Grit Index: D-backs defeat the Padres at Chase Field
May 25, 2013, 5:33 AM
One streak continues. One streak ends.
The Diamondbacks remain the lone team to not be shut out this season, while the shutout streak of starter Brandon McCarthy is over.
The Diamondbacks win their season-high third straight home game beating the San Diego Padres 5-2 in front of 24,043 at Chase Field Friday.
Held to three hits through the first six innings, the Diamondbacks pounded out five hits, including four doubles in a five-run seventh inning. Miguel Montero and Martin Prado led off the inning with back-to-back two-baggers.
Prado’s double, his first extra-base hit in nine games, tied the game at one. Two batters later, Wil Nieves drove in the go-head run with his first career extra-base hit as a pinch hitter. Paul Goldschmidt then finished the fun with a two-run double off the wall in left field.
It marked the fourth time in club history the Diamondbacks collected at least four doubles in an inning.
That one inning of work was more than enough for McCarthy (2-3), who allowed his first run in three outings.
Carlos Quentin’s second inning RBI was the lone blemish in McCarthy’s seven innings pitched. He threw his fourth straight quality start, improving to 2-0 with a 1.19 ERA (4 ER in 30.1 IP) over this stretch.
The Diamondbacks (27-21) are tied with the Colorado Rockies for first place in the NL West.
The Good
A.J. Pollock went 3-for-4, turning in his second three-hit performance of the week; and is now batting .571 (8-for-14) over his last four games. The three hits tied a career-high.
The Bad
Gerardo Parra, 0-for-3 with a walk, is hitless in three straight games for the first time this season; and is now batting .053 (1-for-19) over his last five games. He was also caught stealing for the seventh time this season. The rest of the team has been caught a combined eight times.
Stat of the Game
McCarthy’s 18-inning scoreless streak established a new career-high and tied for the fourth-longest streak in franchise history, matching Curt Schilling’s run from May 9-14, 2003.
He Said It
“Not great,” McCarthy said when asked how he felt. “Just kind of one of those weird nights that you’re, almost from the second inning on, you’re just kind of battling, just hoping guys hit it at people, which fortunately they kind of did that for me. I don’t know what it was. Even in the first inning I felt really good and I thought it was all there and then I went out for the second and it was a whole new day. It happens every once in awhile.”
What’s Next
The Diamondbacks send Wade Miley (3-3, 3.67) to the mound to pitch game two of the three-game weekend series. The left-hander will be making his sixth career start against the Padres, going 1-3 with a 6.28 ERA (20 ER in 28.2 IP) with 13 walks and 18 strikeouts. San Diego counters with Andrew Cashner (3-2, 3.02), who over his last three starts has gone 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA (4 ER in 21.1 IP). The game starts at 7:10 p.m. with pregame coverage 30 minutes earlier on Arizona Sports 620.
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