By the numbers: D-backs’ opening week of 2013
Apr 7, 2013, 10:59 PM | Updated: Apr 8, 2013, 4:11 pm
It’s early. Very early, in fact. But for the second straight season, the Arizona Diamondbacks have started 5-1, and given the amount of skepticism going into 2013, that start is worthy of some recognition.
Here’s a look back at the team’s first week of the season by the numbers:
1: Team defense has been a big part of Kirk Gibson and Co.’s early-season success. Arizona has only committed one error through the first six games.
2: Free baseball has been a popular theme so far in 2013. Two of the D-backs’ first five wins have come in extra innings.
3: The D-backs are 5-1 for just the third time in franchise history. They are also tied atop the National League standings with the Atlanta Braves and Colorado Rockies.
6: Arizona’s rotation did an admirable job through the first week. In four of six games, D-backs starters went at least six innings.
10: Well, it looks like a new contract extension hasn’t phased Paul Goldschmidt. The D-backs first baseman has 10 hits in his first 27 at-bats. He also leads the team with seven RBI.
69: The D-backs have hit the cover off the baseball over the course of the first week. Arizona’s 69 hits are the most in franchise history through six games.
105: Arizona’s three-game road sweep of Milwaukee was somewhat surprising given that it took the team 105 games in 2012 to sweep a team on the road (July 30 – August 1 at Los Angeles Dodgers).
.400: So much for just being a fill-in at the top of the order. Due to Adam Eaton’s elbow injury, Gerardo Parra began 2013 as the D-backs’ lead-off hitter, and he’s playing like he doesn’t want to give up the job. Through the first six games, Parra has a .400 batting average, .438 on-base percentage, 12 hits and four runs scored.
5:32: The D-backs needed five hours and 32 minutes to take down the Cardinals 10-9 at Chase Field Wednesday night. And if not for Josh Collmenter’s tremendous five innings of relief it might all have been for naught.
34,438: Despite plenty of roster turnover and notable spring injuries, fans in the Valley came out in numbers to see the D-backs open their season against the Cardinals. An average of 34,438 people per game went through the Chase Field turnstiles during Arizona’s first home series of 2013.
