Geoff Blum Breaks Finger In Diamondbacks 7-0 Win Over Rockies

It was a big win for the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was a important to win the series (2-1) over the division rival Colorado Rockies. It was big for the team to get back into an offensive grove after losing some rhythm during the All-Star break. It was big time to get nine scoreless innings from Micah Owings (5 IP, 2 hits) and Zach Duke (4 IP, 3 hits). It was certainly big to put up 19 runs in the last two games. 

What was not so "big" was the loss of Geoff Blum to a broken finger for a team that was already pretty banged up.

Blum broke the big bone in his pinkie finger on his right hand while fielding a ground ball from Ryan Spillborghs in the second inning. Blum completed the play and went to bat in the bottom of the inning but wasn't able to grip the bat and reported a sharp pain when he tried to throw the ball before the next inning. 

Sean Burroughs replaced Blum in the game and will likely get even more playing time now. Blum said after the game that he doesn't think surgery will be necessary but will see the team doctor for more evaluation on Monday. It's too soon for any kind of official timeline but he tossed out "two or three weeks" off the top of his head.

The game itself was scoreless for the first two innings until the D-backs got on the board in the third with a Justin Upton two-out double that plated Willie Bloomquist and Xavier Nady who both singled ahead of him as part of the two-out rally.

Upton finished the game with a walk, a stolen base, three RBI, two doubles, a single and a triple in his 4-4 outing raised his average to .301 on the season. 

"I don't know what's going on. I got some bloop shots, I'm squaring some up. The ball's just been falling for me," Upton said about his current streak that includes 14 hits in the last six games.

The triple Upton his was off the top of the wall to opposite field off a broken bat. He said he can't ever remember hitting a ball that far on a broken bat play. 

The Diamondbacks now head off for a nine game road trip through the division against the Padres, Dodgers and then the Giants. Last time the D-backs took this trip through California it didn't go so well (3-6) with all six losses coming by one run. 

The Diamondbacks will reactive closer J.J. Putz off the DL and had planned on sending Ryan Cook back to Reno to work on a few things. No word yet on a roster move to correspond with Blum's likely placement on the DL.

For more on this game be sure to visit AZ Snake Pit.

Banged Up D-backs Close Home Stand With Rockies Brunch Date

Diamondbacks' Montero, Upton Star In 12-3 Victory Over Rockies

The Arizona Diamondbacks compensated for Friday night's loss to the Colorado Rockies with a 12-3 victory on Saturday. The series is now tied 1-1, and the Diamondbacks will look to build on tonight's momentum in Sunday's Game 3.

Arizona's offense exploded early to put up several runs, thanks in large part to Miguel Montero. The Diamondbacks posted five runs in the first inning on hits by Justin Upton, Josh Collmenter, and Montero. After Troy Tulowitski's homer in the top of the second, Montero responded with a home run of his own in the bottom of the inning to extend the Diamondbacks' lead to 7-1.

Arizona was not done scoring, though. Upton hit a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning to bring the Diamondbacks' run total to 12. The home run was Upton's second career grand slam.

The Diamondbacks' offense was complemented by the pitching of Collmenter (5-5). Collmenter allowed six hits and three runs in seven innings while getting four strikeouts. He has now notched two straight wins after going through an ugly stretch of five straight losses prior to the All-Star Break.

The Diamondbacks have tied the series 1-1 heading into Sunday's Game 3. Arizona has gone 4-4 since the All-Star Break and is 54-47 overall. The Diamondbacks are three-and-a-half games behind the San Francisco Giants in the NL West.

Diamondbites: Diamondbacks Look To Even Series With Rockies, Send Collmenter To Mound Against Hammel

The Arizona Diamondbacks have been playing inconsistent baseball since the All-Star break, winning just four of the eight home contests held since Chase Field hosted the All-Star Game on July 12.

Josh Collmenter and the D-backs will look to regain a winning record in the second half as they take on the Rockies at 5:10 PM Pacific time in Phoenix on Saturday night.

Collmenter's rookie season has exceeded expectations, as the young pitcher has posted a 5-5 record and an ERA of 2.65 over his 19 apperances, 12 of which were starts.

Collmenter has given up zero runs in his past two starts, encompassing 14 innings of work -- all against the Milwaukee Brewers. His last outing against the Rockies was much more difficult, when he gave up five earned runs over 4.1 innings in a losing effort on May 24.

Other news and notes from the world of the D-backs:

• J.J. Putz is rehabbing down in Triple-A Reno and should be rejoining the big league club within a week if no further setbacks occur.
• Micah Owings will start for the Diamondbacks on Sunday, facing off against Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez.
• According to media relations, Arizona's 53-47 record is their best record through 100 games since 2003, when they went 54-46.

Cheesesteaks And Chooch: Philly's A True Sports Town

Hudson Kept Honest By Rockies, Colorado Defeats Arizona 8-4

Despite getting out to an early lead, the Arizona Diamondbacks were unable to contain the Colorado Rockies offense, and the Rox defeated the D-backs 8-4 in game one of a three game set on Friday night in Phoenix.

Daniel Hudson didn't have his best stuff for Arizona, giving up five earned runs over 6.1 innings pitched against the Rockies. Hudson uncharacteristically allowed ten hits while striking out seven batters.

This was only the fourth time all season that Hudson gave up five or more earned runs, with the last time occurring on July 4 against Milwaukee.

Dexter Fowler and Mark Ellis did a lot of the damage for the Rockies on offense, combining for six hits, four runs and two RBI at the top of the Colorado batting order.

Geoff Blum hit his first home run of the season for the Diamondbacks, who fell to 53-47 and remained four games behind San Francisco in the NL West pennant chase. 

Willie Bloomquist, Justin Upton, Miguel Montero and Gerardo Parra all added two hits each in a losing cause. 

Recently called up relief pitcher Ryan Cook continued to struggle in the majors, giving up a run in the eighth inning to the Rockies. After two games, Cook has an ERA of 36.00 and has given up four earned runs in one inning of work.

For more on the D-backs, visit AZ Snake Pit.

Diamondbacks Honor Young Fan Ian McMillan For Kind Act (Video)

The Arizona Diamondbacks rolled out the red carpet for Ian McMillan to honor his recent unselfish act during Wednesday's game. McMillan, a 12-year-old from Scottsdale, AZ, was caught on camera giving a baseball that he was handed by a security guard to another even younger fan who was upset about not getting the ball. Here's the moment via Fox Sports Arizona.

On Friday, the D-backs thanked young Ian for his kind act by giving him a jersey presented by manger Kirk Gibson. Ian then held a press conference prior to his throwing out the first pitch at the game. Here's McMillan answering questions at the press conference (video provided by AZ Diamondbacks).

Well done, young man.

Arizona Diamondbacks Host Colorado Rockies In First Post-Drew Series

The Arizona Diamondbacks begin their new life without Stephen Drew with a home series against the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies (47-52) are six games behind the D-backs and 10 games out of first in the NL West. Many experts in their mid-season predictions suggested the Rox have a late-season surge left in them and that it would be them, and not Arizona, chasing the Giants for the pennant in September.

If the Rockies have any hope of fulfilling that prophecy they will need to get things started by eating into the D-backs' second-place position. The D-backs, obviously, have no interest in rolling over and letting that happen which sets up this three game home series to have important (or at least some) playoff implications. 

This will also be the first full series for the D-backs without the services of Stephen Drew. Willie Bloomquist is clearly the first choice to play short but journeyman Cody Ransom will likely also see time in Kirk Gibson's ever-changing lineup. 

Pitching remains a question for the D-backs with Barry Enright sent back to Reno after a miserable outing. Gibson announced on Friday that Micah Owings will get the start on Sunday. He's not sure how deep Owings will be able to go, but with a day off on Monday, Gibby's prepared to empty the bullpen if he has to.

The bullpen is slated to get J.J. Putz back soon which will help since youngsters like Bryan Shaw and Ryan Cook haven't exactly torn things up in their few appearances. 

• Friday (6:40 p.m.) : Aaron Cook (0-5, 5.82) vs. Daniel Hudson (10-5, 3.56)
• Saturday (5:10 p.m.) Jason Hammel (5-9, 4.36) vs. Josh Collmenter (5-5, 2.65)
• Sunday (1:10 p.m.) : Ubaldo Jimenez (6-8, 4.00) vs. Micah Owings (3-0, 2.76)

Audio: Kirk Gibson's pregame press conference (including funny story about visiting Stephen Drew in the hospital): Kirk Gibson pregame 072211

We start with the Rockies, who come to Arizona this weekend, in a state of some disarray. Remember the 2009 Diamondbacks? Expected by many to compete, they struggled with injuries and under-performance, limping their way to 70 wins, while frustrating and disappointing their fanbase. Welcome to your 2011 Rockies.