Grit Index: D-backs continue extra-innings magic, down Dodgers 8-6 in series finale

Jun 13, 2013, 4:01 AM | Updated: 8:28 am

Arizona Sports

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America doesn’t have a “Utility Pitcher of the Year” award but, if they did, Josh Collmenter would be the clear-cut recipient.

The Arizona Diamondbacks’ long reliever has now recorded three extra-innings wins on the season, his ERA sitting at 2.86. Collmenter has pitched 11 innings of relief after the ninth inning for his club, giving up just one run — good for a 0.81 ERA in extras.

On Wednesday, it was Collmenter, along with outfielders Cody Ross and Gerardo Parra, and catcher Miguel Montero, who helped preserve Patrick Corbin’s undefeated streak, as the Diamondbacks used 20 hits to rally past the Los Angeles Dodgers in an 8-6 win.

The Diamondbacks have yet to lose a game that Corbin started, improving to 13-0 with their No. 5 starter on the mound and 7-2 against the Dodgers on the season.

The club leads the majors with eight extra-innings wins, losing just two such contests this season. Last season, they played in just seven extra-innings games all season.

The Good:

The Diamondbacks’ offense tallied 11 hits off of Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu, scoring three runs. The previously idle Cody Ross and Miguel Montero led the hit parade with four hits apiece — season highs for both of them. Gerardo Parra had three hits on the night, giving him 84 hits on the season, which is second-best among National League hitters and first among NL outfielders.

The Bad:

The Diamondbacks were up 3-0 when Patrick Corbin had the roughest inning of his season. In the bottom of the fifth, Dodgers catcher Ramon Hernandez used a groundout to plate Juan Uribe, who led the inning off with a double. Corbin proceeded to give up five consecutive two-out hits, including an RBI triple off the bat of opposing pitcher Ryu.

Closer Heath Bell also faltered, allowing two runs in the bottom of the 12th, including a Hernandez home run to lead off the inning.

He Said It

“If you really want to get technical about it, in baseball terms, it really shouldn’t be over.” – Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said, referring to Tuesday night’s brawl

Noted:

The Diamondbacks announced before the game that they will host the Los Angeles Dodgers for two games in Australia to open up the 2014 MLB season on March 22 and 23.

Major League Baseball is expected to announce the suspensions from Tuesday’s brawl on Thursday.

With the no-decision, Patrick Corbin remains perfect with a 9-0 record.

Up Next:

The Diamondbbacks will open up a three-game series on Friday with the San Diego Padres on Friday, June 14 at 7:10 p.m. MST. Right-hander Trevor Cahill (3-7, 4.02) will take the hill, slated to face left-hander Eric Stults (5-5, 3.53) for the Padres.

Jeffrey Sanders contributed to this story.

Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig (66) tries to get teammates Tim Federowicz, right, and Clayton Kershaw, back, fired up before a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon McCarthy throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning during a baseball game on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig (66) is tagged out at second base by Arizona Diamondbacks' Chris Owings after taking too big a lead off the base in the first inning during a baseball game on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt connects for a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning during a baseball game on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt, right, gets ready for a high-five from teammate Adam Eaton (6) after hitting a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning during a baseball game on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Stephen Fife, left, wipes his chin after giving up a two-run home run to Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt as Dodgers' Michael Young, back right, looks on in the first inning during a baseball game on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Stephen Fife wipes sweat from his face after being pulled from the baseball game in the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig, right, looks to the sky as steps on home plate after hitting a home run as Carl Crawford (25) waits to give him a high-five and Arizona Diamondbacks' Miguel Montero watches during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Carl Crawford (25) is greeted at home plate by Matt Kemp (27) after scoring on a base hit by Adrian Gonzalez against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez (23) keeps yelling after he is ejected for arguing a call in the sixth inning as Dodgers' manager argues with umpire Andy Fletcher during a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez (23) tries to explain to manager Don Mattingly why he argued a call that got him ejected in the sixth inning during a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, right, covers his face after Adrian Gonzalez (23) is ejected for arguing a call in the sixth inning during a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Michael Young, left, shows his disbelief after being called out on a play at home plate by umpire Joe West in the sixth inning during a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Michael Young (10) is called out on a play at home plate as Arizona Diamondbacks' Miguel Montero applies the tag in the sixth inning during a baseball game on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

From left; Arizona Diamondbacks' Adam Eaton, A.J. Pollock and Gerardo Parra celebrate their win after a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks won 9-4. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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