SB Nation Arizona - Regular Season Ends With Loss To Dodgers; D-backs Open Playoffs On Roadhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46593/arizona-fave.png2011-09-28T21:37:04-07:00http://arizona.sbnation.com/rss/stream/22155812011-09-28T21:37:04-07:002011-09-28T21:37:04-07:00Diamondbacks Lose To Dodgers; Playoffs Begin Saturday In Milwaukee
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<p>Another night, another grand slam in the ninth inning. But this time the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Diamondbacks</a> couldn't come all the way back for a win, the way they had done in such thrilling fashion the night before.</p>
<p><span>Cole Gillespie</span> hit a grand slam with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Yet the D-backs still came up short in a 7-5 loss to the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> Wednesday night in the regular-season finale at Chase Field.</p>
<p>Arizona needed to beat the Dodgers and for Pittsburgh to beat the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Milwaukee Brewers</a> in order to get home-field advantage in the divisional round of the National League playoffs on the last night of Major League Baseball's regular season. The Brewers won 7-3, and the Diamondbacks, their fate already sealed midway through the evening, fell to the Dodgers despite the late show they gave remaining fans. </p>
<p>That set the pairings for the two NL Division Series. The Diamondbacks are off to Milwaukee for Game 1 of their series on Saturday, while the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">St. Louis Cardinals</a> clinched the NL wild card Wednesday and go to Philadelphia in the other series. </p>
<p>Atlanta's loss to the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Phillies</a> saved -- yes, saved -- the D-backs from opening up against the pitching-rich Phillies. <span>Ian Kennedy</span> is expected to be the Game 1 starter for the Diamondbacks, who finished the regular season 94-68, the third-best record in franchise history.</p>
<p><span>Joe Saunders</span> figures to be in the Diamondbacks' starting rotation come the Division Series, but he still needs to figure out how avoid giving up runs early in games. The Dodgers tagged Saunders for five runs on nine hits through six innings, continuing Saunders' trend of allowing a higher batting average to opponents in the first few innings. </p>
<p>Saunders usually settles down in the middle innings, however. Wednesday night, he didn't. But his teammates made it quite a finish, as <span>Henry Blanco</span> followed Gillespie's slam with a solo shot, the fifth time the D-backs have hit back-to-back blasts this season.</p>
<p>The Dodgers scored a pair of runs in the fourth inning, both with two out and on an RBI triple by eighth-place hitter <span>Jamey Carroll</span> and single by starting pitcher Ted Lilly. </p>
<p><span>Matt Kemp</span>, the Dodgers' MVP candidate, hit a two-run home run off reliever <span>Wade Miley</span>, whose one inning of work didn''t help his cause to be on the playoff roster. Dodgers fans at the game gave Kemp a standing ovation after he struck out in the ninth, his last at-bat of the season. </p>
<p>The Diamondbacks managed just three hits off of Lilly. By the ninth inning, manager Kirk Gibson had inserted six bench players ino the lineup, knowing his team's playoff opponent was set. </p>
<p>A crowd of 41,791 was there to send the D-backs into the postseason, and with that, the regular-season attendance total ended up at 2,106,975.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-diamondbacks/2011/9/28/2457050/diamondbacks-end-regular-season-with-loss-to-dodgers-playoffs-beginJose Romero2011-09-28T20:56:38-07:002011-09-28T20:56:38-07:00MLB Playoffs: Arizona Diamondbacks Will Face Milwaukee Brewers In NLDS
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<p>Nothing the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> does tonight matters anymore. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Milwaukee Brewers</a> beat up the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> 7-3 last night. The Brewers held a one game lead over the Diamondbacks coming into tonight, meaning that even if the Diamondbacks win, they'll still be one game behind. The Brewers thus clinched the two seed, meaning they'll host one of the National League Divisional Series. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Philadelphia Phillies</a> will host the other NLDS.</p>
<p>The Diamondbacks found out where they'd be traveling after the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> completed a collapse when they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in thirteen innings. The loss by the Braves clinched a wild card spot for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a>. The Braves would've played the Brewers if they'd won the wild card because divisional opponents are not allowed to play each other in the first round of the MLB playoffs. But St. Louis will now play Philly, and Arizona will head to Milwaukee for Game 1.</p>
<p><i><b>To discuss the series with Diamondbacks fans, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/">go to AZ Snake Pit</a>. To discuss the series with Brewers fans, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brewcrewball.com/">go to Brew Crew Ball</a>.</b></i></p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-diamondbacks/2011/9/28/2457143/mlb-playoffs-arizona-diamondbacks-milwaukee-brewers-nldsAvinash Kunnath2011-09-28T14:36:20-07:002011-09-28T14:36:20-07:00MLB Playoff Scenarios: Diamondbacks Need Brewers Loss For Home Field
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> are in the playoffs, but they could use some help to get some advantageous positioning this season. Here are your MLB Playoff scenarios for tonight to ponder.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Milwaukee Brewers</a> are a game ahead on the Diamondbacks. If the Brewers beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pittsburgh Pirates</a>, this will force Arizona to go on the road in the first round of the NLDS. They would have to look out for whoever won the wildcard. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> winning would force Arizona to go to Milwaukee. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> winning would force Arizona to start off with Philadelphia.</p>
<p>If the Brewers lose, and the Diamondbacks win, then the Diamondbacks will be at home because they own the tiebreaker between the two. They would clinch the two seed and avoid the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a>, meaning the Brewers would end up playing Philadelphia and the Braves or Cardinals would play the Diamondbacks, since two teams from the same division can't play in the NLDS.</p>
<p>There are plenty of playoff scenarios in play, but all of them involve the Diamondbacks being in the playoffs, so I'd imagine they'd be happy with whatever they get.</p>
<p><i><b>For more discussion of the Diamondbacks, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/">head to AZ Snake Pit</a>.</b></i></p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-diamondbacks/2011/9/28/2456379/mlb-playoff-scenarios-diamondbacks-brewers-braves-cardinals-philliesAvinash Kunnath2011-09-28T08:40:41-07:002011-09-28T08:40:41-07:00Ryan Roberts Grand Slam Moment Just Another Bit Of Crazy Magic (VIDEO)
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<p>In the bottom of the 10th inning Tuesday night <span>Ryan Roberts</span> wrote another chapter in this crazy, magical and completely unpredictable season the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> have rolled off.</p>
<p>The six-run, two-out rally was even more incredible considering it came after a pretty poorly played game that had me concerned about how this team was handling the pressure of the playoff home field advantage race.</p>
<p>Roberts himself had showed over the last two games just how frustrating he can be and then validated the trust Kirk Gibson puts in him by coming up with one of the biggest moments in a season filled with big moments.</p>
<p>"That was unbelievable, man, I've never been a part of something like that. Everything on this team blows my mind. All year long we've done the comeback wins and crazy things...That just goes down in the books as another one for me," Roberts said after the game.</p>
<p>If you felt the moment was historic, that's because it was.</p>
<p>Roberts walk-off grand slam was just the fourth in MLB history to come in extra innings with the team down three runs. Babe Ruth and Ryan Roberts will always and forever be on the <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/dodger-thoughts/post/_/id/17158/arizonas-two-out-none-on-six-run-10th-unprecedented">same short list</a>.</p>
<p>It was also the first time in all of baseball's long history that a team team came back from five-runs down in extra innings with a two-out rally and only the first time since 2001 that team has done it in the ninth inning or later. </p>
<p>When they say a baseball game isn't over until the final out, this is what they are talking about.</p>
<p>Considering the context of the playoff seeding race and more importantly, how poorly the D-backs played in the previous 18.5 innings, this rally was momentous by any stretch. Unless of course, your vision of baseball is through a fantasy and stats lens and then <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/9/28/2455062/perfect" target="_blank">your first reaction is to complain</a> that Micah Owings got a win on his stat sheet that he didn't deserve (which he didn't).</p>
<p>Baseball is better than any sport other sport when it comes to moments like this and we just witnessed one of the best of the season.</p>
<p><i>Here's the video of the hit, in case you had already left the game or turned the TV off.</i></p>
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<p>These last two games were just another example of the roller coaster ride that is Ryan Roberts.</p>
<p>Ryan inexplicably tried to lay down a bunt in Monday's game with a runner on first and one out in the ninth inning down 4-2. Not only was the decision to sacrifice himself in that situation completely indefensible, he failed to even get down a good bunt and ended up having the lead runner thrown out.</p>
<p>Earlier in Tuesday's game, in a situation where a sac bunt was called for with runners on first and second, he once again failed to push the ball towards third and got the lead runner thrown out. Countless times this season we've seen Robert make boneheaded plays on the base paths and run himself into outs with his overly aggressive nature.</p>
<p>Gibson repeatedly just shakes his head when asked about Ryan and patiently explains that Roberts is who Roberts is and you can't pull back that aggression without losing what also makes him special.</p>
<p>Tuesday night we certainly got another look at what makes him, and this entire team, special.</p>
<p>We'd say there's no surprises left in this crew, but with the playoffs coming how could that possibly be the case?</p>
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<p><i> Ryan Roberts #14 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates after hitting a walk off grand slam during the 10th inning of the Major League Baseball game against the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> at Chase Field on September 27, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Dodgers 7-6 in 10 innings. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)</i></p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-diamondbacks/2011/9/28/2455506/ryan-roberts-grand-slam-arizona-diamondbacksSeth Pollack2011-09-27T22:38:05-07:002011-09-27T22:38:05-07:00Ryan Roberts Walk Off Grand Slam Propels Diamondbacks Past Dodgers, 7-6
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<p>Well, that was incredible.</p>
<p>After the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Diamondbacks</a> gave up five runs in the top of the tenth inning, all hope was seemingly lost. But <span>Ryan Roberts</span> never says die.</p>
<p>With the bases loaded, down 6-3, Roberts hit a walk-off, game-winning grand slam off of Los Angeles Dodgers closer Javy Guerra to propel the Diamondbacks to their 94th win of the 2011 regular season.</p>
<p>The bottom of the tenth felt like nothing more than an intriguing subplot, as the Diamondbacks had the bases loaded, down four runs, with <span>Aaron Hill</span> at the plate. With a chance to tie the game, the Dodgers brought in closer Javy Guerra. Hill was patient, resisting the urge to swing at Guerra's arsenal of breaking balls.</p>
<p>Hill earned a walk, driving in a run to bring the score to 6-3. That's when Roberts did the unbelievable, driving the first pitch he saw into the left field bleachers and causing absolute pandemonium at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix.</p>
<p><span>Justin Upton</span> was victim to a fluke injury. A bomb off the bat of <span>A.J. Ellis</span> careened off the wall, striking Upton in the side of the head. Upton recovered to throw the ball into the infield, but was immediately removed from the game. Just days after sustaining a concussion after being hit on the head by <span>Tim Lincecum</span>, this was an awful sight for the D-backs to see.</p>
<p>To sum up the top of the tenth inning, <span>Micah Owings</span> allowed <span>Dee Gordon</span> to get on base with a double. When <span>Jerry Sands</span> attempted to bunt Gordon over to third base, Owings committed a cardinal mistake, throwing the ball into left field, allowing Gordon to score.</p>
<p>After that, all hell broke loose. <span>Matt Kemp</span> singled, getting to second on a bobble error by Chris Young. After retiring Juan Rivera, Owings allowed <span>James Loney</span> to single before walking <span>Aaron Miles</span>.</p>
<p>Then, A.J. Ellis inflicted a two-run triple that, as previously mentioned, injured Upton. When all was said and done, the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> scored five runs off of Owings, who earned the win despite his worst outing of the season.</p>
<p>Rookie <span>Jarrod Parker</span> got his first career start, a 73-pitch, 5.2 inning outing that promised good things in the future for the big club. While he only collected one strikeout, his efforts were noticed.</p>
<p>With one game to play, the Diamondbacks are one game behind the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Milwaukee Brewers</a> for homefield advantage in the playoffs. After this miracle that just took place, anything can happen tomorrow night. Anything.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Diamondbacks, check out <a target="_blank" href="http://azsnakepit.com">AZ Snake Pit</a>.</i></p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-diamondbacks/2011/9/27/2455006/ryan-roberts-walk-off-grand-slam-propels-diamondbacks-past-dodgers-7-6Cory Williams2011-09-27T22:35:02-07:002011-09-27T22:35:02-07:00Justin Upton Injury: Diamondbacks Outfielder Hit In Head (Again), Leaves Game Immediately
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<p>For a team that has already clinched the National League West and a playoff berth, things have not gone very well for star outfielder <span>Justin Upton</span> in recent days.</p>
<p>The MVP-candidate was first hit in the head over the weekend on a <span>Tim Lincecum</span> fastball, an injury that held Upton out of the lineup on Monday. After returning on Tuesday, he was hit in the head once again, this time on a ball that ricocheted off the outfield wall.</p>
<p>In the tenth inning with the D-Backs trailing 3-1, Upton ran towards the wall to make a play on a well-hit ball. The ball bounced hard off the fence and hit the outfielder in the side of his head. He was understandably shaken up and was not able to make a play on the ball.</p>
<p>He managed to keep consciousness, but Upton was immediately removed from the game. If fans were looking for an indication of how he was feeling, while attempting to lightly toss his glove into the dugout, it landed in the first row of seats behind the dugout. That's not good.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-diamondbacks/2011/9/27/2455045/justin-upton-injury-arizona-diamondbacks-outfield-wallScott Coleman2011-09-27T18:33:02-07:002011-09-27T18:33:02-07:00Diamondbacks Face Four Possible Playoff Scenarios, Fans Want Braves In First Round
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<p>We are at the end of the MLB regular season, and the Arizona Diamondbacks are assured a spot in the postseason. Who they face in the first round of the NLDS, however, is still up in the air. According to a poll by AZ Central, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/azcsports/statuses/118841904262692864">52% of Diamondbacks fans would like to face the Atlanta Braves in round one</a>.</p>
<p>The Diamondbacks have several playoff scenarios that could unfold over the season's final two games and the team could finish anywhere from second to fourth in the National League. The team's fortunes will be determined by where they finish in relation to the Milwaukee Brewers and whether the Braves or the St. Louis Cardinals win the wild-card.</p>
<p>If the Cardinals win the wild-card, then the Diamondbacks are guaranteed a top-three finish in the National League and will play the Brewers, with home-court going to the team that finishes the season with the better record.</p>
<p>Things get a little bit trickier if the Braves win the wild-card. Since two teams in the same division can't play one another in a divisional playoff series, the Braves would be bumped up from the fourth seed to the third seed by virtue of the Philadelphia Philies (who also play in the NL East) holding the number one seed in the National League.</p>
<p>If the Braves win the wild-card and the Diamondbacks finish behind the Brewers, the Diamondbacks will be forced into a road playoff series against the Phillies. That would be the least desirable outcome, as indicated by the 10% vote that the option received in the AZ Central poll.</p>
<p>If the Braves do win the wild-card and the Diamondbacks finish ahead of the Brewers, though, the Diamondbacks get a friendly home playoff series against the Braves. This is what Arizona fans want, and rightfully so since the Braves have imploded over the past two weeks with six losses in eight games.</p>
<p>Things should become clearer after Wednesday, when the final MLB games are in the books and final records are settled. Here's hoping that over a half of Diamondbacks fans get what they want.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-diamondbacks/2011/9/27/2454680/arizona-diamondbacks-playoffs-braves-phillies-brewers-cardinals-national-league-nldsNikil Selvam2011-09-26T21:35:03-07:002011-09-26T21:35:03-07:00Arizona Diamondbacks Fall To Dodgers 4-2, Hudson Again Shaky Early
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<p><span>Daniel Hudson</span> was going for his 17th win on the season which would have been a very impressive number for the young pitcher. Instead, Hudson had another one of those games that have plagued him all season where he gives up a handful of runs early before settling in. 16 wins is impressive too.</p>
<p>Hudson gave up a double and a walk before MVP candidate <span>Matt Kemp</span> blasted a ball over the yellow line in left centerfield. Daniel would go on to retire the next 15 batters he would face before giving up another run in the seventh inning to end his night with a disappointing line (7 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 1 HR, 1 BB, 5 SO).</p>
<p>"Obviously, it just wasn't a smart pitch. Bad pitch selection by me. Just want that one back," Hudson said about the 3-2 change up he threw to Matt Kemp that ended up over the wall.</p>
<p>Offensively, the D-backs bats took so long to get going against young <span>Dana Eveland</span> that the press box no-hit pool got fired up. It wasn't until Chris Young got a hit in the fourth inning that the perfect game was busted.</p>
<p>In the eighth inning Arizona finally broke through thanks to a franchise-tying five walks by three <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> relief pitchers. Unfortunately, with the bases loaded <span>Paul Goldschmidt</span> struck out and <span>Gerardo Parra</span> flied out so the D-backs couldn't capitalize beyond the two runs walked in.</p>
<p>Arizona couldn't take advantage of a lead off error in the ninth inning and the game ended with an <span>Aaron Hill</span> fly out.</p>
<p>Justin Upton was evaluated for concussion before the game which included the Impact test. Gibson lifted him from the line up after he took BP, saying he just didn't seem totally right. Justin thinks he'll be fine and his not playing on Monday was a precautionary move. He plans on playing on Tuesday.</p>
<p>The D-backs fail to capitalize on a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> loss and remain one-game back in the race for home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-diamondbacks/2011/9/26/2451998/arizona-diamondbacks-fall-to-dodgers-4-2-hudson-again-shaky-earlySeth Pollack