding San Francisco to four hits, all singles. They only had three at-bats with runners in scoring position all afternoon, and Miley stopped them there. With two outs and two on in the fourth, he got a swinging strikeout of <span>Joaquin Arias</span>, and then in the seventh inning, dug his way out of a deeper hole. With one out, he allowed a walk and a single. A groundball to Goldscmidt followed, with Paul flipping the ball to Miley who scurried over but was beaten to the bag by the runner, who was called safe, apparently loading the bases with one out for San Francisco.</p>
<p>However., Miley was righteously indignant about the call, claiming he had tagged the runner with the ball as both men headed for first. Our manager Gibson'd his way out of the dugout, and a challenge was issued - on further review, it was clear Wade had indeed made the play, and the call was reversed. There was still work to do, with the tying run on second and two outs, but he got more help from Goldie, who flashed his Gold Glove defense to snag a liner off the bat of pinch-hitter <span>Hector Sanchez</span> for the final out. That was it for Miley, who went seven innings, on four hits and three walks, with four K's.</p>
<p>The bullpen then took over the 2-0 lead, and... Well, it was surprisingly drama-free, as <span>Brad Ziegler</span> and Addison Reed retired all six batters they faced, keeping the tying run from getting any closer than the on-deck circle. The ninth inning by Reed was, for once, particularly pleasant and drama-free, as he took just nine pitches for a 1-2-3 ninth, and his 21st save. That tied his personal best for the quickest inning of the year, and was also his first "clean" appearance in more than two weeks, the last one coming June 27.</p>
<p>We should probably have scored a good deal more than two runs, given our nine hits, most of them going for extra bases. But the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> weren't able to get the clutch hits when they needed them, going 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Six of those empty at-bats came over the last couple of innings, as leadoff doubles by <span>David Peralta</span> and <span>Gerardo Parra</span> were wasted. <span>Aaron Hill</span> scored both of our runs, getting us on the board with a one-out home-run in the fourth inning, his seventh of the year. He then doubled and came around to score in the seventh, on Parra's second hit of the day. Peralta also had a pair of hits for Arizona.</p>
<p><span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> wasted no time in extending his on-base streak, doubling with two outs in the first inning, to reach base safely for the 32nd consecutive game. That's a personal best and is the longest by a Diamondback since <span>Orlando Hudson</span> had a 33-game streak in 2007, so Goldschmidt could tie that for third all-time, if he gets on base in tomorrow's rubber match. It'd also tie Paul with Y*s**l P**g for the second-longest streak in the NL this season; <span>Carlos Gomez</span> of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> holds the top spot there, with 35 games.</p>
<p align="center"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2014-07-12&team=Giants&dh=0&season=2014"><img alt="20140712_diamondbacks_giants_0_20140712191834_live_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/2283466/20140712_Diamondbacks_Giants_0_20140712191834_live_medium.png"></a><br>[<i>Click to enlarge at fangraphs.com</i>]<br><b>Lebron James: Wade Miley, +42.7%</b><br>Cleveland: Aaron Hill, +15.9%<br><i><b>ESPN: <span>Miguel Montero</span>, -6.3%</b></i></p>
<p>A pretty lightly-trafficked Gameday Thread, squeaking past 200 comments. People must have something better to do on a Saturday afternoon. Who'd have thought it? SenSurround, JoeCB1991 and GuruB all finished in the thirties, with the others popping in and out being: Arizona Eyebrows, AzDbackfanInDc, BulldogsNotZags, GODSCHMIDT, Jim McLennan, MrMrrbi, catbat, freeland1787, hotclaws, onedotfive, piratedan7, shoewizard and xmet. No comment received more than a couple of recs, so I am forced to withhold Comment of the Day for this one.</p>
<p>It's back to AT&T Park tomorrow, for another afternoon game, and the last contest before the All-Star. There has been a pitching change for the D-backs, with <span>Chase Anderson</span>, originally scheduled to start, being replaced by recent acquisition Vidal Nuño: it seems the team is looking to manage Chase's innings a bit.</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2014/7/12/5894303/diamondbacks-giants-wade-miley-aaron-hillJim McLennan2014-07-12T19:05:00-04:002014-07-12T19:05:00-04:00Diamondbacks 2, Giants 0
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<figcaption>Thearon W. Henderson</figcaption>
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<p>Wade Miley gave Arizona seven shutout innings and the Diamondbacks paid the Giants back for a blanking yesterday, by turning the tables and keeping them scoreless today. </p> <p>Miley was excellent, holding San Francisco to four hits and three walks over his seven innings. The stickiest moments were probably right at the end, after it looked like he might have given up an infield single, allowing the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> to load the bases with one out. However, the play was challenged by Kirk Gibson, and the out at first was (correctly) given. <span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> then snared a hard-hit ball for the final out, to strand the tying run in scoring position for the Giants. Brad Ziegler worked a scoreless eighth, and the Addison Reed Experience proved surprisingly painless.</p>
<p>The D-backs offense did just enough, though went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position, wasting leadoff doubles in both the eighth and ninth innings. We managed a total of nine hits, with two apiece for <span>David Peralta</span>, <span>Aaron Hill</span> and <span>Gerardo Parra</span> - Goldschmidt also extended his on-base streak with a double. Hill scored both the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> runs, driving himself in with his seventh homer in the fourth, and coming round to score on Parra's single in the seventh inning.</p>
<p>Tomorrow afternoon sees the rubber game of the series, with <span>Vidal Nuno</span> taking on <span>Madison Bumgarner</span>.</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2014/7/12/5894235/diamondbacks-giants-scoreJim McLennan2014-07-12T15:00:03-04:002014-07-12T15:00:03-04:00Preview: Pitchers who rake
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<p>Day baseball by the cove, as Wade Miley goes up against Ryan Vogelsong. I imagine Miley is hoping to reproduce his success at the plate against Vogelsong.</p> <p>
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<br><span>Wade Miley</span><br>LHP, 4-6, 4.43</h5>
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<br><span>Ryan Vogelsong</span><br>RHP, 5-6, 3.92<br>
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<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> Lineup</h4>
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<span>Ender Inciarte</span> - CF </li>
<li> <span>David Peralta</span> - LF</li>
<li> <span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> - 1B</li>
<li> <span>Miguel Montero</span> - C</li>
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<span>Aaron Hill</span> - 2B </li>
<li> <span>Martin Prado</span> - 3B</li>
<li> <span>Gerardo Parra</span> - RF</li>
<li> <span>Didi Gregorius</span> - SS</li>
<li>Wade Miley - P</li>
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<p>Wade Miley and Ryan Vogelsong have met before.</p>
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<p>That was from April 22nd last year, and represents Miley's only career home-run. It's also the only time in almost three years that any Diamondbacks' pitcher has homered, the one prior to that being <span>Daniel Hudson</span> vs. LA on July 17, 2011. Given Gibby's fondness for playing match-ups, I'm a bit surprised Miley is hitting 9th today, considering Aaron Hill is the only other Diamondbacks with a home-run off Vogelsong, in a total of 127 at-bats. As against Lincecum, Hill has basically dominated him, going 11-for-22 with a 1.269 OPS. Didn't really seem to help us much last night, though...</p>
<p>On the subject of pitchers who rake, four have hit more than one home-run while wearing a Diamondbacks' jersey. <span>Micah Owings</span>, obviously - hell, he hit two <i>in one game</i>, as I'm sure we all remember. <span>Dan Haren</span> is another, and going back to the dawn of time, we find Andy Benes also did it. The fourth, however, is likely not a name you'd guess: Zach Duke. It's particularly impressive, because it took a mere 20 at-bats for Duke to hit his two homers - the same number as <span>Augie Ojeda</span> had for us in <u>806</u> ABs. In his one season with Arizona, Duke was 6-for-20, giving him a line of .300/.333/.600 for a .933 OPS. He's <a target="_blank" href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/WS2Hg">2nd all-time by OPS</a> for D-backs with 20+ PAs.</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2014/7/12/5893453/diamondbacks-giants-previewJim McLennan