Aaron Hill: The Consistent And Consistently Underrated Second Baseman For The Arizona Diamondbacks

Aaron Hill has never been a guy that has craved attention for his play on the baseball diamond. He knows that he simply has a job to do and he continues to do it well.

Down Just Four Games In The Wild Card Standings, The D-Backs Aren't Out Of The Race Yet

Upon entering the Diamondbacks clubhouse after their victory over the Dodgers, a large sign appearing on the TV next to the door displayed the team's current state of being. It said, "4 Games", signifying how many games behind the St. Louis Cardinals Arizona is in the Wild Card standings. Four games? That doesn't sound like a lot, but with just 19 games left on the regular season schedule, the D-Backs will have to work fast in order to make the postseason.

Pitcher Trevor Cahill doesn't seem too worried. He came off a brilliant performance against the Dodgers, going seven full innings and allowing just two runs on his watch. The night before, Ian Kennedy allowed just one earned run. It will take plenty of inspired performances like these if they want to continue their recent success. Still, they keep their heads in the right frame of mind.

"It's good," Cahill said of the feeling amongst the team. "We've won a few one run games against division rivals. Sometimes those are better than blowouts. If you're able to have a one run game like today, coming from behind; we're definitely not out of it. We never thought we were."

The team has shown a small flash of what their whole 2011 season was about over the past week. Come from behind wins have put the Diamondbacks in position to make a come from behind playoff run, one that up until these past few days, seemed wildly unrealistic.

But for Arizona, the idea was far from intangible. By sweeping the Dodgers and taking 2 of 3 from the Giants two series ago, the D-Backs are beating quality divisional opponents all while climbing in the standings. All they need now is for the Cardinals and/or Braves to continue stumbling and they will be in prime position to steal a playoff spot at the last possible moment.

Manager Kirk Gibson expects that out of his team. He seems to enjoy the new Wild Card structure, citing that it has made things more "exciting" with all of the teams involved. He feels that Arizona is on the prowl and that they, "need to keep running in the same direction."

His starting pitcher, Trevor Cahill, seems to get the gist of it.

"We're just going to come in here and try and win one game at a time."

For more information on Diamondbacks baseball, go pay a visit to AZ Snake Pit.

Diamondbacks Vs. Dodgers: D-Backs Complete Two-Game Series Sweep Of Dodgers, Win 3-2

Only 4 1/2 games out of a Wild Card spot and with the St. Louis Cardinals losing to the Padres today, the Diamondbacks know they aren't entirely out of it yet. They had already won game one against the Dodgers, but the run production forced Ian Kennedy to pitch a gem of a game. If that trend continued, Trevor Cahill would have to do the same thing on the mound for Arizona.

Unfortunately for the D-Backs, Cahill got off to another slow start. In the first inning, he allowed a base hit to Shane Victorino, followed by a pitch that hit Matt Kemp, sending him to first with just one out. Adrian Gonzalez proceeded to hit a double into the right- center field gap, scoring both of his teammates and making the score 2-0. Per Jules Tompkins from Arizona Sports, Cahill now has allowed 21 first inning runs in 29 first innings pitched this year.

The D-Backs got off the snide in the second inning after Paul Goldschmidt hit a single, stole second base, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. All it took from there was a sacrifice fly from Justin Upton to score him and make the count 2-1.

A scoring slump was in effect until the bottom of the sixth inning, where, with two outs, Upton was able to plate Goldschmidt once again after a line drive single to left field. Gerardo Parra's subsequent single off of reliever Randy Choate knocked in Miguel Montero from third base, giving the Diamondbacks their first lead of the game, 3-2.

Brad Ziegler and David Hernandez came on in relief of Cahill, putting up zeros across the board.

After the first inning, Cahill allowed no more runs through his 7 innings of work. His final line showed that he allowed four hits, two earned runs and had seven strikeouts in that span. Manager Kirk Gibson has stressed all season that he would like to see Cahill work deeper into games and he did just that on Wednesday night.

For more information on Diamondbacks baseball, go pay a visit to AZ Snake Pit.

Diamondbacks Vs. Dodgers: Starting Lineups, Putz Not Likely To Play, Other Notes

The Diamondbacks look to wrap up a short two game series today with the possibility of sweeping the Dodgers in the desert. Unfortunately, if the game is as close as Tuesday's 1-0 victory, they might not have their closer again. Kirk Gibson noted before the game that J.J. Putz is still struggling with some back issues.

When asked about Putz, Gibson said that his back is, "not very good today". "It's improved, but he's not pain free." He noted that he will likely have to give him another day off. Willie Bloomquist's back, on the other hand, seems to have improved. Gibby said that he is better and that he, "moved around much more freely." Although he is not in the lineup tonight, one would have to think that he could be back at some point this season.

Trevor Bauer, who is pitching in the PCL Championship Series, could still be called up by the Diamondbacks sometime this month. He threw what will likely be his final start last night against Omaha. However, Gibson still isn't sure on what will happen with that situation. Bauer struggled in the early portions of the game, walking a lot of batters. He walked three in the first inning alone. Gibson might choose to let him continue to rest and save him for spring training.

The Diamondbacks' lineup (seen below) looks a bit different than normal tonight. Rookie Ryan Wheeler is not only starting at third base, but he will also be batting third in the lineup. That marks the first time all season he has been that high in the batting order. Justin Upton has dropped all the way to the six hole.

Here are the starting lineups for tonight's game:

Dodgers:

Mark Ellis (2B)

Shane Victorino (LF)

Matt Kemp (CF)

Adrian Gonzalez (1B)

Hanley Ramirez (SS)

Andre Ethier (RF)

Luis Cruz (3B)

A.J. Ellis (C)

Aaron Harang (P, 9-8, 3.75)

Diamondbacks:

Adam Eaton (CF)

Aaron Hill (2B)

Ryan Wheeler (3B)

Paul Goldschmidt (1B)

Miguel Montero (C)

Justin Upton (RF)

Gerardo Parra (LF)

John McDonald (SS)

Trevor Cahill (P, 10-11, 3.98)

Diamondbacks Vs. Dodgers: Arizona Look To Sweep Shortened Series

As the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers look to keep up with the San Francisco Giants in the NL West, they'll have to deal with each other first as they conclude their two-game set Wednesday night at

Arizona will send out Trevor Cahill (10-11, 3.98 ERA), who had a no-hitter into the seventh inning of his last start against San Francisco. He would eventually end up allowing two runs on two hits through 6.1 innings of work of that start, clinching the 6-2 victory. Cahill is 6-4 with a 2.91 away from home this season, though is 4-7 with a 5.33 ERA at Chase Field. He is 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA in four starts against Los Angeles this year.

The Dodgers will counter with Aaron Harang (9-8, 3.75) who is 0-1 with a 9.42 ERA in three starts against Arizona this year. He lasted five innings against San Diego in his last start this weekend, giving up three runs on seven hits en route to a 4-3 loss. Like Cahill, Harang has fared better on the road this year than at home, owning a 7-3 record with a 3.49 ERA away from Chavez Ravine and is 2-5 with a 4.02 ERA while playing there.

First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. PT with coverage on Fox Sports Arizona and KTAR 620 AM.

For more on the Arizona Diamondbacks, make your way over to AZ Snake Pit. For the Dodgers side of the story, head over to True Blue L.A.

Diamondbacks In Better Shape Than Cardinals Were In 2011, Says Kirk Gibson

Even with their strong 1-0 showing against the Dodgers on Tuesday night, the Arizona Diamondbacks are still two games under .500 and five games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second wild card spot. Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson isn't worried though, as he thinks the team still definitely has a chance to make a run at the playoffs.

During his weekly radio show on Tuesday, Gibson compared his team to the Cardinals of 2011 that earned a wild card spot thanks to a late season rally. "I think we are in a better position now than the Cardinals were last year at this time," Gibson said. "Nobody thought they could do it, but that's why you play the games."

While those Cardinals were well over the .500 mark, they were 4.5 games behind the Braves and managed to earn a playoff spot on the final day of the regular season. That team eventually went on to win the 2011 World Series.

For all things D-Backs, head over to AZ Snakepit and keep following SBNation Arizona's Diamondbacks hub.

Ian Kennedy, Diamondbacks Bullpen Shut Out Struggling Dodgers

Maybe the Arizona Diamondbacks are simply prolonging their inevitable elimination from the postseason that more than likely will happen this month. But in the meantime, they made things a little more difficult for a division rival, the Los Angeles Dodgers, with a 1-0 win at Chase Field Tuesday night.

The Dodgers are trying to move past the St. Louis Cardinals for an NL wild card spot. But they couldn't gain any ground thanks to D-backs pitcher Ian Kennedy, who shut out Los Angeles on four hits over 7 1/3 innings. Kennedy was in such control that he struck out six and did not walk a batter, and he also got some defensive help from left fielder Jason Kubel and second baseman Aaron Hill.

Kubel took at least extra bases and an RBI from the Dodgers' Luis Cruz with a catch right at the wall, and later in the game, Hill caught a hard line drive headed for the right-center field gap from Andre Ethier to take away a hit.

Miguel Montero's one-out double in the seventh inning off Clayton Kershaw drove in Paul Goldschmidt from first base, and even Montero was thrown out by Matt Kemp after a fly ball to center field, that lone run was all the Diamondbacks needed.

Kennedy improved to 13-11 and 5-1 against L.A. in his last seven starts against the Dodgers. The D-backs are 11-6 against the Dodgers in 2012.

David Hernandez struck out Adrian Gonzalez looking with two out and a runner on second base in the top of the ninth to end the game.

Arizona (70-72) won a 1-0 game for the first time this season, and tries to sting the Dodgers again Wednesday against starter Aaron Harang. The Dodgers dropped to 74-68 and look far from a team that will make the postseason at present.

D-backs Vs. Dodgers: Game Time, Probable Pitchers, TV And More

Far out in the Wild Card race and even farther out of first place in the NL West, the Arizona Diamondbacks are likely relegated to a spoiler role for the remainder of the 2012 MLB season. Tuesday night the D-backs can put a hurting on the Los Angeles Dodgers' playoff chances, as Arizona kicks off a two-game set in Los Angeles that is the last meeting of the season between the two teams.

The Diamondbacks (69-72) send Ian Kennedy (12-11, 4.39) to the mound. The Dodgers (74-67) hope that Clayton Kershaw (12-8, 2.79) will keep the Arizona bats quiet and keep L.A. at most a game out in the Wild Card race. Arizona is six games out of the Wild Card and 10 games behind San Francisco in the NL West.

Game Time: 6:40 p.m. PT

Television Coverage: Fox Sports Arizona

Streaming Video: MLB.tv

For all things D-Backs, head over to AZ Snakepit and keep following SBNation Arizona's Diamondbacks hub.

MLB Standings: D-backs Drop Second Straight Series To The Padres, Fall Further Out Of Relevancy

The D-backs lost another series in embarrassing fashion but still aren't mathematically eliminated yet.