What a mixed bag of a week for the Arizona Diamondbacks. To open, Joe Saunders had the worst day of his career, giving up nine earned runs (just before getting shipped to the Baltimore Orioles). Next, the D-backs got an impressive debut performance from highly anticipated call-up Tyler Skaggs. Then, Wade Miley puts up the pitching stint of the year. Not to mention that the two rookies performed big in the D-backs' first home double-header in a while. But the team ended the week getting swept by the NL West cellar-dwelling San Diego Padres and putting the National League wild card spot fairly far out of reach.
But even amidst struggles, there are standout performances. This is going to seem lazy and repetitive, but oh well: Aaron Hill gets to be the Player of the Week for supplying all the offense in the first game of the double-header against the Miami Marlins. And, though it's painful not to give the award to Tyler Skaggs, Wade Miley gets to be Pitcher of the Week again.
The D-backs beat the Marlins 3-2 early on Wednesday, and, outside of Skaggs' pitching, Hill was basically responsible for the win. He provided a two-run homer and an RBI single to get all three runs on the board. He had a little help from Gerardo Parra, whom he scored each time. This game got Aaron back above .300 for the season after he had slipped just a little (though he's since slipped again).
Wade Wiley did his level best to steal the spotlight from Skaggs (who went six and two-thirds innings, giving up two earned runs with four strikeouts but five walks), but it took his strongest outing of the season. Miley continued to prove his case for NL Rookie of the Year by pitching eight solid innings in the second half of the double-header to give the bullpen a rest. His fourteenth win came in a shutout with five strikeouts. It didn't look like Wade would make it eight innings, but then he nonchalantly walked out to the mound and struck out the side on 11 pitches before leaving the game for good. J.J. Putz closed things out to snag two saves in one day.
For those keeping score at home, here's how it's shaping up:
Player of the Week awards:
Parra (1), Kubel (2), Roberts (1), Goldschmidt (4), Bloomquist (1), Montero (3), Hill (6), Johnson (1)
Pitcher of the Week awards:
Saunders (1), Cahill (3), Corbin (3), Miley (7), Collmenter (2), Shaw (1), Kennedy (2)