ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Paul Goldschmidt continues his MVP campaign in D-backs’ win over Giants
Aug 4, 2017, 10:18 PM | Updated: 10:26 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt hits an RBI triple against the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, Aug. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Every MVP has a signature stretch of the season and if Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt wins his first this season, his play in at least the past two weeks will be his.
Entering Friday’s game against the San Francisco Giants, Goldschmidt was hitting .455 since J.D. Martinez came back into the starting lineup on July 24.
That run includes what will be his signature game of the season against the Chicago Cubs Thursday when Goldschmidt hit three home runs in a 10-8 D-backs victory, one after each rain delay.
Goldschmidt continued that form Friday, when he had a hit in his first three at-bats and was responsible for both Arizona runs in a 2-1 win.
His RBI triple in the fourth inning was the first run of the game and his RBI on his next plate appearance in the sixth that would give the D-backs the lead back was hit so hard off the wall in left field that he only got a single out of it.
That’s all Arizona would need for a win against the Giants.
While rookie starting pitcher Anthony Banda was wild at times in his second career start, he ended it after six innings having allowed one earned run on three hits and four walks. Jorge De La Rosa, David Hernandez and Fernando Rodney would throw three perfect innings afterward to give Banda his first career win.
Goldschmidt’s case for National League MVP honors is strong. Prior to Friday’s games, Goldschmidt’s National League ranks were seventh in batting average, second in on-base plus slugging, tied for seventh in homers, tied for second in runs and tied for second in RBI.
Paul Goldschmidt on pace for: 36 doubles, 35 homers, 125 runs, 123 RBI, 111 walks, 180 hits, 23 SB. https://t.co/gh0EX6gcM1
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) August 3, 2017
With the schedule the D-backs have lined up for August, they will need their hitters to carry them some games, and so far, Goldschmidt has done it twice in four nights.
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