The 5: D-backs’ April was among best months in franchise history

As the Diamondbacks return to Chase Field to wrap up the April calendar against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, they can look back at the month as one of the most successful in franchise history.

Their 19-8 start is tied for their best ever. As of Sunday afternoon, the D-backs are one of two teams in the MLB with a winning percentage over .700, and the only in the National League.

After winning the weekend series against the Washington Nationals, Arizona is the first National League team since 1907 to win its first nine series of a season.

When the Chicago Cubs did that 111 years ago, they won the World Series.

The last time an American League team did this was the Seattle Mariners in 2001. They ended up winning 116 games that year, which is tied for the most wins ever in a season.

The D-backs managed to achieve this feat despite early struggles from stars such as Paul Goldschmidt, Zack Greinke and Robbie Ray, and injuries to proven contributors Jake Lamb and Steven Souza.

Different contributors have stepped up, headlining the top five games of April fueling the success of the top team in the National League.

April 2: D-backs 8, Dodgers 7

The longest game in Chase Field history looked like it would be over in the ninth.

Dominant Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen entered the game with a three-run and got the first two outs of the inning in order.

Then, Goldschmidt and A.J. Pollock walked to bring up Chris Owings. On the first pitch of his at-bat, Owings hit a home run over the left field wall to tie the game at six and send it to extra innings.

In the bottom of the 15th, Jeff Mathis hit a walk-off single to end the 5-hour, 47-minute marathon and give the D-backs an 8-7 victory.

It was the first time the D-backs and Dodgers would face in 2018, and set the tone for a sweep.

April 3: D-backs 6, Dodgers 1

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw had allowed two home runs to lefties in a game only four times in his illustrious career.

Never had he given up one to two different lefties in the same game.

That changed on his first visit to the desert of 2018.

Left-handed hitters David Peralta and Daniel Descalso both went yard off the southpaw, leading the way to a 6-1 victory.

It was also Arizona’s first glimpse of Zack Godley this season.

He didn’t tremble against the three-time Cy Young winner. Godley went seven innings, allowing only four hits and one run while striking out six and forcing 11 groundouts with his nasty curveball.

The D-backs took game two against L.A.

April 17: D-backs 1, Giants 0

If anyone questioned the D-backs coaching staff after naming Patrick Corbin the Opening Day starter, they were answered on April 17.

Corbin didn’t allow a hit until there were two outs in the eighth inning, when Brandon Belt checked his swing against a shift and hit a grounder to the third base side, making it to first safely.

That’s all the Giants could do.

In only 100 pitches, Corbin threw a complete game, one-hit shutout, fanning eight and almost becoming the third pitcher in D-backs history to throw a no-hitter.

Corbin has been throwing his devastating slider more often this season than in the past. As of April 24, he had thrown it almost 39 percent of the time, according to the Athletic. Almost 35 percent of them induced a swing-and-miss.

He’s also working on a funky, 65-mph curveball.

The southpaw has struck out 55 batters this season. Corbin has been one of Arizona’s most pleasant surprises, and it is vital for him to continue pitching like an ace if the D-backs are to keep up this level of success.

April 24

The D-backs have had to rely on unexpected contributors throughout this season with slow starts and injuries to the typical producers.

They may have found one from an outside source on April 24 at Philadelphia.

Catcher Alex Avila asked Hunter Gillett, a 9-year-old with hip dysplacia, to choose the bat Avila would use in the game, according to Cut4.

He went 3-4 with a home run. It was hit first multi-hit game as a Diamondback.

Later, Gillett took a photo with Jarrod Dyson’s bat.

Dyson hit his first home run of the season.

The D-backs were able to overcome rainy weather, Robbie Ray struck out 11 and Arizona won its first game of the series against the Phillies.

April 28

After trailing 3-2 in the eighth, the D-backs showed they could win tight games on Saturday, taking a 4-3 victory over the Nationals and securing their ninth consecutive series win to begin the season.

The bullpen was once again stellar.

Fernando Salas, Archie Bradley and Yoshi Hirano combined for 2.1 innings of perfect ball before Brad Boxberger secured his eighth save of the season in the 10th inning.

Every D-backs reliever except Boxberger (excluding Silvino Bracho, who only pitched one game), has an ERA below 2.00, as of Sunday. According to MLB.com, the bullpen ERA of 1.70 is by far the best in the MLB. Boxberger has an ERA of 2.45.

The difference between a dominant bullpen and a struggling one was apparent on Sunday against the Nationals, who have a bullpen ERA of 4.91.

The D-backs started the 10th inning with a double. Two batters walked, bringing Pollock to the plate.

The Nationals issued their third consecutive walk, allowing the game-winning run to come home.

Onto May

The D-backs have a difficult stretch coming up: They’ll close April with the first game of a four-game series against the Dodgers before hosting the Astros next weekend.

Then, they’ll face the Dodgers twice more before playing a four-game series against the Nationals, one that will likely feature Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg.

If this past month has taught fans anything, though, the D-backs are able to survive adversary. They’ll look to continue their dominant play into the month of May.

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