SB Nation Arizona - D-backs Can't Complete Sweep, Jimenez Beats Snakes 3-2 Despite Finally Giving Up Runshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46593/arizona-fave.png2010-06-06T16:00:07-07:00http://arizona.sbnation.com/rss/stream/12678412010-06-06T16:00:07-07:002010-06-06T16:00:07-07:00D-backs End Jimenez's Scoreless Innings Streak But Fall Short Of Sweep, Lose 3-2
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<p>Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/537/Ubaldo_Jimenez">Ubaldo Jimenez</a> extended his scoreless streak to 33 consecutive innings before it was broken in the eighth, helping Colorado pull out a 3-2 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/ARI">Diamondbacks</a>.</p>
<p>Jimenez (11-1) shut down the D'Backs before a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/687/Conor_Jackson">Conor Jackson</a> two-run homer spoiled his flawless stretch. The hard-throwing righty still picked up the win and finished with a line of two runs allowed on six hits and three walks while fanning eight.</p>
<p>His earned-run average actually jumped from a minuscule 0.78 to a diminutive 0.93.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31379/Carlos_Gonzalez">Carlos Gonzalez</a> had two hits and two RBI, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/493/Troy_Tulowitzki">Troy Tulowitzki</a> added a solo homer for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/COL">Rockies</a>, who had lost three straight.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/548/Rodrigo_Lopez">Rodrigo Lopez</a> (2-4) posted a quality start but was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs on nine hits in seven frames for Arizona, which had lost 10 straight before winning the first two meetings of this three-game series.</p>
<p>Jimenez, who became the first pitcher since 1999 to win the first two Pitcher of the Month awards in his respective league, retired seven of eight hitters before <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/959/Kelly_Johnson">Kelly Johnson</a> doubled off the left field wall to open the eighth.</p>
<p>He then fell behind 3-0 to Jackson, who took a strike before hammering a changeup deep into the left field seats for his first home run of the season.</p>
<p>It was just the second longball given up by Jimenez this year, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/121/Rafael_Betancourt">Rafael Betancourt</a> was called in from the bullpen after a walk to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/358/Adam_LaRoche">Adam LaRoche</a>.</p>
<p>Betancourt preserved the 3-2 lead, striking out <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/691/Chris_Snyder">Chris Snyder</a> to strand a pair of runners, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/558/Manuel_Corpas">Manuel Corpas</a> set down the side in the ninth for his sixth save of the season.</p>
<p>Things didn't come that easily for Jimenez out of the gate, as a one-out error, walk and single loaded the bases in the home first. However, the 26- year-old managed to induce a 4-6-3 double-ball play off the bat of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/247/Chris_Young">Chris Young</a> to get out of the inning.</p>
<p>Lopez was cruising until the fifth, when Gonzalez placed a single to left to score <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/490/Todd_Helton">Todd Helton</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/547/Clint_Barmes">Clint Barmes</a>.</p>
<p>Tulowitzki's inside-out swing an inning later resulted in a homer to right field for a 3-0 lead.</p>
<p>Jimenez, who passed Gabe White's franchise record scoreless streak of 29 1/3 innings during the game, is 3-0 against Arizona this season...Arizona was looking for its first sweep of the Rockies since September 26-28, 2008...Johnson had two of Arizona's seven hits...<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/492/Brad_Hawpe">Brad Hawpe</a> recorded two hits for Colorado...Lopez, who pitched for the Rockies in 2007, struck out six...Snyder's 240-game errorless streak, the third longest streak in major league history by a catcher, ended when he overthrew second on a steal attempt in the sixth inning.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2010/6/6/1504371/arizona-diamondbacks-colorado-rockies-ubaldo-jimenezJustin Burning2010-06-06T13:58:39-07:002010-06-06T13:58:39-07:00Pitchers Duel Through 3 Innings: Rodrigo Lopez and Ubaldo Jimenez Throwing Shutouts
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<p>Rodrigo Lopez of the Diamondbacks has only allowed one hit through 3 innings, while Ubaldo Jimenez of the Rockies has given up two.</p>
<p>Should we reconsider who will win the Cy Young this season?</p>
<p>Follow the action over at <a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/2010/6/6/1504023/gameday-thread-57-6-6-vs-rockies" target="_blank">AZ Snake Pit</a>.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2010/6/6/1504215/pitchers-duel-through-3-inningsCory Williams2010-06-06T11:54:21-07:002010-06-06T11:54:21-07:00Drew, Upton Given Day Off
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<p>Sports 620 <span class="caps">KTAR</span> <a href="http://twitter.com/sports620ktar">tweets</a> that Stephen Drew and Justin Upton will be given the day off for today’s game against the Colorado Rockies.</p>
<blockquote>Intrepid @ D’backs/Rockies: Drew given day off after taking a ground ball off the tip of his middle finger of his throwing hand last night</blockquote>
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<p>Intrepid @ D’backs/Rockies: Upton given day off, worked late last night in cage according to Hinch; Upton hitting .158 last 10 gms w/17 Ks</p>
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<p>Upton will be replaced by Gerardo Parra in the outfield and Augie Ojeda will start at shortstop in place of Drew.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2010/6/6/1504076/stephen-drew-justin-upton-arizona-diamondbacks-colorado-rockiesJustin Burning2010-06-06T09:08:29-07:002010-06-06T09:08:29-07:00D-backs Swing For Series Sweep Over Rockies, 1:10pm AZT
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<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></p>
<h2 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 23px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; font-size: 13px;">(Sports Network) -- The <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #c61c17; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/ARI" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> are in position to record their first three-game series sweep of the season this afternoon. With Ubaldo Jimenez set to take the mound for the opposition, the chances of that happening don't appear overly promising, however.</span></h2>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Jimenez will attempt to add to his incredible numbers this season when he gets the call for the <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #c61c17; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/COL" class="sbn-auto-link">Colorado Rockies</a> in this afternoon's showdown with the Diamondbacks from Chase Field.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Jimenez has unquestionably been baseball's most dominant pitcher over the first two months of this season. The hard-throwing Dominican's 10 victories leads the majors and he's recorded an unbelievable 0.78 earned run average over his first 11 starts, six of which he didn't allow a single run. In his lone defeat of 2010, the standout right-hander held the <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #c61c17; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/LOS" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> to one run and two hits through seven innings but failed to receive any offensive support in what turned out to be a 2-0 Rockies' loss on May 9.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The Diamondbacks are well aware of Jimenez's talents, as he's already shut them down twice this season. The 26-year-old fired six scoreless innings to best Arizona at Coors Field on April 27, and later scattered six hits over eight shutout frames in Colorado's 7-3 home triumph on May 26.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">That contest is part of a run of 26 consecutive scoreless innings for the Rockies' ace, a streak he extended by tossing a four-hit shutout to outduel two-time NL Cy Young Award winner <span>Tim Lincecum</span> this past Monday in San Francisco. Jimenez struck out nine <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #c61c17; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/SFG" class="sbn-auto-link">Giants</a> hitters that day in his latest masterpiece.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Jimenez, who boasts a 0.52 ERA and has limited the opposition to a .141 average on the road this year, owns a 4-2 record with a 2.17 ERA in 10 lifetime starts against Arizona.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The Rockies will be counting on their stopper to salvage the finale of this series and halt a three-game losing streak for the club. After blowing a ninth-inning lead in a 7-6 setback to the Diamondbacks on Friday, Colorado's bats were stymied by a rejuvenated <span>Dontrelle Willis</span> as Arizona held on for a 4-3 decision last night.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Willis, acquired from Detroit on Tuesday after two-plus trying seasons with the <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #c61c17; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/DET" class="sbn-auto-link">Tigers</a>, allowed five hits and worked around four walks over six shutout innings in an outstanding Diamondbacks debut. The 2003 NL Rookie of the Year also helped his cause at the plate, singling in the third inning and scoring the game's first run on a base hit by <span>Stephen Drew</span>.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">"It was good, we battled and I made some pitches when I had to, and we came out with the victory," Willis said afterward. "So it's one series win, it's a good stepping-stone. We just have to keep building off of our momentum and go from there."</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Arizona had lost a season-high 10 straight games before Friday's victory. <span>Ryan Roberts</span>, who came through with the game-winning single in the opener, delivered a key two-RBI pinch-hit double during a three-run sixth that staked the Diamondbacks to a 4-0 advantage.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Colorado stormed back with three runs off reliever <span>Carlos Rosa</span> in the seventh, but <span>Aaron Heilman</span> and <span>Chad Qualls</span> held the Rockies scoreless over the final 2 1/3 frames to preserve the one-run edge.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The Rockies went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12 men on base for the game.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">"We did a tremendous job to get back into the game and put ourselves in a position to win," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "The unfortunate thing is the game boils down to this - offensively 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position. That's simply what it boils down to."</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Arizona, which hasn't swept the Rockies since September 26-28, 2008, evened the season series at four games apiece with Saturday's verdict. Colorado has prevailed in 10 of the last 15 encounters between the teams, however.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span>Rodrigo Lopez</span> draws the unenviable task of matching up against Jimenez this afternoon. The journeyman hurler wasn't up to the challenge in that May 26 outing, surrendering four runs in six innings to receive the loss, but did pitch rather well at Dodger Stadium this past Monday. Lopez worked a season- best eight innings against Los Angeles and was reached for four runs, two of which were unearned, on six hits while not recording a decision.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The 34-year-old, who made 14 starts for the Rockies during the 2007 season, has done a serviceable job since cracking the Arizona rotation as a non-roster invitee during spring training. In 11 appearances with the Diamondbacks, Lopez has gone 2-3 with a 4.31 ERA and lasted six or more innings nine times.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2010/6/6/2316108/d-backs-swing-for-series-sweep-over-rockies-1-10pm-aztLolly Konecky