Grit Index: Goldschmidt leads D-backs past Giants
Jun 8, 2013, 5:52 AM | Updated: 5:52 am
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt continued to make a case for himself as the National League MVP and the starter for the All-Star game when he launched a three-run homer over the left field wall in the bottom of the eighth inning to give his club the 3-1 win over the Giants on Friday night.
Just when it looked like starter Patrick Corbin was going to be tabbed with his first loss of the year and the D-backs streak of scoring at least one run in every game would end, Goldy steps up and gets the job done. It was Goldschmidt’s 15th home run of the season and he now has 57 RBI to go along with it.
Patrick Corbin continued his dominance. He lasted 7.3 innings, gave up seven hits and just one earned run before leaving the game with 101 pitches in the eighth inning. He also struck out four and didn’t walk a single batter. The D-backs are 12-0 in his starts and he allowed one run or less in his seventh start this season
Giants starter Matt Cain looked like he might be off to a rough start in the first inning, facing seven batters and walking three but the D-backs could not capitalize. After that inning, Cain settled in and wrapped up the night with seven solid innings of work in which he gave up four hits, one earned run and struck out four.
Last but not least, Heath Bell came in to finish off the game in the ninth. He converted his seventh straight save chance while filling in for the injured J.J. Putz.
The Good
The D-backs have now won five of their last seven and are 9-5 in their last 14 games. It’s also their 12th win in their last at-bat.
As for Goldschmidt, he’s recorded an RBI in seven straight games. That’s the longest streak by a D-back since Chad Tracy did it in September of 2005. His 57 RBI through Arizona’s first 61 games is second-most in franchise history behind Matt Williams.
The Bad
Despite getting the win Friday, the D-backs are still just 2-7 in their last nine games against the Giants at Chase Field.
Noted
• The D-backs remain the ONLY Major League team to score at least one run in every game they’ve played. Arizona has now gone 61 games to start the season, scoring at least one run and that is a franchise record. The previous record before this run in 2013 was 54 games in 2012.
• First base umpire and crew chief, Jerry Layne, left the game in the bottom of the third inning. He exited via the Giants dugout area grabbing his chest. The medical update in the press box was that he left the game after aggravating a prior left rib injury. The crew finished the game with three umpires.
He Said It
“The thing about Goldy if you think about it, two double plays, a strikeout and he hits a three-run home run. Last week we were in Chicago, three strikeouts against (Jeff) Samardzija and a grand slam to help us win the game,” D-backs’ manager Kirk Gibson said. “He’s pretty special, he really is.”
What’s Next
The Diamondbacks play the Giants in game two of this three-game series on Saturday night at Chase Field. Right-hander Trevor Cahill will be on the mound for Arizona and lefty Madison Bumgarner will go for San Francisco. Cahill has struggled recently, going 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA in his last three starts. But, he’s allowed one run or less in four of his last five starts at home. First pitch is slated for 7:10 p.m. and can be heard on Arizona Sports 620.
