For the vast majority of the night, this game was trending like so many others we have grown all too familiar with this season. Starting pitcher throws a great game, bullpen does their job, but the offense just couldn’t come through with the big hit with runners in scoring position. Fortunately for the Dbacks, that narrative changed in the 9th inning as they were able to get a couple of big hits and hold on for a 4-3 win to even the series against the Cardinals.
Eduardo Rodriguez shoved yet again for the Dbacks tossing 6.2 innings and holding the hot Cardinals offense scoreless. He was able to lower his season ERA to a minuscule 2.27 today following his 16th start of the season which is simply increadible. ERod’s changeup was filthy tonight generating a staggering 50% whiff rate and has really been a tremendous pitch for the veteran lefty. Juan Morillo, Kevin Ginkel, and Brandyn Garcia were sharp tonight in relief. The only blemish on this game from the pitching side was Paul Sewald who inexplicably still struggles mightily in non-save situations.
The Dbacks offense was all too quiet for 8 innings and as I mentioned earlier, struggled mightily with runners in scoring position. Going into the 9th inning, the Dbacks were 0-8 with runners in scoring position until Nolan Arenado came up and doubled home the games first run. Arenado put together a great 7 pitch at bat and fought off some tough pitches to get a mistake right down the middle, and he did not miss it driving it into the left field corner. Lourdes Gurriel Jr followed that at bat with a 2 run single up the middle, and finally after doing nothing for 8 innings, the Dbacks had a 3-0 lead. In addition, a passed ball proved to ultimately be the game deciding run a couple of batters later when pinch runner Jorge Barrosa scored.
Then came the bottom of the 9th and Paul Sewald with a 4-run lead continued with his struggles in non-save situations and made the game pretty interesting. Sewald allowed 2 doubles and 2 singles to allow the Cardinals to come within 1 run of spoiling the rare clutch hitting from the half inning before. Fortunately, Brandyn Garcia was able to come to the rescue and strikeout the red-hot JJ Wetherholt to kill the rally and secure the win for the Dbacks and record his first major league save.
For the Dbacks, 95% of this game was much of the same, but you really have to hope that the big hits from the veterans Arenado and Gurriel Jr. spark this offense and give this group some kind of momentum that they can build upon. Gurriel Jr also had another hit earlier in the game for a solid double, so maybe this is the beginning of Gurriel Jr. beginning one of his trademark heaters this team is so desperately in need of.
Lets see if the offense can continue this momentum tomorrow as Mitch Bratt will be making his major league debut, and it would be great for him to get some early run support to ease the nerves. The lefty has been a really exciting young arm in this Dbacks system after coming over in the Merrill Kelly trade last season, and it would be huge for him to step up and lead his team to victory tomorrow.