SB Nation Arizona - Cody Ransom Propels Diamondbacks To 4-3 Victory Over Kershaw, Dodgershttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46593/arizona-fave.png2011-08-07T15:43:42-07:00http://arizona.sbnation.com/rss/stream/21112282011-08-07T15:43:42-07:002011-08-07T15:43:42-07:00King's Ransom: Kennedy, D-backs Avert Sweep, Defeat Dodgers 4-3
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> (62-52) rallied in the seventh inning to defeat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a>, 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at Chase Field in Phoenix.</p>
<p><span>Ian Kennedy</span> earned his 14th victory of the season after giving up three earned runs over seven innings of work. Clayton Kershaw went 6.1 innings and picked up a rare loss, dropping to 13-5 in 2011.</p>
<p>Kennedy was solid but gave up six hits, including a home run to <span>Matt Kemp</span> and an RBI double to <span>Andre Ethier</span>.</p>
<p>The Diamondbacks jumped all over Kershaw in the first inning, scoring two runs on a <span>Kelly Johnson</span> home run. After that, Kershaw was untouchable -- until the seventh inning.</p>
<p>With one out in the seventh, <span>Collin Cowgill</span> roped a line drive single to left field. <span>Cody Ransom</span>, spot starting in place of <span>Willie Bloomquist</span>, stepped into the batter's box and hit a mammoth home run to left field, causing Kershaw to jump up and down in disgust and pushing D-backs fans into celebration.</p>
<p><span>David Hernandez</span> and <span>J.J. Putz</span> were perfect in relief, pitching two innings and shutting the door on the Dodgers.</p>
<p>This win was crucial for the Diamondbacks, who had lost three in a row and were scuffling at the absolute worst time. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a> remain a half game ahead of the D-backs in the NL West standings after defeating the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Philadelphia Phillies</a> on Sunday afternoon.</p>
<p>Next on the schedule: Arizona takes on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a> in a three game series that starts Monday night at 6:40 PM. The D-backs are running a promotion where kids get a free ticket when an adult ticket is purchased for all three games in the Astros series.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2011/8/7/2350345/kings-ransom-kennedy-d-backs-avert-sweep-defeat-dodgers-4-3Cory Williams2011-08-07T12:50:11-07:002011-08-07T12:50:11-07:00Diamondbacks Starting Lineup: Arizona Looks To Avoid Sweep At Hands Of Kershaw, Dodgers
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<p>For the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> and their fans, it has been a tough weekend of games against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a>.</p>
<p>While the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a> have lost three in a row to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Philadelphia Phillies</a>, they remain in first place in the NL West by virtue of the D-backs also losing three games in a row, including two at the hands of the Dodgers.</p>
<p>Sunday is usually a day of rest for many players, and manager Kirk Gibson has decided to give <span>Willie Bloomquist</span>, <span>Gerardo Parra</span>, and <span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> the day off against lefthander <span>Clayton Kershaw</span>.</p>
<p>Here are the full lineups for both the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks:</p>
<p><b>Dodgers:</b><br><span>Jamey Carroll</span>, SS<br><span>Aaron Miles</span>, 3B<br><span>Andre Ethier</span>, RF<br><span>Matt Kemp</span>, CF<br>Juan Rivera, LF<br><span>James Loney</span>, 1B<br><span>Dioner Navarro</span>, C<br><span>Eugenio Velez</span>, 2B<br>Clayton Kershaw, P</p>
<p><b>Diamondbacks:</b><br><span>Ryan Roberts</span>, 3B<br><span>Kelly Johnson</span>, 2B<br><span>Justin Upton</span>, RF<br><span>Xavier Nady</span>, 1B<br>Chris Young, CF<br><span>Miguel Montero</span>, C<br><span>Collin Cowgill</span>, LF<br><span>Cody Ransom</span>, SS<br><span>Ian Kennedy</span>, P</p>
<p>As you can tell, both Young and Montero have been dropped down in the order in favor of Nady, who has not seen game action since August 3 and has not started since July 31 against the Dodgers in Chavez Ravine.</p>
<p>For more on the Diamondbacks, head on over to<a href="http://azsnakepit.com" target="_blank"> AZ Snake Pit</a>.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2011/8/7/2350109/diamondbacks-starting-lineup-arizona-looks-to-avoid-sweep-at-hands-ofCory Williams2011-08-06T21:20:01-07:002011-08-06T21:20:01-07:00Gibson Is Sick, Eovaldi Is Good, Saunders Is Unlucky
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<p>The Saturday night loss the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> suffered to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> kept them from taking over first place in the NL West. They faced a pitcher in <span>Nathan Eovaldi</span> that had ever started before, but he was no surprise. While the loss itself probably made more than a few fans sick, manager Kirk Gibson couldn't even make it through the game.</p>
<p>He left around the second inning due to illness and bench coach Alan Trammel managed the rest of the way. Trammel also was the one to speak to the media after the game. </p>
<p>Going into the game, the Diamondbacks knew that Eovaldi had good stuff. "We were hoping, from our standpoint, that he would be a little more nervous," Trammel explained. However, his control was fine and he made pitches he wanted to. "You know, first go-round, you get a little nervous, maybe put a couple guys on base and maybe leave a couple balls in the middle of the plate," was part of the hope the team had, as Trammel discussed. "Well, he didn't do that."</p>
<p>They didn't go into the game blind, though. They did have video on him and recent call-up <span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> actually faced him this season in AA ball. When did he face him? "About ten days ago," he said. Goldschmidt managed to get a hit off of him in his first atbat, scoring the second run of the game for Arizona, but finished 1-4 with two strikeouts. </p>
<p>For starting pitcher <span>Joe Saunders</span>, it was a frustrating game. "I made some good pitches, they hit balls that weren't hit very hard," he said after the game. "You tip your cap, but they put the ball in the perfect spot."</p>
<p>One of the hits he referred to was the second inning blooper by <span>Rod Barajas</span> with two outs that got the Dodgers on the scoreboard. with Juan Rivera on second, Barajas looped a hit that <span>Willie Bloomquist</span> at shortstop could not quite reach. As noted before, that would have been a play that <span>Stephen Drew</span> would have made, saving at least a run. The same could be said about the play before Barajas' hit in the sixth. Bloomquist failed to field the ball cleanly to get a force out at second, perhaps even a double play that inning. Both those runners eventually scored.</p>
<p>When Barajas came up in the sixth and drove in another run, he did not face Saunders. Trammel pulled him, replacing him with Brad Zeigler, hoping for a double play. "It just didn't work out," Trammel said after the game. </p>
<p>A night in which they could have taken over the lead in the NL West, that statement kind of sums it up. </p>
<p>Arizona concludes the series against the Dodgers on Sunday at 1:10 PM, hoping to avoid a sweep. They will send ace <span>Ian Kennedy</span> against <span>Clayton Kershaw</span>.</p>
<p><b><i>Get more D-backs coverage by visiting <a href="http://azsnakepit.com" target="_blank">AZ Snakepit</a>. </i></b></p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2011/8/6/2349272/mlb-dimondbacks-dodgers-eovaldiJess Root2011-08-06T20:18:44-07:002011-08-06T20:18:44-07:00Arizona Diamondbacks Can't Solve Rookie Eovaldi, Lose To LA Dodgers 5-3
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<p>After watching the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a> fall again to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Philadelphia Phillies</a>, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> had a chance to pull into sole possession of first place in the NL West. However, behind the hitting of catcher <span>Rod Barajas</span> and the pitching debut of <span>Nathan Eovaldi</span>, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> downed the D-Backs 5-3. Arizona remains one-half game behind the Giants in the West.</p>
<p>Barajas, a former Diamondbacks catcher, drove in two runs on three hits. Eovaldi held Arizona to two runs in five innings. </p>
<p><span>Joe Saunders</span>, the starter for Arizona provided really the only offense that D-Backs could muster early. He had a pair of hits and drove in the team's only two runs with a bases-loaded single in the second inning. Saunders lasted 5 1/3 innings and allowed four runs. <span>Justin Upton</span> pulled the game to 5-3 in the eighth inning with a double that scored <span>Willie Bloomquist</span>, who had reached on a fielder's choice.</p>
<p>The absence of shortstop <span>Stephen Drew</span> was felt defensively. Two of the Dodgers' runs were the result of plays that Bloomquist failed to make, but likely would have been were Drew playing. The first was Barajas' run-scoring single in the second. It was a Texas leaguer that fell just past Bloomquist's reach. The second play was in the sixth inning on what could have been a double play. Bloomquist dropped the ball and failed to even get the lead runner. Both runners scored. Assuming only the force play, those two runs were crucial.</p>
<p>The Dodger's scoring was accounted for by the Barajas hit in the second, an Andre Ethier RBI groundout in the third, RBI singles by <span>Aaron Miles</span> and Barajas in the sixth and then an RBI groundout by Juan Rivera in the seventh.</p>
<p>Saunders fell to 8-9 on the season, while Eovaldi collects hi first career win in his debut. Scott Elbert pitched the ninth to collect his second save of 2011.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2011/8/6/2349127/mlb-diamondback-dodgers-pennant-raceJess Root2011-08-06T16:05:13-07:002011-08-06T16:05:13-07:00Uncovering The Dodgers Rookie Secret, Nathan Eovaldi
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<p>Gamesmanship is every bit a part of major league baseball. The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> and the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> are no exception. They don't like to share information. This is why players cover their mouths with their glove when they talk to one another on the field. It's why game plans are not revealed.</p>
<p>Saturday's game between the Dodgers and Diamondbacks marks the major league debut for right-hander <span>Nathan Eovaldi</span>, recently called up by Los Angeles from AA. Both Dodgers manager Don Mattingly and D-Backs manager Kirk Gibson were unwilling to share much about the young starter. </p>
<p>Mattingly on Friday was willing to tell the media that he is a pitcher who is right-handed. On Saturday, when asked to share what the team knows about Eovaldi, Gibson simply said he has "a live arm." He was unwilling to share any details of how his team would approach him.</p>
<p>Instead of waiting, I dug up <a href="http://scoutingthesally.com/nathan-eovaldi-pitcher-los-angeles-dodgers-scouting-report-video/" target="_blank">a scouting report</a> on him. Here is some of the description:</p>
<p> </p>
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<li><span style="line-height: 16px;">Excellent size; Eovaldi looked closer to 210 lbs. than his listed weight of 195</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Well-proportioned frame; Size through the quads and shoulders; Athletic pitcher's frame</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Fluid delivery with good pacing; Generates easy velocity</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">High 3/4 arm slot; Limits movement on his fastball</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">94-96 MPH 4-seam fastball</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">4-seamer lacked movement; Worked pitch in-and-out effectively</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Maintained velocity throughout the start; Still touching 95 MPH in the 5th</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">91-92 MPH 2-seam fastball; Some arm side run</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">84 MPH slider; Best breaking ball; Used as out pitch</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Pitch featured late cut; Depth improved throughout the course of the game</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">78 MPH curveball; Threw sparingly; One CB was thrown behind RHH to backstop; Below average offering</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">83-84 MPH Changeup; Threw sparingly; Slowed arm action</span></li>
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<p>Here is some video:</p>
<p><iframe width="640" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IESjMbfKYXw" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>Traditionally, Arizona has struggled against young unknown pitchers. However, this team is a little different than in years past. That has not seemed to be the case this year. Hopefully, they can get the bats going early and keep the youngster from getting comfortable. </p>
<p>If so, Arizona could be looking at the division from above everyone in the morning. </p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2011/8/6/2348824/mlb-diamondbacks-dodgerJess Root2011-08-06T15:24:34-07:002011-08-06T15:24:34-07:00'Keep Your Mouth Shut And Good Things Will Happen' Attitude Suits Arizona Diamondbacks Well
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<p>Manager Kirk Gibson has pushed the right buttons a lot during this 2011 <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> season. With some young talent, solid pitching and a hodge-podge of veteran players known for effort and playing the game the right way. He has asked players to move around and do things that they might not particularly like. </p>
<p>In particular, you can look at <span>Zach Duke</span> and his move to the bullpen. He has been an established starter in the league for a while and, while he struggled last season and this season in that role, he is a proud player who believes in himself. </p>
<p>While he was not thrilled about being moved to the bullpen, outside of his outing in relief of <span>Barry Enright</span>, he has been solid. More importantly, he has not complained publicly when it is a role he would rather not have. </p>
<p>In Saturday's pregame press conference, when asked about Duke, manager Kirk Gibson gave his favorite quote from George Perles, "Keep your mouth shut and good things will happen."</p>
<p>"I'm a firm believer that when you complain and go around and talk about situations, the game will get you," said Gibson. </p>
<p>He praised his team for being "outstanding" in the situations he has put them in, whether it be moving <span>Micah Owings</span> between starting and the bullpen, taking Duke out of the rotation, being really tough on <span>Joe Saunders</span> during the spring and early on in the season or releasing a player like <span>Aaron Heilman</span>. </p>
<p>Perhaps this style of keeping a lot of guys on their toes has been one of the keys of the team's success. Maybe it worked because of the versatility the players on the team has, something that Gibby likes about his roster. Whatever the reason, with less than two months in the season and the Diamondbacks right in the thick of things, we shoudl expect more of the same for the rest of the year.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2011/8/6/2348743/mlb-diamondback-dodgersJess Root2011-08-06T10:05:15-07:002011-08-06T10:05:15-07:00Diamondbacks: Kirk Gibson Optimistic Josh Collmenter Can "Bounce Back" From Tough Stretch
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> starting pitcher <span>Josh Collmenter</span> struggled for the second consecutive start, giving up eight hits and six earned runs in just 2.1 innings pitched against the Dodgers on Friday night in Phoenix.</p>
<p>"I wasn't as fine with my pitches as I needed to be," Collmenter said after the game. "They were just way too comfortable in the box, and that's my responsibility to make sure that they're off balance."</p>
<p>Last week, Collmenter gave up five runs in 3.2 innings against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> in Los Angeles.</p>
<p>Whether this is a product of the Dodgers' scouting team or a regression of Collmenter's performance remains to be seen, but D-backs manager Kirk Gibson thinks that the issues his young righthander faces can be fixed.</p>
<p> "That ball wasn't coming out of his hand like I think it has in the past, and they hit too many ground balls," Gibson said in the postgame press conference. "They were pounding it. Gotta hit your spots. He's gotta be better than that."</p>
<p>When asked about whether his rookie starter can regain his early season form, Gibson appeared optimistic.</p>
<p>"He can bounce back," Gibson said, noting that many pitchers have tough stretches during various points of their career. "He's had two [starts] where he hasn't been very good, but we'll try to get him back on track and evaluate what's best for the team."</p>
<p>For now, it appears as though Collmenter will hold onto his spot as the fifth starter for the Diamondbacks, but another rough outing could catapult <span>Micah Owings</span> back into the rotation.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Diamondbacks, check out <a href="http://azsnakepit.com" target="_blank">AZ Snake Pit</a>.</i></p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2011/8/6/2348357/diamondbacks-kirk-gibson-josh-collmenter-tough-stretch-rotationCory Williams2011-08-05T22:11:06-07:002011-08-05T22:11:06-07:00Diamondbacks Offense Comes Up Short, Dodgers Rough Up Collmenter In 7-4 Victory
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<p>On a night where the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a> were fighting (literally) to stay on top in the National League West, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> had a prime opportunity to take sole possession of the top spot in the division for the first time in 2011.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the D-backs' offense had trouble driving home their baserunners, and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> defeated Arizona 7-4 on Friday night in Phoenix.</p>
<p>Diamondbacks starting pitcher <span>Josh Collmenter</span> struggled from the onset. Collmenter loaded the bases in the first inning and was bailed out by some highlight reel-worthy catches from <span>Justin Upton</span> and <span>Gerardo Parra</span>.</p>
<p>Collmenter had no such luck in the top of the third, giving up six hits before getting lifted in favor of <span>Micah Owings</span>. By the end of the third inning, the Dodgers had scored six runs and the D-backs looked listless.</p>
<p>Arizona threatened to make the game very competitive in the bottom of the seventh inning. Down 6-1, the D-backs got the bases loaded with no outs before <span>Cody Ransom</span> struck out and Justin Upton was robbed by Dodgers shortstop <span>Dee Gordon</span> on a low line drive that resulted in a double play.</p>
<p>In the eighth, down 7-3, Chris Young kicked into high gear, going from first to third on what looked like an errant steal attempt. <span>Miguel Montero</span> drove in Young with a sacrifice fly to center, bringing the D-backs within three runs.</p>
<p>Mattingly brought in rookie closer Javy Guerra, who shut the door on the D-backs and earned his tenth save of the season.</p>
<p>The Diamondbacks collected nine hits on the night, but just couldn't overcome Collmenter's rough start.</p>
<p>With the loss, the Diamondbacks (61-51) still sit a half game behind the Giants in the NL West standings -- the Giants lost to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a>.</p>
<p>The Dodgers send rookie <span>Nathan Eovaldi</span> to the mound on Saturday to face <span>Joe Saunders</span>. Eovaldi is only 21 years old and was called up from Double-A Chattanooga to replace recently injured Rubby De La Rosa.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Notes and Observations</b></p>
<p>-This one was a head scratcher: with the bases loaded and zero outs, the Diamondbacks were down by three runs. With <span>Kelly Johnson</span> next in the order, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly went with lefthander <span>Scott Elbert</span> out of the pen.</p>
<p>Instead of sticking with Johnson, D-backs manager Kirk Gibson went with the matchup and pinch-hit Cody Ransom, a journeyman infielder that bats righthanded.</p>
<p>Ransom pushed the count but ended up looking foolish, striking out on a ball up and outside to give the Dodgers their first out of the inning.</p>
<p>Should Gibson have gone with <span>Xavier Nady</span>? Stuck with the erstwhile Johnson?</p>
<p>-Excessive pitching changes are really boring - and they suck the life out of the fans. That's probably what Don Mattingly was hoping for...</p>
<p>- There were a lot of foul balls that nearly entered the press box tonight. They look like huge white bullets coming in from the field.</p>
<p>- The crowd was pretty good tonight but there were a lot of Dodgers fans on hand. That's to be expected, but when will the D-backs fans show up in droves? We all know they are watching on TV.</p>
<p>- This game felt like it went on forever; in reality, it was 3:31 long.</p>
<p>- Dodgers starting pitcher Chad Billingsley rebounded from his last start against the D-backs, going six innings and only giving up three runs to earn his tenth win of the year.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2011/8/5/2347866/Dodgers-defeat-diamondbacks-collmenter-giants-nl-west-pennant-raceCory Williams