Diamondback Journal

SCOTTSDALE—Trailing by two runs going into the ninth, the Rangers mustered a four run rally off Arizona reliever Juan Gutierrez who only lasted 1/3 inning, earning the loss for the Diamondbacks.  Aside from Gutierrez’s ninth inning struggle, Arizona pitchers put up solid numbers for the day, and if they can bring the same intensity into the regular season, I would not be surprised to see the Diamondbacks make some noise in the division.

Arizona fans should be excited to see Daniel Hudson pitch this season as he went 5 and 2/3 innings, striking out four and issuing just four hits.  Matt Harrison had a decent outing for Texas too, but, only went four innings with his only mistake being a two-run shot into the blenchers by Russell Branyan in the second inning.

After Branyan’s homer, pitchers on both sides quieted each others bench as the runs seized till the seventh inning, putting Texas on the board with two runs, and tying the game 2-2.  Arizona tried to add insurance runs, scoring one in both the seventh and eighth, however, that would not be enough for Texas’s four run rally in the final frame.

Juan Gutierrez was brought in to close the game for Arizona, but, struggled immediately as he loaded the bases which was followed by Doug Deeds getting hit allowing the Rangers to tie the game 4-4.  Two more runs were scored as all four runs were charged to Gutierrez who was pulled after 1/3 inning.  Pedro Strop got the win for Texas; they open their season at home against the Boston Red Sox.

Final note, prior the start of the game, Arizona manger Kirk Gibson has announced that Armando Galarraga, the former Tigers pitcher who was robbed of a perfect game, will indeed be in the rotation as the fifth starter.  The other starters include Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson, Joe Saunders, and Barry Enright.

SCOTTSDALE– On Saturday the Arizona Diamondbacks played host to the Colorado Rockies at their new spring training facility, Salt River Fields.  The inauguration was a win-win for both teams and fans.  The game was a sellout well in advance, and even though the Rockies were the visitors, they were able to seek out with a win in extra innings in the park they also call home since both teams share the new spring facility.

Both Ubaldo Jimenez and Aaron Heilman threw two solid innings in their spring debut.  Arizona took the early lead in the third inning, but, after that, it appeared as if the Rockies were going to run away with the game and play the role spoilers for Arizona’s spring home opener.  The Diamondbacks finally responded with a run in the seventh inning after the Rockies had scored seven unanswered runs.

Entering the bottom of the ninth, the game looked all but over as the Rockies held a comfortable five-run cushion.  But, Adam Jorgenson blew the game, giving up five runs, one being a three-run home run by Paul Goldschmidt that tied the game with two outs.  Goldschmidt’s home run marked the first home run at Salt River Fields, unfortunately, the second home run was the one that held more importance.  Charlie Blackmon made sure Colorado would leave with a win as he belted a solo home run in tenth inning to give the Rockies an 8-7 lead heading into the bottom of the tenth.  Andrew Johnson continued his work from the ninth, earning the Rockies a victory in a thriller opener at Salt River Fields.