The Arizona Diamondbacks were attempting to sweep the Chicago Cubs in a three game series but they fell just short as they lost 10-6 on Wednesday night.  The Cubs scored six runs in the 8th inning to blow the game wide open.  Even though the D-backs responded with three runs in the bottom of the 8th inning they were still four runs behind and just couldn’t score enough to come back.  All in all I will take two out of three against the Cubs any time.

Doug Davis pitched seven innings and gave up five hits and was charged with four runs.  Davis struckout six batters while walking two.  He did give up a first inning home run to Derrek Lee but then settled down until the Cubs scored three more runs in the fifth inning.  Davis is now 3-5 on the year.

The big blow to the D-backs came in the 8th inning however when the Cubs pushed across six runs.  Five of those runs were charged to Micah Owings as he left with the bases loaded.  Reed Johnson then hit a grand slam off of Leo Rosales.  It did appear that the ball got some help from a fan to get over the fence but the umpires met and still ruled it a home run.

Tony Clark had a two run home run while Chris Snyder added a three run home run off Bob Howry in the 8th inning.  The other run for the D-backs came in the 5th inning when Conor Jackson had a rbi triple that scored Augie Ojeda.  The Diamondbacks struckout 11 times and left 16 runners on base in the game.

The D-backs will now be off on Thursday before the start up a weekend series with the San Francisco Giants.  Diamondbacks Baseball Blog loves your comments, so please leave us comments if you have something to say about the game recaps or articles!

Post info: By Cliff on July 24th, 2008
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The Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Chicago Cubs for the second straight night as they won 9-2.  The game was a close one until the D-backs scored six late runs in the 7th and 8th innings and blew the game wide open.  The Diamondbacks can now sweep the Central Division leading Cubs with a victory on Wednesday.

Yusmeiro Petit improved his record to 1-1 as he tossed five innings to get the win.  Petit gave up three hits but only one run while walking four and striking out three batters.  It was a quality start for Petit who made some mistakes but also pitched well at times.

Leo Rosales, Chad Qualls, Tony Pena, and newly acquired Jon Rauch all pitched one inning of relief.  Pena was the only pitcher to give up a run as gave up a solo home run to Daryle Ward in the 8th inning.  Other then that one mistake by Pena, the Diamondbacks bullpen all did a great job.

At the plate for the D-backs, they were lead by Conor Jackson who went 3-5 with three rbi.  Jackson had a solo home run in the first inning off of Jason Marquis and then added a two run double in the 8th inning when the D-backs broke the game wide open.  Stephen Drew, Orlando Hudson, Augie Ojeda, and Mark Reynolds all contributed with one rbi as well.

The Diamondbacks can sweep the Cubs without having Dan Haren or Brandon Webb throw the ball.  Now that will be a big deal if they can pull it off!  Diamondbacks Baseball Blog

Post info: By Cliff on July 23rd, 2008
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The Arizona Diamondbacks completed a three game series with the New York Mets wining two of three.  For a second straight game the Diamondbacks found some offense late and rallied against Mets’ closer Billy Wagner to tie the game late and send it to extra innings.  Today, the Diamondbacks’ were on the wining end beating the Mets 5-4 in ten innings. 

Dan Harren started the game for the Diamondbacks, he went six innings giving up two runs on five hits with five strikeouts.  The Diamondbacks’ bullpen gave up two more runs in the bottom of the seventh with Doug Slaten on the mound.  Slaten hit Damion Easley with a pitch; Ramon Castro hit a long fly ball to center that was misplayed by Chris Young, Easley would advance to third on the double.  Both Castro and Easly would score on an RBI single to center off the bat of Fernando TatisJose Reyes hit a double that advanced Tatis to third, Endy Chavez drew a walk and with one out and the bases loaded, Edgar Gonzalez came in to the game-he would get David Wright to hit a popup in foul territory on the first base side that was caught by Conner Jackson.  However, Gonzalez would have to face Carlos Beltran again, this time with the bases load, but Gonzalez won the battle when he got Beltran to fly out to centerfield.

The Diamondbacks scored two runs in the top of the eighth and Joe Smith on the mound, with one out Augie Ojeda drew a walk, but would be erased on a fielder’s choice, Orlando Hudson was safe at first, Connor Jackson hit a single to center advancing Hudson to second.  Mark Reynolds hit a triple that just missed going over the fence in center field.  Both Hudson and Jackson would score to make it 4-2.   

The top of the ninth inning started when Billy Wagner walked lead off man Miguel Montero, Wagner then gave up a single to Stephen Drew.  Chris Young doubled to left, scoring Montero, and allowing Drew to advance to third.  Augie Ojeda walked to load the bases, Orlando Hudson grounded to Jose Reyes who threw Drew out at the plate.  Connor Jackson hit a grounder to Jose Reyes, who flipped the ball to second base to get the force out, but Drew would score and tie the game at four.  Wagner was able to strike out Mark Reynolds on a called third strike to end the inning, but the damage was done.  With the game tied at 4 in the top of the tenth Aaron Heilman started the inning by giving up a double to Justin Upton, Jeff Salazar moved the runner to third on a sac bunt, and Upton would score on a sac fly by Miguel MonteroBrandon Lyon shut the Mets down in the bottom of the ninth and tenth innings recording his second win of the season. 

The Diamondbacks return home to start interleague play.  The Kansas City Royals will be in town.  The Diamondbacks will have Doug Davis on the mound and he will be opposed by Zack Greinke.  First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. 

Diamondbacks Blog

Post info: By Bernalda on June 12th, 2008
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The Diamondbacks traveled to Shea Stadium on Tuesday to take on the New  York Mets.  While the Diamondbacks are currently in first place in the NL West, they are not a great road team compiling a 13-18 road record this season.  When the Diamondbacks last saw the Mets they had a 20-8, the lost 2-3 to the Mets and since then are 14-22.  After a fast start, the Diamondbacks as a team are hitting .251 and are struggling to consistently put runs on the board; they still hold first place in the NL West as everyone else in division is playing .500 baseball.  However, the best thing to happen to the Diamondbacks’ offense was Mets pitching.  The Diamondbacks as a team had four homeruns in their 9-5 win over the Mets.  

Micha Owings started the game for the Diamondbacks.  In his last outing Owings was rocked for four earned runs off eight hits before leaving the game after three innings.  Owings has had two starts against the Mets and has a 0-1 record with a 6.94 era in those two games and didn’t fare much better in Tuesday night’s start.  In 41/3 innings he gave up 5 runs, four earned, on 8 hits with three walks and two strikeouts.  Owings who averages 2.6 walks per nine innings had give up two walks in the first inning of the game.  He was not sharp and lucky for him, neither were any of Mets pitchers.   

The Diamondbacks scored a run in the top of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead.  John Maine gave up a long home run to Orlando Hudson in the top of the fifth to cut the Mets lead 5-3.   In the sixth inning with Mets reliever Claudio Vargas on the mound, the Diamondback’s would score two runs and tie the game.   Vargas walked the lead off man before hitting  Justin Upton with a pitch, Jeff Salazar’s ground out allowed the runners to advance to second and third, with the tying runs on, Augie Ojeda drove them in when he hit a line drive that eluded the glove of Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado and landed in right field.  Ojeda would advance to second on the throw by Endy Chavez, but was stranded there when Chris Young flied out to end the inning. 

In the top of the seventh, with weather reports showing that rain was near and with the wind picking up at Shea Stadium, the Umps suspended play and the Mets grounds crew secured the tarp on the field.  The rain delay would last one hour.  When play resumed, the Diamondbacks took the lead on a homerun by Chris Snyder off Met’s reliever Joe Smith.  In the top of the ninth inning the Diamondbacks scored three more runs when Duaner Sanchez gave up a two run homer to Stephen Drew and a solo shot to Conner Jackson.   

The Diamondbacks will have Brandon Webb on the mound tonight, and he will be opposed by Mets starter Mike Pelfrey.  Game time is set for 7:10 p.m.

Diamondbacks Blog

Post info: By Bernalda on June 11th, 2008
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The Arizona Diamondbacks finished off the Philadelphia Phillies 8-3 on Thursday afternoon as they beat the Phillies two out of three games in their three game series.

Brandon Webb improved to 8-0 on the season as he tossed a complete game.  Webb allowed six hits and three runs in the game.  He was cruising along until the ninth inning when he gave up two runs to the Phillies.  Webb still has a 2.41 era after giving up the three runs though.

Chris Young and Justin Upton both hit home runs for the Diamondbacks.

Chris Snyder had two rbi in the game as did young.  Augie Ojeda, Mark Reynolds, Chris Burke, and Upton all had one rbi each in the game.

The Diamondbacks will now travel to Chicago to take on the slumping Chicago Cubs in a three game series starting on Friday.  Diamondbacks Blog

Post info: By Cliff on May 8th, 2008
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The Arizona Diamondbacks lost 9-4 on Sunday against the San Diego Padres putting the Diamondbacks at 13-5 for the year.  Arizona is off to a good start leading the National League West but the Rockies are close on their tale and if they want to hold that spot, they can’t be getting beat by the Padres.

Randy Johnson opened up the night for the Diamondbacks pitching for five and two-thirds innings giving up six hits and six runs putting him at 0-1 on the season after taking the loss.  Brandon Medders, Doug Slaten, and Tony Pena were all brought in to try and seize the win but were unsuccessful.  Slaten and Pena both gave up runs in their action.

Chris Burke, Mark Reynolds, Robby Hammock, and Augie Ojeda all picked up and RBI for the night.

The Diamondbacks will welcome the Giants to Arizona for a two game series on Monday night.  Who do you think will come out on top of this one?  I think the Diamondbacks will win both games of the series.

Post info: By Cliff on April 21st, 2008
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