After a successful start to the road-trip in New York, taking two of three, it’s on to Philadelphia for the D-backs. We’ve lost the series here each of the past two seasons – last time, it took an 11-9 victory in ten innings for Arizona to avoid the sweep. That game gave Jalen Beeks his one and only save as a Diamondback. [I note, he has tossed six scoreless innings for the Rangers since signing there] Of course, we will always have those stunning wins in Games 6+7 of the 2023 NLCS. In Game 7, the D-backs bullpen pitched five innings of no-hit baseball after Joe Mantiply allowed a lead-off double, to lock down the pennant. So, yeah: this ballpark has some good memories.
Michael Soroka’s second start was nowhere near as dominant as his Diamondbacks debut. He had a K:BB of 3:3, rather than 10:1. But it still got the job done. Five innings of one-run ball, from your #5 starter is definitely something you’ll take any day. I doubt his minuscule ERA will remain that way forever, but enjoy it while it lasts. Still no Corbin Carroll in the line-up, but according to Jody Jackson, “Corbin Carroll says he feels a lot better today and all indications are that he will be back soon.” No imaging or further tests are scheduled. Good to hear: the line-up could certainly use the power.
Because the last time a Diamondbacks’ hitter left the yard? That would be in the third inning of last Friday’s game against Atlanta, when Jordan Lawlar went deep. They have had 218 at-bats since then, without a home-run. If they don’t hit one tonight, it’ll be the first time they have gone seven games without once since September 2014. The franchise record is eight, from July 2002. Also of note, this is the only occasion where the D-backs have gone longer than four games without a homer and had a winning record over that time. They are 4-2 during the current streak, and have averaged better than four runs per game, which is… not terrible.