Diamondback Journal

DETROIT — The finale of the rubber match between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the home team, Detroit Tigers, seemed as if it would be a close, tight game.  And it was, until Detroit unloaded for seven-runs in the eighth to win 8-3.

Arizona starter, Joe Saunders was in complete control of this game, allowing four-hits and yielding just one-run over seven-innings.  He probably should have stayed longer the bullpen saw three pitchers enter only to surrender seven-runs.  One relief pitcher, David Hernandez, allowed four-runs while never recording a single out for his Diamondbacks club.

Brad Penny of Detroit lasted through 6 2/3 innings, being pulled after giving a second run to Arizona.  Two RBI-singles in the seventh were the only runs and mistakes Penny issued in this game.

Jhonny Peralta started things off for the Tigers sending a solo homerun to left-field for the early 1-0 lead.

Now trailing 2-1 entering the eighth, the Tigers exploded the inning as they scored eight-runs with two-outs which saw twelve Tigers come to bat.

After Brandon Inge grounded out to start the inning, Don Kelly singled.  Austin Jackson was the second-out, going down on a swinging strikeout.  But the next two hitters, Casper Wells and Magglio Ordonez were walked to load the bases.

Power-hitter, Miguel Cabrera was due up and continued the inning hitting a 2-RBI single.  A pair of RBI-singles by Victor Martinez and Peralta increased the Tigers lead, 5-2.

Brennan Boesch, the Tigers ninth batter of the inning, singled to load the bases once again for Detroit.  After Inge singled to bring in a run to make it 7-2, Kelly reached on fielding error that scored Boesch for the seventh and final run of the inning.  The Tigers now possessed a commanding 8-2 lead with three-outs to go to maintain their slim lead over the Cleveland Indians who seem ready to reclaim first place from Detroit.

Arizona did add another run in the ninth on a Justin Upton RBI-single, but that would be all Arizona would score as the final outs were recorded and suffer a blowout at the hands of the Tigers.

PHOENIX — John Danks has quickly turned his season around since the calendar changed to June.

The Chicago White Sox south-paw opened up the season with an 0-8 record with a 5.25 ERA.  In the month of June however, Danks has won all three of his starts, with the third victory coming over the Diamondbacks, and an ERA of 1.22.

Chicago delivered blow after blow as both Paul Konerko and Alex Rios contributed for five of the White Sox nine-hits, brining in all six of the White Sox runs.

Konerko led-off with a single in second which later resulted in an RBI for Rios after Alexei Ramirez’s double advanced Konerko to third.  In the third, Konerko again was a factor for the White Sox offense as he singled home Brent Morel with two-outs.

In the sixth, Konerko was at the dish again and with one swing of the bat was quickly back to home plate to score the White Sox fourth-run after sending a solo shot into left-field.

However, Chicago was not done yet as Rios also sent a homerun to the fans, a two-run blast that now gave the second-place Diamondbacks a 6-2 deficit.

Despite Danks virtually shutting down the Diamondbacks offense in his effort, Arizona had two key innings to make a rally in which they could have tied or taken the lead from Chicago.

In the fourth, Arizona was able to tie things up at 2-all, but in all fairness probably could have gotten another run or two.  Willie Bloomquist was able to reach with a lead-off single, advancing to third on Stephen Drew’s double that followed.  With Justin Upton now batting, a wild-pitch by Danks got passed White Sox catcher, Ramon Castro, and allowed Bloomquist to score.  With Upton still at-bat who has been killer for the Diamondbacks run during these last few weeks and Drew now at third, the only thing Upton could produce for his team was a sacrifice fly.

After a strikeout by Ryan Roberts in the seventh, both Xavier Nady and Melvin Mora got on base in scoring position to threaten a shaky White Sox bullpen.  But nothing positive would come of it for Arizona as Henry Blanco popped out and Micah Owings struck out to end the inning that would preserve a 6-2 White Sox victory.

MIAMI – Lots of hits were scattered by the Florida Marlins, but Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers were able to escape each threat as starter Daniel Hudson allowed the Marlins lone run in a 5-1 win Sunday afternoon.

Hudson went six-innings allowing eight-hits with seven strikeouts for his seventh win of the season since starting 0-4.  Stephen Drew of Arizona too was a key factor in the Diamondbacks victory with three hits that drove in two RBI’s.

Florida’s starter, Brad Hand, could not reverse the Marlins luck this month, who have now started the month of June with a 1-and-10 record; at the end of May the Marlins only trailed the Philadelphia Phillies by three games, today Florida finds themselves seven-games behind.

Hand’s command was shot from the get-go as he allowed four-runs over five-innings, two coming in the first inning.

Hand walked Willie Bloomquist to begin the game, a sign of bad things to come as they sure did as another walk to Justin Upton was followed by Drew’s 2-RBI double.

Two more runs in the third gave Arizona an early 4-0 lead as Ryan Roberts homered and Xavier Nady’s sacrifice fly scored Stephen Drew who reached for a second consecutive at-bat.

However, for a moment in the game, Florida seemed to possess them momentum as Hudson allowed a single and back-to-back walks to load the bases for Florida’s Gaby Sanchez.  Sanchez though, did not come through, only sending a sacrifice fly to center for one-run.  Mike Stanton struck out and Greg Dobbs flied out to end the Marlins best chance for runs.

Arizona added another run in the ninth for the fifth and final run of the afternoon, grabbing a 2-1 edge in the four game series that concludes Monday evening.  With a win, Arizona can move within a half-game of the division leaders, San Francisco Giants.

PHOENIX — After falling out of first-place since their phenomenal run the second-half of May, there is no better team to open a series with than the Washington Nationals who struggle on the road (11-20).

Arizona Diamondbacks starter, Josh Collmenter, dominated the Nationals for seven strong innings as he continues to emerge as Arizona’s ace this season with a 4-1 record.  He allowed just three-hits with five-strikeouts as he pitched seven shutout innings.

However, Nationals starter, Yunesky Maya struggled on the mound, never giving his team a chance in the game as Washington was shutout again this season, losing 4-0 at Chase Field.

With the win for Arizona, they now remain only a half-game behind the first-place San Francisco Giants (32-25).

Arizona took control of the game early in the second-inning as Chris Young homered to left to lead-off the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, the wheels really fell off for Maya who surrendered an additional three-runs.  The pitcher Collmenter walked to lead the inning off and advanced to third on a double by Ryan Roberts.  Things continued to progressively get worse for Maya who then hit Justin Upton with a pitch to load the bases with one-out.

With relief pitcher Doug Slaten overtaking a threatening inning for Maya and the Nationals, there was a sense of hope on the part of Washington to get out of the inning with limited damage to have some kind of chance in the remaining innings.

But, that would not happen as Stephen Drew had the green-light on a 3-0 count, which he sent into right field for a bases clearing triple.  Arizona now took the lead for good at 4-0 and never looked back as the Diamondbacks look to reclaim a short but fun time atop of the division.