Dose of Venom: Diamondbacks’ bats punish Marlins in series opener

PHOENIX– Coming off a series-closing win in Atlanta, the Arizona Diamondbacks began their final home stand before the All-Star break with a big 9-1 win against the Miami Marlins on Monday night.

Chase Anderson was on the bump for the D-backs coming off a loss against the Pittsburgh Pirates last week. He threw 6.0 innings, allowing just one run on seven hits. In 27 batters faced, he struck out eight, tying his career best. “I just had fastball command,” said Anderson. He got plenty of run support as well.

After a quiet first inning against RHP Tom Koehler, the D-backs’ bats came alive in the second, batting around and scoring five runs in the frame. Arizona’s offense chased Koehler after just three innings, handing him his seventh loss of the season.

Martin Prado started things off in the second with a solo home run to left field, his fourth of the season. Not long after, David Peralta increased his hitting streak to eight games with two-run double to center.

“He’s locked in,” D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said of the left fielder. “He’s got a real good approach. He puts good back spin to the ball.”

2014 All-Star Paul Goldschmidt later got on with a single and Miguel Montero brought him and Peralta home with a double in the five-run inning.

Home Run Derby participant Giancarlo Stanton looked like he came to Chase Field to do some damage, but Anderson and Diamondbacks releivers kept the Marlins slugger hitless, as he struck out in all four at-bats.

“He’s a big guy up there, and you’ve got to make your pitches to him,” Anderson said. “I got a little deep in the one count (3-2) and I threw a change-up and thought, ‘If you’re going to hit it, you’re going to hit. If you’re going to miss it, you’re going to miss it.’ Thank God he missed it.”

The D-backs tallied three more runs in the fourth and another in the seventh, giving both Anderson and the bullpen plenty of support.

THE GOOD

The bullpen again came through with a strong performance. Matt Stites, Oliver Perez, and Eury De La Rosa combined to give up three hits while striking out five in three scoreless innings.

The D-backs’ defense looked solid as well causing the Marlins to strand 10 base runners and ending the game with a 6-4-3 double play.

THE BAD

After the fifth inning, Miami was able to slow the D-backs’ momentum, limiting them to only two hits.

Also, bad news came out of the clubhouse Monday afternoon when D-backs starter Bronson Arroyo announced he will have to undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn UCL.

HE SAID IT

“We didn’t even know much about him,” Gibson said about Peralta. “I remember seeing him in Spring Training and he opened our eyes. Then as the season started, we watched all the players with our affiliates and saw what he was doing. But to come up from Double-A and do what he’s doing is pretty impressive.”

STAT OF THE GAME

33: The number of doubles (and counting) Goldschmidt has hit before the All-Star break. This sets a new club record, topping Luis Gonzalez’s 32 back in 2003.

NOTED

– All-Star hopeful Casey McGehee of the Marlins increased his chances to reach the Midsummer Classic as he went 2-for-4 with two singles. His single in the fourth increased his hitting streak to 14 games. McGehee is one of five players fans can vote in for the final spot on the National League squad.

– After starting his Major League career with a seven-game hitting streak, Peralta now has an eight-game streak going after he smacked a two-run double in the second. He went 2-for-3 in the game, adding his first triple of the year in the fourth inning.

– Anderson’s eight strikeouts tied his career-best mark, which he set back on June 8 against Atlanta.

UP NEXT

Game two of the short three-game home stand will see Vidal Nuño make his Diamondbacks debut.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning 30 minutes earlier on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.

Nuño (2-5, 5.42) was traded to the D-backs from the New York Yankees in exchange for Brandon McCarthy on Sunday. Nuño is coming off a loss to Tampa Bay where he threw 5.0 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits.

Opposing the new D-back is LHP Brad Hand (0-1, 6.21) who is coming off a no decision against Philadelphia July 3. He threw 5.0 innings, giving up three earned runs on seven hits. He is making his second start since his return from the disabled list when he had a sprained ankle, which he sustained on May 24.