Inside the Box: Another late grand slam, but no victory

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
September 27, 2011: Dodgers 7, Diamondbacks 5

The Good:

What a rally. After Ryan Roberts’ walk-off grand slam on Tuesday, the Diamondbacks almost took down the Dodgers again with a ninth inning rally.

When it was evident that the D-backs were on a losing path, Kirk Gibson put some young guys in to get them a little experience. Cole Gillespie was one of those. With one out and the bases loaded in the ninth, Gillespie hammered a grand slam to left to bring the score to 7-4 in favor of LA. Catcher Henry Blanco blasted a solo homer shortly after to bring the D-backs within two. Unfortunately, the D-backs couldn’t complete the rally.

The Bad:

The D-backs looked to be cruising this game with their eyes already set on the postseason. The D-backs finished with seven hits, but four of those came in the ninth inning. The offense was quiet for most of the night. Maybe, like the rest of us, they were glued to the TV watching all of the crazy action elsewhere in baseball.

Starter Joe Saunders didn’t look like he was in a hurry to get back to the dugout, having given up nine hits and five earned runs in his six innings of work.

The Awesome:

The D-backs open the postseason on Saturday against the Brewers in Milwaukee. As of 10:00 p.m. Wednesday, no start time had been announced.

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