Grit Index: Dodgers walk-off, win 5th straight against Diamondbacks, who slip to .500
Sep 11, 2013, 7:42 AM | Updated: 5:24 pm
On the precipice of setting an extra innings record, and for the tenth time avoiding slipping back to .500, the Arizona Diamondbacks saw their extras juggernaut — Josh Collmenter — give up a walk-off home run to Los Angeles Dodgers pinch hitter Scott Van Slyke, losing 5-3.
With the shot, they fell to .500 for the first time since April 2, when their record stood at 1-1. They are now 72-72, with three weeks left in the season.
Trevor Cahill took the mound for the Diamondbacks, facing recent Dodgers’ acquisition Edinson Volquez. Both earned quality starts, with Cahill allowing just one earned run on four hits in 6.0 innings pitched and Volquez allowing three earned runs on four hits in the same span.
Miguel Montero’s costly throwing error in the fifth allowed the Dodgers to tie the game, just minutes after shortstop Didi Gregorius hit a towering, go-ahead two-run homer to the Dodger Stadium left field bleachers. The score then, in the bottom of the 5th, stood at 3-3 and it wouldn’t change until the 11th.
Collmenter, who has now tossed a major league-high 27.1 extra innings — 12.2 more than any other big league pitcher — finally blinked in extras, despite entering the effort with a 1.69 ERA in such scenarios.
With the loss, the Diamondbacks fell to 13 games back of the Dodgers in the NL West.
The Good:
Trevor Cahill has a 2.22 ERA in his list 28.1 innings pitched, including his four-inning effort in an extra innings game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
The Bad:
The Diamondbacks, now .500 for the first time since their second game of the season, stand 9 games back of the Cincinnati Reds in the race for the second National League wild card spot with 18 games to play.
Noted:
-The Diamondbacks are one extra inning away from tying the all-time record for the most extra innings in a single season, currently held by the 1979 Minnesota Twins.
-The Dodgers have beat the Diamondbacks in five consecutive games, dating back to the June 12 brawl between the two teams.
-Tuesday marked the Diamondbacks’ major league-leading 23rd extra innings game of the season
Up Next:
Two left-handed pitchers in the midst of breakout years take the mound at Dodger Stadium Wednesday in the series finale. Patrick Corbin (13-6, 2.97 ERA) of the Diamondbacks will oppose Hyun-Jin Ryu (13-5, 3.02 ERA) of the Dodgers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. MDT and can be heard on Arizona Sports 620 AM.
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