Grit Index: Comeback kids do it again in win over Toronto

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks did it again on Wednesday afternoon, earning their 39th comeback win of the season. This time it was veteran infielder Willie Bloomquist with an RBI single that scored Adam Eaton in the bottom of the tenth that gave Arizona the 4-3 win over the Blue Jays at Chase Field.

The way the game started, it looked like the D-backs may be in some trouble after starter Randall Delgado gave up three runs on three hits in the first inning, including a two-run homer to Rajai Davis. But Delgado settled in after that, working seven solid innings. At one point Delgado retired thirteen straight after that long ball to Davis. The right-hander ended up throwing 98 pitches, 69 of which were strikes, allowing four hits and three earned runs while striking out six and not allowing a walk.

Arizona got on the board in the second inning with an RBI-double by Matt Davidson, scoring Martin Prado. Eric Chavez followed up with a pinch-hit sac fly in the seventh and last but not least, Bloomquist’s RBI single for the walk-off win in the tenth that helped the D-backs avoid a three-game sweep.

The D-backs were 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position and only grounded into one double play, which has been a weak spot for them this season, after rolling into seven twin killings in the first two games of the series.

Wednesday’s win over the Blue Jays marks their 13th walk-off win of the season.

The Good:

Delgado now has ten quality starts in 15 outings this season. He’s slowly but surely become a solid and consistent starter for Arizona and could be a viable option for a spot in the rotation next season.

The Bad:

Wednesday’s crowd of 16,154 was the smallest at Chase Field this season. The previous low was 16,871 last Monday against the San Diego Padres.

Noted:

• Martin Prado’s ten-game hitting streak came to an end. He finished 0-for-4 with a run scored and reached base on an error in the second inning.

• Willie Bloomquist recorded his fourth career walk-off hit. His last came on May 19th, 2009 against the Indians.

• The D-backs are 30-18 in one-run games, including 20-6 at home. The 20 one-run victories at home are the second-most in club history.

• The D-backs are 16-5 in extra innings this season and 6-3 at home in extras. They tied a club record today with 21 extra-inning games in 2013, which also occurred in 1999.

• Arizona is also 10-0 in extra innings on get-away days.

• Toronto’s Edwin Encarnacion had hit a home run in five straight games at Chase Field, but that streak ended Wednesday.

He Said It:

“Yeah, I mean internally I was enjoying it. It’s just that they’ve taken the walk-off celebration to a whole new level. I’ll be pulling dirt out of my hair probably from now until the end of the season, but it’s all in good fun.” — Infielder Willie Bloomquist on dealing with the post-game walk-off celebration

Up Next:

The Diamondbacks hit the road for a seven-game road trip to San Francisco and Los Angeles. The four-game series against the Giants starts Thursday with Trevor Cahill on the mound for Arizona. He’s 5-10 on the season with a 4.39 ERA, but the righty is 2-0 with a 3.22 ERA in his last four starts. He did not figure in the decision in Arizona’s 4-3 win over the Giants on August 31, allowing three earned runs in 6.1 innings of work.

Righty Ryan Vogelsong will take the hill for the Giants with a 3-4 record and a 5.49 ERA. He’ll be making just his 15th start during an injury-plagued 2013 campaign. In his last start August 31, he suffered a 4-3 loss to the D-backs at Chase Field, allowing nine hits and three earned runs in six innings.

The D-backs are 2-2 in their last four games against the Giants and 5-10 this season. They’re 3-3 at AT&T Park this season.

First pitch on Thursday is slated for 7:15 p.m. and you can catch the game on Arizona Sports 620 AM.

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