Chad Qualls
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Diamondbacks Notes: April 22, 2009
* GAME 2 GOES TO THE ROCKIES - The Diamondbacks (5-9) are almost ready to put together a total team effort. On Tuesday night, Arizona got another worthy performance from a starting pitcher: Yusmeiro Petit (5 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 K). The offensive surge continued, powered by Chris B. Young, Eric Byrnes and Mark Reynolds homers. Felipe Lopez had three of the Snakes eleven hits against the Rockies (5-8).
Now if only the bullpen can do its part, the Snakes will be in business. Asked to protect a three-run lead, the relief corps instead surrendered six runs in the last four frames. The final result was a 9-6 Colorado win. On account of the loss, Arizona remains without back-to-back and series wins on the year. The Diamondbacks will try to take the rubber match this afternoon at Chase Field.
* BULLPEN BLUES - Arizona relief pitchers have been spared some scrutiny for the team's woes. This owes in part to the slow start on offense. There have been few late leads to protect, so...
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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.
***
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...
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Diamondbacks Notes: April 18, 2009
* ARI @ SF, GAMES 1 & 2 - Diamondbacks Nation feels for Dan Haren. In his three starts, he has allowed a total of 4 ER on 12 H and 3 BB with 17 K. To show for his efforts, Haren has a record of 0-3 after losing to the Giants by a 2-0 score on Friday night.
Haren (6 IP, 5 H, ER, 0 BB, 6 K) was sharp in Game 1 of the series, but the Snakes could get nothing going off San Francisco lefty Jonathan Sanchez (6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 K). Only Felipe Lopez (2/4, 2B) and Justin Upton (1/4, 2B) posed any real threat.
The clubs locked up in a pitching duel again on Saturday afternoon. In Game 2, the previous night's result was reversed: a Snakes lefty defeated the Giants ace.
Doug Davis went eight innings and pitched out of trouble several times to earn the win against a suddenly in-form Tim Lincecum. Lincecum went eight innings with 13 K before the Giants called on Brian Wilson to pitch the ninth. Chris B. Young started his at-bat with two strikes, then worked the count full before...
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Game Report: Snakes v. Cards, April 14, 2009
No Arizona player would have been better to come to the plate in the situation. Down by a 4-3 score in the eighth, runners on first and second bases, Arizona on a nasty grip of play. With two outs and the pitcher's spot up, Conor Jackson was called on to pinch hit.
The tension in the team had built in the months since Manny joined the Dodgers, through the end of 2008, over a frustrating off-season, during a loser of a spring, and well into the second week of the 2009 campaign. Hands, jaws and bellies all clenched.
How tightly wound were the Snakes, at three games below .500 despite playing their third consecutive home series? They were coiled, but not like Diamondbacks ready to strike. No, they were in a box, getting poked with a stick for their eighth game in a row.
LOVE DON'T GRIP.
Good thing Jackson is a flow player. There is a fluidity to his stance and the path of his bat that defies the paralyzing effects of pressure. He stands tall in the batter's box and swings his hips...
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Diamondbacks Notes: April 11, 2009
* WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES - There were dark clouds gathering around Chase Field yesterday. The Diamondbacks were in the NL West cellar, their bats and bullpen were scuffling, their ace was scratched from a Saturday night start due to shoulder soreness, leaving the club to face Manny Ramirez and the Los Angeles Dodgers without its biggest weapon. It remains a bit overcast in Phoenix this Saturday, but on account of some recent developments, the Snakes are feeling sunny. Read on, Diamondbacks Nation.
* GAME 1 GOES TO THE GOOD GUYS - The warm glow started with Friday night's 9-4 win in Game 1 of the Dodgers' series. In a match-up we identified as key, Jon Garland (7 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K) easily out-pitched the Los Angeles starter, James McDonald (2.1 IP, 2 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K). Garland enjoyed a comfortable margin for most of the game, thanks to a five-run third inning that included big hits from Chris B. Young (3/3, 3 R, 2B, HR, RBI, BB) and Conor Jackson (2/5, 3 RBI,...
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