Cardiac Dbacks Complete 17th Comeback Win of Season
By Scott Allen
The Arizona Diamondbacks now have 31 wins after a come from behind victory over the Florida Marlins this evening 6-5. It was the 17th time this season the Dbacks have had a come from behind victory. I only have one question. How about those Dbacks?
This was a game the Dbacks seemed down and far out and early. Marlins pitcher Javier Vazquez was in complete control until the 6th inning. He had everything going his way. Up until the 5th inning, Vazquez had only allowed 1 hit but only faced the minimum. Stephen Drew tried stretching a single into a double in the 2nd inning. It was all going the Marlins way early.
Dbacks starter Daniel Hudson struggled early, again. Reminiscent of his last outing in Houston where he gave up 5 runs in the first two innings, he was down 4-0 after three innings this evening. However, as he did last Friday, Hudson settled down and actually ended up going 7 innings. He got a no decision.
The rally started in the 6th with a 2-run homer by Ryan Roberts. Then a Justin Upton ground out made the score 4-3 headed to the 7th. A fielder's choice and error by Marlins third baseman Greg Dobbs allowed the Dbacks to tie the score at 4 in the 7th. Chris Young then had an RBI double in the 8th, his league leading 28th extra base hit, to give the Dbacks a 5-4 lead going to the 9th.
All the Dbacks had to do then was close things out with closer J.J. Putz. Putz, who was 16-16 in save situations so far this season, blew this one on the first batter he faced. Florida catcher John Buck deposited a ball in the pool and tied the game 5-5. Putz then buckled down and allowed nothing else, taking a tie game to the bottom of the ninth.
Then, Willie Bloomquist happened. He led off the 9th with a single. He ended up taking third on a slow grounder from Ryan Roberts. It was a gutsy move, but one that paid off. Justin Upton came in and gave the Dbacks victory with a bloop single down the right field line. Just another chapter in the 2011 Arizona Diamondbacks story. This one will be one of the more memorable chapters.
Tomorrow night they are back at it against the Washington Nationals. Game time back to 6:40pm.