Game Report: Snakes v. Rockies, April 20, 2009
Winning a pitcher's duel, like the Diamondbacks did on Saturday, is great. To rally from behind on three-run bombs is a blast. Losing just sucks. There's drama in each, but we've had enough drama for awhile.
For a change, we wished for the Snakes to take control of a game and hold it through the final out. Back home on Monday night, they did just that.
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Jon Garland did his part and got his deserved second win. Six and two-thirds innings pitched, with six hits, a pair of walks, just one earned run and five strikeouts. If Arizona gets innings like that from the back of the rotation, much else will fall into place.
Garland got help, too. Diamondbacks bats were silenced in San Francisco. Two home run calls announced their return tonight.
Mark Reynolds and Miguel Montero connected loudly on balls that cleared the outfield fence. Reynolds' lashed his into the left field stands for an early 1-0 lead. We dig the long-ball, if you’re offering.
More than that, though, we’re down with doubles. Felipe Lopez, Chad Tracy and Reynolds each hit one. Two-base hits keep the pressure on opposing pitchers in a way that bases-clearing bombs do not.
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The Rockies tied the game at one on an unearned run in the top of the third inning. Tracy and Reynolds got their two-baggers back-to-back to start the bottom of the fourth. That put the go-ahead run on the board. Montero then walked to put two on for Justin Upton.
We pined for Upton to hit one of them three-run shots; he drew a walk instead. The actual outcome was less dramatic, but a better result to build upon. If Upton refrains from hacking outside the zone, he’ll get pitches over the plate and in his wheelhouse. When that happens, the home runs will come in bunches.
Once Upton reached to load the bases, Garland made the second out on strikes and a Lopez grounder ended the threat. The score after four: Diamondbacks 2, Rockies 1.
Arizona’s four run rally in the fifth was a product of two singles -- an error on the second of which scored Augie Ojeda -- and a walk. Montero’s three-run blast plated Tracy and Reynolds.
Upton chipped in a single of his own before Garland struck out to end the inning. Arizona held a 6-1 lead through five.
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More than once tonight, Bob Melvin’s decision to bat Upton No. 8 made us say: “What if?”
If Melvin thinks he’s making things easier on Upton by lodging him so low in the order, then he’s wrong. The only benefit we can stretch to see is that teams working around him to get to the pitcher will force Justin to take some pitches.
Not worth it, we say. Instead of sparking the offense, he'll too often get left stranded.
To bat him so low is a backwards way to get Upton to refine his approach. We prefer the more direct method: hit him up in the order. If opponents respect the batter behind, JUp will get better offerings.
Clint Hurdle got a warm-fuzzy knowing he needn't throw strikes to the kid whose bat goes boom.
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Garland gave up a run and was lifted for Scott Schoeneweis with two on and two outs in the seventh. The lefty reliever allowed a double-steal by the Colorado runners, then came through with a strikeout of Ian Stewart. At the stretch, the Rockies trailed Arizona 6-2.
Upton batted again in the eighth. His speed rattled third baseman Garrett Atkins and Upton was able to reach on an error. Only a pinch-hitter spared Upton the indignity of another crap-out from the pitcher’s spot. Tony Clark and then Lopez crapped out instead.
No worries. The bullpen gave up one harmless run in two and a third i]pitched. Colorado cut the Arizona lead to three against Tony Pena, but could get no closer. Chad Qualls pitched a perfect ninth and saved his third on the year. In a 6-3 final, the Diamondbacks won.
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Each new game is the begginning of the rest of the season. Today's win was a good start. Counter to form, more went right than wrong. We'll savor this victory overnight and dream of another tomorrow.
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