Scott Podsednik Refuses Triple-A Assignment, Released By D-Backs

So, all the concern about whether we were going to replace one of our existing outfielders with Podsednik - or, if you prefer, happiness at us having acquired a legitimate leadoff hitter - proved unfounded. Podsednik, as a player with over five years of major-league service, automatically has the right to refuse to go down to the minors, and opt to try his chances as a free agent instead. One imagines the team was largely unsurprised by the development.

Please read the full story here from AZ Snakepit.

Paul Goldschmidt Accused Of Dirty Play, Dodgers Believe Should Be Suspended

Arizona Diamondbacks Roster Moves: Bergesen Optioned To Make Room For Albers

The Arizona Diamondbacks had to make a roster move to accommodate the trade the made with the Boston Red Sox earlier this week. The team traded left-handed reliever Craig Breslow to Boston for right-handed reliever Matt Albers and outfielder Scott Podsednik. Albers did not report to the team while it was in Los Angeles, but is doing so now that it has traveled to Philadelphia.

Since Patrick Corbin was recalled from the minors when Breslow left, bringing in Albers required moving a pitcher. As such, the Diamondbacks have optioned reliever Bob Bergesen to Triple-A Reno.

Bergesen, 26, appeared in 3 games for the D-backs, allowing a run on 4 hits and a walk with 4 strikeouts over 5.0 innings. He reported to the club on July 22 after being claimed by the D-backs on July 20 from the Baltimore Orioles. He had been selected by the Orioles on July 17 from Triple-A Norfolk, where he was 4-3 with a save and 4.03 ERA (36 ER in 80.1 IP) in 22 games (10 starts).

Albers, 29, went 2-0 with a 2.29 ERA (10 ER in 39.1 IP) in 40 relief appearances with the Red Sox this season. He limited opponents to a .216 (30-for-139) average and posted 1.00 ERA (1 ER in 9.0 IP) over his last 12 outings.

The 6-foot-0, 225-pounder has gone 21-29 with a 4.78 ERA (224 ER in 421.1 IP) in 277 Major League games with the Astros (2006-07), Orioles (2008-10) and Red Sox (2010-12). Since 2008, Albers ranks second among all relievers with 94 appearances lasting more than 1.0 inning, trailing only Jamey Wright (100).

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Patrick Corbin Is Spectacular As Diamondbacks Sweep Dodgers With 4-0 Win

The Arizona Diamondbacks have started to put things together at the right time, as Patrick Corbin pitched six scoreless innings in his first start since being recalled from the minors and third baseman Chris Johnson homered for the second time in the series. The result was a 4-0 shutout that ended a three game sweep for Arizona over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

AZSnakepit had the coverage (find the full recap here):

The Dodgers did at least start the game off with something they hadn't managed yet this series- they kept Paul Goldschmidt from hitting a home run in the first inning. Stephen Fife did that by keeping Goldy from reaching the plate in the first inning, sending the DBacks down 1-2-3. In the bottom of the inning, though, Patrick Corbin looked like he might start his stint in the majors with some trouble. Two quick ground outs started it off, but he gave up a single and then a walk to let the Dodgers get a runner in scoring position. A fly out to center from Juan Rivera got him out of trouble, though.

In the second, the DBacks offense came to life. Well, sort of. Paul Goldschmidt started off with a single, and then he took second on what the score describes as Justin Upton "flied out on a bunt to the catcher." Interesting. Miguel Montero played his own game of Goofus and Gallant here- good Miguel Montero hits singles to center and brings his teammate around to score for an early lead, while bad Miguel Montero tries to take second and gets thrown out. That aggressiveness may have cost them- Chris Johnson drew a walk and then Stephen Drew hit a double to right that might have scored a runner from second, but Patrick Corbin struck out to end the inning. Still, the DBacks held a 1-0 lead.

Between Miguel Montero, Paul Goldschmidt and Chris Johnson in the three-game set, they combined to hit 18/32, homer six times and drive in 18 runs.

Arizona is only 1 1/2 games behind the Dodgers and three games behind the Giants for the division lead, pending the outcome of their game Wednesday night.

Arizona now travels to Philadelphia to begin a three-game set against the Phillies starting Friday.

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Chris Johnson 'Psyched' To Join Diamondbacks, Wants To Help Win Another Pennant

NL West Trade Deadline In Review: Diamondbacks Make Baffling Move Backwards While Giants, Dodgers Take Impressive Strides

Since coming to Arizona almost two seasons ago, Kevin Towers has seemed to be allergic to making bad moves. But that was before Tuesday's MLB trade deadline rolled around...

Diamondbacks Use The Long Ball, Miley Pitches Gem To Edge Past Dodgers, 8-2

So apparently the D-backs have decided to live by the phrase "chicks dig the long ball" while they make their visit to Los Angeles. A two run homer hit by Paul Goldschmidt in the first inning after Jason Kubel walked sparked the Diamondbacks' 8-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night. Arizona now finds themselves just 2.5 games back from the Dodgers and in strong contention for the NL West division once again.

It marked the second consecutive night that Goldschmidt hit a deep bomb in the first inning and according to Jack Magruder of Fox Sports Arizona, 10 of Goldy's 15 home runs have come against NL West opponents. Mark Ellis followed that up with a solo home run in the bottom of the first, but scoring would come at a premium for a few innings after that.

It took until Miguel Montero's sixth inning three run blast (his 12th of the season) for another team to score. That's because Chris Capuano had a nice outing through five innings and Wade Miley pitched yet another gem for the Arizona Diamondbacks. In all, Miley threw for eight innings, allowing 3 hits, one earned run and one walk. He struck out seven batters.

The Diamondbacks have now scored 15 total runs in their two games against the Dodgers this series. 12 of them have come via the home run. On top of that, both home runs came with two outs in their respective innings in Tuesday night's game.

The best part of what was a rather uneventful game came in the top of the 9th inning when Chris Young hit what appeared to be a double down the left field line. In a rush, Jerry Hairston, Jr. picked the ball up and while attempting to throw it to second, the ball slipped out of his hands and into the stands. Chris Young was sent to third base by the umpires, where he would eventually score from. That play will assuredly make some blooper reals for years to come.

Chris Johnson continued his hot streak since coming over to the Diamondbacks by batting 2 for 3 with a walk and 2 RBI's on a single up the middle with the bases loaded in the ninth. It appears that, for now, the D-backs finally have a third baseman that can give them some production from behind the plate.

The Diamondbacks will look for the sweep against the Dodgers tomorrow night with Patrick Corbin expected to take the mound after being called up from AAA Reno. Stephen Fife will get the call for L.A.

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Patrick Corbin To Join Starting Rotation, Will Start Wednesday And Other Roster Moves

With the Arizona Diamondbacks making a trade on Tuesday, sending reliever Craig Breslow to the Boston Red Sox for outfielder Scott Podsednik, some roster moves will become necessary. Also, it was reported that the Diamondbacks will call up left-handed pitcher Patrick Corbin after he was scratched from his start Tuesday for Triple-A Reno.

Steve Gilbert reported via Twitter that Corbin will be brought up to the major league club and replace Josh Collmenter in the starting rotation, sending Collmenter back to the bullpen to fill the long relief role.

With Matt Albers not expected to report to the team until they travel to Philadelphia, there will not be a need to make another move until then. Once he is with the team, it is supposed that perhaps recently claimed reliever Bob Bergeson will be the odd man out.

Corbin has had two stints this season with Arizona, once as a starter, once in relief. In the minors, he is 5-2 with a 2.84 ERA between Double-A Mobile and Triple-A Reno.

Related to the Breslow trade, there will be a decision made once Podsednik reports. Manager Kirk Gibson said that the team had not decided whether he would report to the major league club or Triple-A Reno.

With the outfielders that Arizona already has, it seems unlikely that Podsednik would be in the majors, but knowing Kirk Gibson, it is not out of the question.

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Chris Johnson Wastes No Time To Show That Trade Was Good One (For Now)

Chris Johnson Makes 'Slamming' Debut With Diamondbacks In 7-2 Win

The Arizona Diamondbacks, with all of their ups and downs and problems winning on the road this season, put themselves in a position to make a move in the NL West standings on the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants with their 7-2 win at Dodger Stadium Monday night.

The Diamondbacks got their current 10-game road trip off to a perfect start, and speaking of perfect starts, new third baseman Chris Johnson made a smashing debut a day after he was traded to Arizona from the Houston Astros.

Johnson's only hit of the game was the best hit possible, a grand slam in the top of the fifth off Dodgers starter Aaron Harang. It came after the Diamondbacks opened the inning with runners on second and third and no out, already leading 3-0. After a groundout and a strikeout, the Dodgers elected to walk Miguel Montero to face Johnson, who made manager Don Mattingly pay and drove a pitch into the bullpen in left field to put the game out of reach.

Johnson's home run overshadowed the home debut of new Dodgers infielder Hanley Ramirez, and the Dodgers were sky-high following a three-game sweep of the Giants in San Francisco.

Johnson had the biggest hit, but other Diamondbacks had big days against Harang. Gerardo Parra had three hits and the top four of the Arizona order (Parra, Aaron Hill, Jason Kubel and Paul Goldschmidt) combined for nine hits.

Goldschmidt hit a three-run blast to straightaway center field in the first inning to set the tone for the Diamondbacks (52-51).

The Diamondbacks were 4 for 10 with runners in scoring position. Starting pitcher Trevor Cahill wasn't dominant, but his offspeed stuff had a few Dodgers swinging at bad pitches. Cahill lasted six innings and allowed a run on six hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

Arizona picked up a full game on the co-leaders of the division, and San Francisco blew a 4-2 lead in the eighth inning at home against the New York Mets. The Diamondbacks moved to 3 1/2 games out of first place pending the outcome of the late Giants-Mets game.

Takashi Saito, a former Dodger who had not allowed an earned run in his first four outings of a season truncated by injury rehab, gave up L.A.'s second run of the game in the bottom of the eight. But the Diamondbacks got an important win and send All-Star Wade Miley to the mound Tuesday night with a chance to gain more ground on one if not both the Dodgers and Giants.

Los Angeles made a trade before Tuesday's deadline, adding some bullpen help by acquiring Brandon League from the Seattle Mariners for prospects.

Arizona Diamondbacks Designate Lyle Overbay For Assignment

With Chris Johnson just being acquired, the Arizona Diamondbacks have no more need for veteran first baseman Lyle Overbay, who they just designated for assignment. This will probably end Overbay's second stint with the team.

Overbay has been batting .292/.367/.448 during his time ont he field, but he's been in a slump since then, batting 2 for 25. The Diamondbacks signed Overbay as an injury replacement in 2011, then re-signed with the team for a year.

In his first stint with the team, Overbay got picked by the D'Backs in the 18th round in 1999, playing with Arizona from 2001 to 2003. After that, he got traded to Milwaukee as part of the ill-fated Richie Sexson trade. He also played for Toronto and Pittsburgh.

Paul Goldschmidt's should now be the starting first baseman from here on out. It's likely with Overbay gone, Ryan Wheeler will be making the occasional start to spell Goldschmidt as that was a position he was familiar with in the minor leagues.

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Diamondbacks Head To Los Angeles For Huge Series With Dodgers

The D-backs and Dodgers kick off a key three-game series on Monday.