Diamondbacks strike early, defeat the Pirates: By the Numbers

Aug 17, 2015, 7:53 PM | Updated: 8:14 pm

Arizona Diamondbacks' Chris Owings, left, is greeted by on-deck batter Ender Inciarte, right, after scoring on a single by Jeremy Hellickson in the second inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

BY JEFFREY SANDERS

Arizona Sports

The Arizona Diamondbacks did something not many teams do Monday; beat the Pirates in Pittsburgh.

Four early runs catapulted the D-backs to a 4-1 victory over the Pirates, handing them just their 19th home loss of the season, the second fewest in all of baseball.

The D-backs scored three runs early off Pirates All-Star pitcher Gerrit Cole thanks to a RBI double from David Peralta and RBI single from Welington Castillo in the first inning. Jeremy Hellickson would add a RBI hit of his own in the second inning.

Jake Lamb knocked his fifth home run of the season in the fourth for an extra insurance run.

Arizona also got some strong pitching from the aforementioned Hellickson, who followed up his best start of the season against Philadelphia with another strong outing, going 5.1 innings and gave up a single run on three hits.

The D-backs right-handed pitcher has pitched well against National League East teams all season, allowing just two runs or less in five of six starts.

Pittsburgh scored their lone run on a solo home run off the bat of Pedro Alvarez.

The win improves the D-backs to 14-8 over their past 22 games, and moves them to the brink of .500. Let’s take a closer look at how they got there, by the numbers.

The number of RBI by pitcher Jeremy Hellickson, which is tied with Madison Bumgarner and Matt Harvey for tops in baseball. Hellickson recorded his 7th RBI on a bloop hit over the second baseman’s head in the 2nd inning. The RBI was at the time his 4th in his past four at-bats.

The number of consecutive saves from closer Brad Ziegler, which is the 4th-highest in MLB and in D-backs history. The team record was set by J.J. Putz (July 27, 2011-April 12, 2012).

.461

David Peralta’s batting average over his last 19 games. The D-backs outfielder remained scorching hot with two more hits on Monday including a RBI double, which gives him 21 RBI over that span.

A.J. Pollock extended his hitting streak to nine games with a triple in the first inning.

The number of wins this season when scoring the first run of the game.

Amount of earned runs given up by Addison Reed since getting recalled from Reno on July 29. Reed got out of a bases loaded, one-out mess in the seventh inning by striking out Gregory Polanco and getting Starling Marte to fly out.

Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta, right, and A.J. Pollock, left, celebrate with teammate Chris Owings after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, in Pittsburgh. The Diamondbacks won 4-1. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Pedro Alvarez, left, and Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Welington Castillo, right, head to their dugouts after Alvarez struck out with two men on base to end the eight inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, in Pittsburgh. The Diamondbacks won 4-1. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Pedro Alvarez points skyward as he touches home plate after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson, right, waits for a new ball as Pittsburgh Pirates' Pedro Alvarez trots around the bases after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Neil Walker, left, reaches to tag Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta as he tries to steal second base in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, in Pittsburgh. Peralta was initially called safe but replay overturned the call and he was ruled out. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale yells after overplay overturned a safe call when David Peralta tried to steal second base in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, in Pittsburgh. Peralta was initially called safe but replay overturned the call and he was ruled out. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole sits in the dugout as his team bats in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco chases after the ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta for a double driving in A.J. Pollock FOR the Diamondbacks first run in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson throws against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Arizona Diamondbacks starter Jeremy Hellickson pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole, left, wipes his face after giving up a hit to Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson that drove in a run in the second inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Chris Owings slides into third from second on a sacrifice fly in the second inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Chris Owings, left, is greeted by on-deck batter Ender Inciarte, right, after scoring on a single by Jeremy Hellickson in the second inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta hits a pitch by Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole for a double, driving in A.J. Pollock with a run in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

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