D-backs’ offensive surge continues Tuesday with 9-run start vs. Oakland
Aug 18, 2020, 4:30 PM | Updated: 6:15 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta (6) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Oakland Athletics during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
The Arizona Diamondbacks bats are buzzing, the main reason they have won five games in a row and recovered from an awful 3-8 start to the season.
But even with that in mind, the D-backs had managed only 15 runs in the first three innings of their first 23 games in 2020.
That changed in a hurry on Tuesday.
Against the Oakland Athletics’ Frankie Montas, Arizona exploded for nine runs in the first two innings.
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Montas had clear control issues from the jump, to the point where all D-backs hitters needed to do was sit back and wait for their pitch. The right-hander was either missing badly or putting the ball over the desirable parts of the plate, making life easy for Arizona.
In the first, Kole Calhoun scored on a wild pitch before Eduardo Escobar brought home Starling Marte with a sacrifice fly. Nick Ahmed homered to add three more runs and make it a five-run first.
Montas’ struggles continued in the second, where Calhoun hit a solo shot that was followed by Ahmed making it five RBIs in two innings with a two-RBI single. Jake Lamb hit an RBI single to bring Arizona one run short of double digits.
On the other end, Luke Weaver had it at a 9-1 advantage through two innings. He allowed one run through five innings on the day, the Arizona bullpen didn’t give up any more and the offense added one more run for a 10-1 win.
