I’ve written previously that the defense making plays that aren’t gimmes is, in my opinion, the difference between this team making the playoffs and this team being where they’re at. Early in the year, a lot of those 50/50 plays came up short in key moments for the defense, and our pitchers – and winning percentage – paid the price. The last month, there have been several outstanding defensive plays in high leverage situations to swing a game in our favor and our record reflects that. Tonight added another proof of evidence towards that statement.
Eduardo Rodriguez was battling through a long third inning, an inning in which he’d already throw over 30 pitches but not yet allowed a run to score. With the score 2-1 in his favor, he had runners at first and second with 2 outs and gave up a line drive single to center. Patrolling centerfield on this night was Blaze Alexander. Blaze came in and fielded, crow-hopped, and gunned down the Red Sox runner at the plate with a 95mph (per Bob on the night’s telecast) throw that was perfectly online and reached Gabi on the fly. A swift dive from our catcher to apply the tag got the Diamondbacks out of the inning, and likely saved E-Rod’s night. Who knows where the night may have gone had that play not been made. Fortunately, the play was made and the momentum swung back to the home dugout. It also allowed Rodriguez to go out and pitch the next 3 innings in a dominant fashion, recording his second straight Quality Start against a quality opponent.
The bullpen came on and was mostly very good outside of Bryce Jarvis being unable to record an out in the 8th. The offense was fortunately able to keep the game comfortable, running up 5 run leads twice, including a 4-run outburst in the 8th inning to match Boston’s output from the top-half of the inning. The Rattle of the lineup had been having a rough go of it coming into the 8th, with the only hit between them coming from Lawlar in the 2nd inning, but Locklear and Barrosa notched singles to put runners at first and third for the big boys and the big boys cashed them in with a single from Domo and Corbin’s 30th homer of the year.
Postseason odds didn’t get much better tonight with the Mets and Giants – yes, the Giants are even hotter than we are and are back in front of us in the standings – both getting wins tonight, but we are still playing very well against stiff competition. I could really see this end of season run giving us momentum going into 2026 just like the end of 2022 propelled us into 2023. Keep it going, Snakes!
Win Probability and Box Score
Another engaged Friday night GDT with 338 comments at time of publishing. COTG will be awarded to Jim tonight with the most rec’d comment of the game immediately following Corbin’s homer:
The Diamondbacks face the Red Sox in the second game of this interleague series tomorrow with first pitch at 5:10pm Arizona time. Brandon Pfaadt is the scheduled starter for the good guys and he will be opposed by right-hander Lucas Giolito who is 10-2 with a 3.38 ERA on the year. Can we secure another series win against a playoff team tomorrow night?