Inside the Box: Hudson gets beat up early

After every Arizona Diamondbacks game we’ll examine the box score and provide you with instant analysis. So it’s time to go Inside the Box for August 8, 2011: Astros 9, Diamondbacks 1

The Good:

Well, there’s not a lot of good to talk about from Monday’s loss, but three players stood out among a dismal performance by Daniel Hudson.

Catcher Henry Blanco had a solo shot in the seventh that barely made it over the left field wall for the D-backs’ only run of the game.

Relievers Brad Ziegler and Joe Patterson both held the Astros to no hits in their 16 pitches. Considering the score, this seemed like a miracle.

The Bad:

Here we go.

Starter Daniel Hudson has been pretty good this season, but Monday’s performance will be one he is ready to forget. In just three innings, Hudson gave up 11 hits and seven runs, four of which were earned. All of those runs were scored in the first two innings.

The D-backs looked like they were knocked back from the get-go on Monday. The bats were not producing, the fielders weren’t making plays and the pitching wasn’t there. For a team trying to catch the Giants, the D-backs should be hoping this was a speed bump and not a road block to first place.

The Ugly:

Hudson gave up seven runs. In two innings. Need we say more?

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