That escalated quickly: D-backs put up 9-run inning in win over Astros
Aug 5, 2020, 8:09 PM | Updated: 10:36 pm
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 05: Kole Calhoun #56 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits an RBI single during the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Chase Field on August 05, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
PHOENIX — With the roof opening mid-game for the first time at Chase Field this year, the Arizona Diamondbacks summoned some Ron Burgundy energy in Wednesday’s 14-7 win over the Houston Astros.
Things escalated quickly.
They call him Kole because he…..
….. ignites the @Dbacks offense 😎 pic.twitter.com/hjSAeYLAnT
— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) August 6, 2020
It began with outfielder Kole Calhoun cranking a pitch to the far corner of right field with no outs in the fourth inning. The liner hit off the bottom of the wall and rolled all the way to right-center near the pool, allowing him to circle the bases for a two-run inside-the-park homer.
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It was a tidal wave that followed. The D-backs batted around the order and then some, posting nine hits and scoring as many runs to take a 9-4 lead. How significant was it for a 3-8 baseball team that was bottom-five in the MLB in average (.194) and dead last in runs per game (2.64)? They’d never tallied more than eight hits in 11 games this year.
It was the ninth time in history the Diamondbacks scored nine runs in a single inning and fifth frame ever with nine or more hits.
The batting against the Astros included:
- One hit-by-pitch
- One walk
- Four singles, one of the bunting variety
- Three doubles
- One triple
- One home run, of the inside-the-park variety
Thanks to 14 total plate appearances by Arizona, Ketel Marte, Kole Calhoun and Christian Walker all recorded multiple hits during the frame. It was the 39th, 40th and 41st times a D-back had recorded two hits in one inning.
AFTER THE D-BACKS’ FOURTH INNING ROOF DECISION: https://t.co/EUgCMPaqpw pic.twitter.com/gle0EgotZ6
— Kevin Zimmerman (@KZimmermanAZ) August 6, 2020
The Diamondbacks faced two pitchers during the bottom of the fourth: righty starter Lance McCullers Jr. and reliever Nivaldo Rodriguez. McCullers departed after 3.2 innings and was dinged for eight of the nine runs. Rodriguez closed the frame and was tagged for the final run.
In real time, the half-inning took about 40 minutes to complete.
