AZ Snake Pit - Game #148: 9/19, Arizona Diamondbacks 6, San Francisco Giants 0An unofficial Arizona Diamondbacks community and bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47033/azsnakepit_f.png2015-09-19T22:47:35-04:00http://www.azsnakepit.com/rss/stream/91212042015-09-19T22:47:35-04:002015-09-19T22:47:35-04:00Diamondbacks 6, Giants 0: Pat the Giant Slayer
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<figcaption>Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>There may come a time when the Giants score against us again. Today, however, was not that day. </p> <p><b>Record: 71-77. Pace: 78-84. Change on 2014: +11. </b></p>
<p>Today's the 11th time in team history that we've thrown consecutive shutouts, and the second occasion this season - we previously did so on July 25-16 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a>. But you would have to go back further to find a case where the shutouts were quite so decisive. Only once has the team allowed fewer than ten hits over the shutouts: that was in 2011, when we blanked the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> on June 3-4, on a total of seven hits, with four walks and 15 strikeouts. That's two fewer hits and the same number of walks as we managed today and yesterday in San Francisco, but also two fewer K's than the 17 managed. So, this could arguably be considered our best back-to-back pitched games of all time.</p>
<p>Certainly, Corbin continues to be pitching like an ace again. Seven shutout innings this afternoon, and this is his fourth consecutive start without issuing a walk. The last time we had a starter do that was <span>Javier Vazquez</span> in 2005, who went seven straight games and fifty innings. I kinda expected <span>Curt Schilling</span> to have done something similar, but his longest such streak was five games, in 2002. Anyway, over his last five starts, Corbin has thrown 31.1 innings, allowing 29 hits and five earned runs, with a K:BB ratio of 25:2. It has, unsurprisingly, been a process to come back from Tommy John, but everything indicates that, health willing, he can be an ace next season.</p>
<p>Admittedly, this latest performance came against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>, who looked a tired, defeated and sorry bunch again this afternoon: it's clear they have now given up entirely on any chance of defending <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-series">the World Series</a> title. Starter Mike Leake was gone after three innings, to be followed by former D-back Yusmeiro Petit, whom we actually slapped around pretty well for once, tagging him for five hits in two innings of work, though they led to just the one run. Such was the way: generally, when you get 17 hits in regulation, you <i>expect</i> to score more than four runs - that's the same number we got against LA when we beat them 12-4. But today, all but one of our hits were singles.</p>
<p>That's another, albeit somewhat twisted mark set today: most hits with one or fewer going for extra-bases. The previous mark was fifteen, and you have to go back more than a dozen years for that, to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200308010.shtml">August 2003</a>. We started the game off with <i>fifteen</i> consecutive singles, before <span>Jarrod Saltalamacchia</span> broke things up, doubling to center with one out in the eighth inning. The hit parade begin with three singles in the first, ending with a <span>David Peralta</span> RBI, though probably inevitably, that was followed by Saltalamacchia hitting into the statutory required double-play. Still, three more singles and a walk followed in the second, we were 3-0 up, and never looked back.</p>
<p>Unlike yesterday, when the sides were a combined 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position, the teams today did get some clutch hits. Well, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> did, anyway - the Giants were 0-for-5. It certainly helped that until the ninth inning, all of those at bats came with two outs, minimizing the chances for any damage. Corbin only had two such plate-appearances over his seven innings, and generated a pair of ground-balls to end the threat. He finished strong, striking out the side in the seventh to leave at exactly 80 pitches, with five hits plus five strikeouts, and likely one of his top three performances of the season.</p>
<p>Unsurprisingly given the number of hits, quite a few gaudy lines here. All three of our starting outfielders. Peralta, <span>A.J. Pollock</span> and <span>Ender Inciarte</span> had three hits games, the Arizona outfield going a combined 9-for-15 with two walks and three stolen bases (all of them coming in the sixth inning, when <span>Matt Cain</span> was pitching in relief). Both of those free passes went to Pollock, who thus reached base five times. <span>Jake Lamb</span> had two hits and a walk, and <span>Chris Owings</span> a pair of hits. Every starter had a hit, even Corbin, who helped himself out with an RBI single in the fifth, only to blot his copybook by trying to advance on the throw, and getting thrown out at second.</p>
<p>Still, considering everything else Corbin did right, that hardly deserves more than a minor demerit. The team ran their record to 8-1 in San Francisco, and a win tomorrow afternoon would give us more road victories in a single season against one opponent than the team has ever managed. Even if they've hardly played like it, doing so against the reigning World Series champions would certainly be a nice trophy to take into the winter, and sweeping them on the road would perhaps also leave them with some fear of the Diamondbacks to carry into 2016.</p>
<p align="center"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2015-09-19&team=Giants&dh=0&season=2015"><img src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4078726/chart.0.png" alt="Fangraph"></a> <br>[<i>Click for details at fangraphs.com</i>]<br><b>Jack: <span>Patrick Corbin</span>, +24.2%</b><br>A handful of magic beans: David Peralta, +13.2%<br><i><b>The cow: Jarrod Saltalamacchia, -13.3%</b></i></p>
<p align="left">Not a bad Gameday Thread with AzDbackfanInDc leading the numbers, ahead of the long-absent and welcome return of Rockkstarr12, with freeland1787 in third. Also enjoying the silence of the Giants were: AzRattler, GuruB, Husk, Jim McLennan, JoeCB1991, SongBird, asteroid, gamepass, hotclaws and onedotfive. Comment of the thread to onedotfive:</p>
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<h2 class="title collapse_toggle ">It started with a small leak, and turned into a mutiny</h2>
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<p>Not one shred of evidence exists in favor of the idea that life is serious.</p>
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<div class="meta">by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/onedotfive" class="poster" target="_blank">onedotfive</a> on <a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/9/19/9357703/gameday-thread-148-9-19-giants#327995200" class="date">Sep 19, 2015 | 2:54 PM</a> <span class="user_actions"> <a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/9/19/9357703/gameday-thread-148-9-19-giants#" class="up_link" title="scroll to parent comment">up</a> <a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/9/19/9357703/gameday-thread-148-9-19-giants#" class="reply_link" title="reply to this comment">reply</a> <span class="cactions mod "> <a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/9/19/9357703/gameday-thread-148-9-19-giants#" class="rec_link user_recommended"> unrec <span class="rec_count"> (3) </span> </a> <span class="mod_actions"> <a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/9/19/9357703/gameday-thread-148-9-19-giants#" class="actions_toggle">actions</a> </span> </span> </span>
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<p align="left">We go for the sweep tomorrow, and see how much further we can extend the shutout streak. I know that, sooner or later, someone on the Diamondbacks is going to allow a run to the Giants. I want that pitcher, whoever they may be, to know that I am going to be pretty pissed at them. Tomorrow, it's <span>Jeremy Hellickson</span> and I have to say, based on his last outing, I'm putting the chances of three consecutive shutouts somewhat below the proverbial snowball in hell. I'll settle for the sweep.</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/9/19/9358371/diamondbacks-giants-patrick-corbinJim McLennan2015-09-19T19:08:22-04:002015-09-19T19:08:22-04:00Diamondbacks 6, Giants 0
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<figcaption>Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Another day, another shutout of the Giants</p> <p><span>Patrick Corbin</span> was as good as we've seen him since coming off the DL, tossing seven shutout innings, on only five hits, with no walks and five strikeouts. He was also extremely efficient, needing only 80 pitches to get that deep into the game, and improved his record for the season to 6-4. <span>David Hernandez</span> came in after Corbin left the game, and worked a scoreless eighth, with <span>Josh Collmenter</span> pitching the ninth. It was the second time this season we have thrown consecutive shutouts; we've never had three in a row, but will have that chance tomorrow afternoon.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> pounded out 17 hits, which would probably have led to more runs, if not for the fact that 16 of them were singles, with a Jarrod Saltalamacchi double the only one for extra bases. Still, it was easily more than enough, and after we scored one in the first, then two in the second, the result never seemed much in doubt. There were three-hit games for our entire starting outfield in the shape of <span>A.J. Pollock</span>, <span>Ender Inciarte</span> and <span>David Peralta</span>, the first reaching base five times, as he also got two walks. <span>Chris Owings</span> had a pair of hits and <span>Jake Lamb</span> two hits and a walk/</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/9/19/9358147/diamondbacks-giants-scoreJim McLennan2015-09-19T14:00:03-04:002015-09-19T14:00:03-04:00Game #148 Preview: 9/19, Diamondbacks @ Giants
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<figcaption>Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Diamondbacks have been utterly dominant at AT&T Park this year. </p> <h4 align="center">The La Russa Heartbreakometer</h4>
<p align="center"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/8/21/9189161/arizona-diamondbacks-cincinatti-reds-preview/in/8953700">What is this?</a></p>
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<td><img alt="Heart Left" style="height: 200px;" src="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3989046/heartl.0.png"></td>
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<img alt="W" src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3989118/w.0.png"><img alt="W" src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3989118/w.0.png"><img alt="W" src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3989118/w.0.png"><img alt="W" src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3989118/w.0.png"><img alt="W" src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3989118/w.0.png"><img alt="W" src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3989118/w.0.png"><img alt="W" src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3989118/w.0.png"><img alt="W" src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3989118/w.0.png">
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<td><img style="height: 200px;" alt="Heart right" src="https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3989044/heartr.0.png"></td>
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<span>Patrick Corbin</span><br>LHP, 5-4, 3.29</h5>
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<span>Mike Leake</span><br>RHP, 10-8, 3.72</h5>
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<span>A.J. Pollock</span> - CF</td>
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<span>Angel Pagan</span> - CF</td>
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<span>Ender Inciarte</span> - RF</td>
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<span>Kelby Tomlinson</span> - 2B</td>
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<span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> - 1B</td>
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<span>Matt Duffy</span> - 3B</td>
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<span>David Peralta</span> - LF</td>
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<span>Buster Posey</span> - 1B</td>
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<span>Jarrod Saltalamacchia</span> - C</td>
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<span>Marlon Byrd</span> - RF</td>
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<span>Phil Gosselin</span> - 2B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Juan C. Perez - LF</td>
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<span>Jake Lamb</span> - 3B</td>
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<span>Brandon Crawford</span> - SS</td>
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<span>Chris Owings</span> - SS</td>
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<span>Trevor Brown</span> - C</td>
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<td class="td-last td-name">Patrick Corbin - LHP</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Mike Leake - RHP</td>
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<p>With two games left to play, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> are currently 7-1 in AT&T Park this year. Only once in team history have they won more games than that for a season in any road location, back in 2005 when they went 8-1 in Dodger Stadium. That's a real change: as mentioned last night, we have already won the season series against San Francisco for the first time since 2008. Not even the division winning squad from 2011 bested the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> during the regular season, going 9-9. And it hadn't typically been even that close: from 2009-14, our overall mark versus them was feeble: 41 wins to 69 losses.</p>
<p>There's no doubt what has powered this year's success: stellar Arizona pitching, as we saw in last night's two-hit shutout from Rubby De La Rosa and the bullpen. Our current ERA there of 1.46, is the lowest in team history for any location where we played more than a single series, eclipsing the previous 1.87, set over ten games last year in - and this is my unsurprised face - Petco Park. It's also the lowest inflicted at home on the Giants since they moved to California. We've allowed a total of 13 runs in eight games, six of those coming in the 12-inning season opener. Over the last 49 frames? <u>Three</u> runs.</p>
<p>I'm not sure why our staff this season seems to love pitching at AT&T, but it has certainly worked out. Maybe we should offer to trade De La Rosa to the Giants, since he has given up three earned runs in 20.1 innings of work there this year, for a 1.33 ERA. Our bullpen has been even better of late, not allowing a run in the past seven games at AT&T, with an active 13.1 inning scoreless streak in San Francisco too, giving up just seven hits and a walk with 11 strikeouts in that time. Part of me knows this can't last forever. But as long as it last for about the next 36 hours, I'll settle for that!</p>
https://www.azsnakepit.com/2015/9/19/9356973/game-148-preview-9-19-arizona-diamondbacks-san-francisco-giantsJim McLennan