Diamondbacks Found Lacking Against Phillies, Overconfidence Crept In

D-backs Lose Second Straight, Fall 4-1 To Phillies

Ian Kennedy’s seven-game winning streak came to an end on Thursday evening, as the Arizona Diamondbacks lost their second straight to drop their series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Kennedy started out strong in the first inning, taking down the first three batters he faced. However, early in the bottom of the second, Kennedy and Ryan Roberts collided going for a pop up from Ross Gload. Kennedy seemed to favor his right arm from that point on and it appeared to throw off his rhythm and pace. Kennedy gave up three runs over the second and third innings before a rain delay ended his night.

After two-plus hours waiting for the rain to pass, the game started again with Micah Owings filling in for Kennedy. Owings gave up a run of his own before calming down and lasting through the sixth. Brian Shaw, Joe Paterson, and David Hernandez helped shut down the Phillies over the final three frames, but it didn’t matter.

The D-backs had plenty of trouble putting up offense behind their shaky pitching. The team’s inability to score has been a theme of the series, with Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Vance Worley each taking a turn locking down one of the National League’s more potent hitting squads. Even against relief pitching after the rain delay, Arizona struggled to get on the scoreboard until Paul Goldschmidt homered in the top of the eighth.

Luckily for the D-backs, the San Francisco Giants’ offensive struggles continued and they were shut out by the Atlanta Braves in a 1-0 loss that kept Arizona up 2.5 games in the NL West standings. However, the Snakes now head to Georgia for three games against the very same Braves.

For more Arizona Diamondbacks coverage, head over to SB Nation’s blog, AZ Snake Pit.

Ian Kennedy, Vance Worley Duel For Bragging Rights As D-backs Face Phillies

When division leaders clash on Thursday night in Philadelphia, youth will reign supreme on the mound. Both the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies are showcasing their young guns, with Cy Young candidate Ian Kennedy (15-3, 3.12) facing off against Vance Worley (8-1, 2.85).

Kennedy has had a magical season for Arizona, currently holding the best win percentage in the major leagues at .833. He has earned a victory in his last seven starts, including two wins over playoff contenders San Francisco and Milwaukee.

Worley has been a surprise for the Phillies, taking over a rotation spot after Joe Blanton went down with an elbow injury in mid-May. Drafted in the third round of the 2008 draft out of Long Beach State, Worley features a 92-mph fastball and a quality slider.

While Worley has been given a lot of credit in his rookie season, he does have some blemishes: his strikeout-to-walk ratio is only 2.3, meaning that he can get into a lot of trouble with his command at times. He also relies heavily on his four-seam fastball while shying away from his curveball and change-up.

Kennedy's pitch selection is slightly more robust, utilizing both a two-seam and a four-seam fastball with great success. His change-up averages 10 mph less than his fastball, allowing him to effectively manage a game despite not having a lot of speed on his heater (around 90 mph).

Impressively, Kennedy has struck out 142 while only walking 45, earning himself a 3.15 K/BB ratio. In his last seven starts (all wins), Kennedy has only walked 13 batters. 

It's difficult to tell who will come out on top tonight in Philadelphia. Will the Diamondbacks be able to overcome the homefield advantage and the excellent Phillies lineup, or will Worley continue to surprise against the NL West division leaders?

Find out more about the D-backs at AZ Snake Pit.

No Late Rally For D-Backs, Phillies Win 9-2

Just 24 hours after perhaps the best win of the year for the Arizona Diamondbacks, they were unable to muster that late inning magic. Instead, it was the Philadelphia Phillies who scored three runs each in the seventh inning and another four in the eighth en route to a 9-2 victory in the second of the three-game series between two division leaders. 

For the first six innings, it was a continuation of Tuesday's classic. Jimmy Rollins got things going by hitting the first pitch he saw from Joe Saunders in the bottom of the first inning into the left-center field bleachers. 

The D-Backs answered right back in the top of the second when rookie Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run shot off of Philly starter Cliff Lee. Quickly answering, John Mayberry, Jr. singled home Hunter Pence in the bottom half of the second. 

From there, Lee cruised until his night was over after seven innings.

Saunders pitched six strong frames, but then had problems in the seventh. Hunter Pence walked, Mayberry singled and then Wilson Valdez drove them both in with a double. Valdez would score on a sacrifice fly allowed by Joe Paterson, who came on in relief of Saunders.

The eighth inning was a mess. Brad Zeigler failed to retire any of the four hitters he faced and they all would come around to score. 

Arizona lost a game off their lead as the San Francisco Giants won their game against the Atlanta Braves. They now have a 2 1/2 game lead in the NL West. 

With the victory, Lee improved to 13-7  for the year. Saunders fell to 8-10. 

The two teams will square off in the series finale Thursday evening at 4:05. 

For more D-Backs coverage, visit AZ Snakepit.

Arizona Diamondbacks Release Juan Jaime

The Arizona Diamondbacks have released 24-year-old Juan Jaime. The team had designated Jaime for assignment on Saturday following the injury to first baseman Xavier Nady and the signing of former Pittsburgh Pirate Lyle Overbay.

Jaime spent his first three seasons with the Washington Nationals (2006-2008) before playing in the minor leagues in 2009. He underwent Tommy John surgery in April of 2010 and has yet to pitch since that time.

Though Jaime has been released, the Diamondbacks seem to have made a good move in signing Overbay. The ten-year veteran, who spent his first three seasons with the Diamondbacks, returned to the team on Saturday after Nady's injury left him on the 15-day DL. Since then, Overbay has come up big for the team in the Diamondbacks' opening game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Overbay put in three hits and three RBIs to lead a comeback 3-2 victory on Tuesday.

Arizona seems to be clicking at the right time and are currently riding a seven-game win streak. They look to make it eight straight wins as they battle the Phillies tonight.

Diamondbacks, Overbay Stun Phillies With Comeback Win Off Halladay, 3-2

Season-defining moments are few and far between, but the Arizona Diamondbacks had one in the ninth inning of Tuesday's pivotal matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies.

With Phillies ace Roy Halladay on the mound, on his way to yet another complete game victory, it would have been easy for the D-backs to throw in the towel. For Kirk Gibson and this gritty Arizona team, that just wasn't going to happen.

Both Justin Upton and Miguel Montero made their way on base, bringing up Chris Young, who struck out on a dreadful foul bunt. Newly acquired Lyle Overbay then stepped into the box, and the rest is history: Overbay ripped a two-run double into right center field, driving in both Upton and Collin Cowgill, who pinch ran for Montero.

In the bottom of the ninth, J.J. Putz earned his 30th save of the season by striking out Ross Gload and Jimmy Rollins to strand Carlos Ruiz at second base.

After a week of playing the Houston Astros and the New York Mets, the D-backs rose to the occasion and defeated the Phillies in front of a sold-out crowd of 45,742 at Citizens Bank Park. 

No one gave Arizona the credit it deserved going into this game. As you watched the Twitter outbursts from media personalities on the east coast, they could hardly believe what they were watching, even as it unfolded right in front of them.

The Diamondbacks are showing the world what they are capable of, with Josh Collmenter pitching 6.2 strong innings in one of the finest starts of his young career and Lyle Overbay surprising everyone with three RBI off Halladay.

The going won't get any easier for Arizona as the week progresses: they face off against Cliff Lee tomorrow night in what should be another epic battle. For now, however, it appears as though the east coast is taking notice of Arizona's incredible 2011 season and their insatiable desire to win.

Notes:

• Halladay earned his seventh complete game of the season and he struck out 14 Diamondbacks -- yet he still earned the loss.
• Bryan Shaw (1-0) earned the first MLB victory of his career.
• Arizona only had  eight hits all night, but three of them came in the ninth inning.
• Overbay had three hits, while Montero added two.
• Arizona is now 69-53, three games up on the San Francisco Giants (who are still in action, tied 1-1 in the 11th inning against Atlanta)

Diamondbacks vs. Phillies, Starting Lineup: Goldschmidt Sits, Montero Bats Clean up

The Arizona Diamondbacks are in the city of brotherly love for a crucial three game set with the NL East leading Philadelphia Phillies starting Tuesday. The D’backs still maintain their slight advantage in the NL West over the Giants for now, but will have to bring their A-game to top the Phils on their home turf.

Ryan Roberts has been moved up to second in the batting order tonight, behind leadoff man Willie Bloomquist. Gerado Parra will be in left field, Lyle Overbay will be at first, while Miguel Montero will be behind the dish to catch Josh Collmenter this evening, batting clean up. Rookie Paul Goldschmidt will get the night off.

Arizona Diamondbacks Lineup:

1. Willie Bloomquist SS
2. Ryan Roberts 2B
3. Justin Upton RF
4. Miguel Montero C
5. Chris Young CF
6. Lyle Overbay 1B
7. Sean Burroughs 3B
8. Gerardo Parra LF
9. Josh Collmenter P

First pitch is set for 5:05 pm MT with coverage on Fox Sports Arizona, MLB Network, and KTAR 620 AM.

For more discussion and analysis of the D’backs, check out AZ Snake Pit to get in on the action.

[Note by Seth Pollack, 08/16/11 1:09 PM MST ]

The D-backs made it official and called up Wade Miley to replace Jason Marquis in the rotation. He'll make his major league debut on Saturday in Atlanta against Tim Hudson. Good luck, kid and welcome to the show.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Philadelphia Phillies Primer, Roy Halladay Awaits

The Diamondbacks are off to Philadelphia to take on Roy Halladay and the Phillies on Tuesday night. Can they handle the heat, or will they get out of the kitchen?