Grit Index: Skaggs, D-backs blank Rockies
Jul 6, 2013, 5:49 AM | Updated: 5:50 am
Perhaps the Diamondbacks need look no further than their own farm system to find pitching help.
With his name mentioned as possible trade bait, Tyler Skaggs threw eight shutout innings, giving up only three hits in a 5-0 win over the Colorado Rockies in front of a sellout crowd of 45,505 at Chase Field Friday.
Skaggs, making his fourth start of the season and the 10th of his big league career, retired 12 straight batters at one point. The left-hander did not allow a base runner to reach second. He finished with one walk and five strikeouts.
Offensively, Aaron Hill and Paul Goldschmidt each drove in a pair of runs. They each also had a pair of hits as did A.J. Pollock and Didi Gregorius. Pollock scored three times, as well.
The D-backs, who won their third straight, extended their lead in the National League West to 3.5 games.
The Good:
Skaggs becomes only the second D-backs pitcher to toss at least 8.0 scoreless innings within his first 10 Major League starts (also Geraldo Guzman on July 17, 2000 vs. Mariners).
The Diamondbacks posted their fifth shutout of the season, blanking the Rockies for the first time since June 5, 2012 at Chase Field.
The Bad:
Major League Baseball’s decision to deny the team’s petition to wear Prescott Fire Department hats during the game. The hats were worn (by both teams) during batting practice and National Anthem as a nod to those 19 firefighters who died fighting the Yarnell Hill fire.
Stat of the Game:
71: Number of RBIs for Goldschmidt, which is the third-most by a D-backs player prior to the All-Star break; only Luis Gonzalez (86 in 2001) and Matt Williams (82 in 1999) had more.
Noted:
• The Diamondbacks 50/50 raffle totaled $100,016 with the proceeds benefiting the families of the tragedy.
He Said It:
“Things couldn’t have went better for us [Friday],” manager Kirk Gibson said. “The pregame ceremony (honoring the memory of the 19 firefighters) was off the charts. It was done really well. It was very moving, very touching. I think we were all standing there saying our prayers for those families.”
What’s Next:
The Diamondbacks send Wade Miley (4-7, 4.55) to the mound for game two of the three-game series. The left-hander is 4-0 with a 2.79 ERA (13 ER in 42.0 IP) in seven games, including six starts in his career against Colorado. The Rockies, meanwhile, counter with Drew Pomeranz (0-1, 8.31), who is making his second start of the season and fourth career start against the D-backs.
First pitch is set for Saturday night at 7:10 p.m. with pregame coverage starting at 6:40 p.m. on Arizona Sports 620.
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