A closer look: D-backs beat Cubs to open series
Jun 23, 2012, 5:31 AM | Updated: 6:39 am
Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but
we all know that won’t tell you everything that happened
in a baseball game. So, we will give you a closer look,
providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from the
D-backs’ June 22 win over Chicago. Final score: Diamondbacks 6, Cubs 1
The Good:
After Joe Saunders was scratched minutes before he was scheduled to make his 175th career start, Josh Collmenter and four D-backs relievers combined to limit the Cubs to one run on nine hits. Collmenter made his first start since April 24 and allowed a solo home run to Geovany Soto in the fourth before turning the game over to the bullpen. The foursome of Brad Ziegler, Craig Breslow, Bryan Shaw and David Hernandez pitched five innings of shutout baseball
The Bad:
Chris Young went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. He is now batting .144 (14-for-97) with three RBI in 27 games since coming off the disabled list.
He said it (Part 1):
“It was just one of those weird, fluke things where I just couldn’t get loose. Maybe I slept on it wrong or something like that,” Saunders said. “Strength wise [the trainers] said I was off the charts so [I’m] not worried about anything structurally.”
He said it (Part 2):
“I’d probably say the first hit was probably the highlight of my career thus far,” David Hernandez said. “Just puts another option in Gibby’s mind.”
Noted:
Hernandez — in his fourth career at-bat, and Ziegler — in his second career at-bat, each recorded their first major league hit. Hernandez became the first D-backs pitcher to have a hit and a save in the same game since Jose Valverde on September 20, 2003 at Milwaukee.
Jason Kubel was given the green light on 3-0 in the fourth inning and hit his ninth home run of the season. He has hit safely in all six career games against the Cubs, hitting .381 (8-for-21) with three home runs and five RBI.
Miguel Montero hit his first triple of the season and only the fifth of his career.
Coming up next:
The D-backs continue their series with the Cubs Saturday night with Ian Kennedy (5-7, 4.13) taking the mound against Paul Maholm (4-5, 4.88).
Kennedy, who will be pitching on his bobblehead giveaway day, is 0-2 with a 5.27 ERA (8 ER in 13.2 IP) in his last two starts. The good news though is D-backs pitchers are 2-0 with a save and a 1.13 ERA (2 ER in 16 IP) in three games on their bobblehead days.
