Grit Index: Goldschmidt’s walk-off ends D-backs’ four-game losing streak

The Arizona Diamondbacks snapped a season high-tying four game losing streak on Tuesday night with the help of two home runs and a stellar performance by starting pitcher Randall Delgado.

Paul Goldschmidt, ‘America’s First Baseman,’ as his teammates like to call him, launched the game-winner off the center field wall in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Arizona the 3-2 victory over the Miami Marlins. Going into his final at-bat, Goldschmidt was 0-for-3 with a strikeout, but noted after the game he felt he got a good pitch to hit on a 1-0 count.

The Marlins got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning, but Arizona didn’t waste any time getting those runs back. Third baseman Martin Prado hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at two. It was his fifth home run on the season.

Arizona needed a great outing by Delgado and they got just that in his first start of the season. He pitched seven solid innings, gave up just two earned runs on eight hits and recorded seven strikeouts.

Delgado owns a 1.54 ERA in four career starts against Miami and a 4.45 ERA against the rest of baseball. In Triple-A Reno he was 2-5 with a 5.91 ERA in 13 starts in 2013.,

This was the D-backs’ 20th comeback win of the season and fifth walk-off victory this year.

The Good:

Brad Ziegler’s domination of the Marlins’ lineup continued as well. He came in to pitch the eighth inning and got three ground ball outs. He has now shut out the Fish in nine of 10 games and allowed just one earned run in 7 2/3 innings pitched. Ziegler has also held opponents scoreless in 19 of his last 21 games since May 6, allowing two runs in 17 2/3 innings.

Martin Prado continues to crush the Marlins. He recorded a two-run shot in the fourth inning and heading into Tuesday’s game he was batting .356 in his last 33 games against the Marlins.

The Bad:

Despite earning the win, the D-backs are still clearly struggling at the plate. They recorded a total of five hits on the night, left three on base and were 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position.

Noted:

• Tuesday marked Goldschmidt’s first career walk-off home run and his second career game-ending hit. His other walk-off hit came on April 14 against the Dodgers.

• Gerardo Parra has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games. He was 1-for-4 Tuesday with a single in the sixth inning.

• Left fielder Jason Kubel recorded his 18th career outfield assist.

• The D-backs have had 26 games decided by one run or less in 2013.

He Said It:

“I just said to Penni (Cliff Pennington), ‘Let’s have another Goldy party and do another interview with Jody’ and he hit it. You’re always thinking that way. You know he’s capable of it.” — Manager Kirk Gibson on his mindset right before Goldschmidt’s game-winning home run.

Up next:

The D-backs wrap up this series with the Marlins on Wednesday. Right-hander Trevor Cahill will go for his fourth win of the season. Jose Fernandez will be on the mound for the Marlins. In his last start, Cahill suffered a 2-1 loss to the Padres on June 14. He allowed two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings pitched. Earlier this season he earned a 9-2 win in Miami on May 17.

First pitch on Wednesday is slated for 12:40 p.m. on Arizona Sports 620.

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