Diamondbacks-Cubs Recap: Brooms, Baby!
By Thomas Lynch
David Peralta went 4-8 during the D’backs’ three game sweep of the Cubs. Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
I went away this weekend and was fully expecting some big news from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The first time in 2014 I was away on a weekend, the D’backs brought in Tony LaRussa to be their Head of Baseball Operations. Then, two weeks ago, they traded Brandon McCarthy to the New York Yankees for Vidal Nuno. This time, the Snakes made some on field noise. They swept three games from the Chicago Cubs, the first time the team has swept somebody at Chase Field this season. The D’backs did sweep the Colorado Rockies at the beginning of June at Coors Field.
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For the most part, the Arizona staff turned in some quality performances. The eighth and ninth inning combination of Brad Ziegler and Addison Reed closed Friday’s and Sunday’s victories. Wade Miley continued his excellent stretch on Saturday by allowing three earned runs over seven innings while fanning seven. He evened his mark at 6-6 and dropped his ERA to 4.16. Evan Marshall pitched two scoreless innings over the weekend and has allowed runs in only five of his 27 appearances. Josh Collmenter turned in another outstanding effort Sunday allowing only a single earned run over seven innings.
As far as the bats go, what else can you say about the wonderful Paul Goldschmidt? He hit two home runs over the weekend including Saturday night’s moonshot that capped the 9-3 victory. Goldschmidt has 131 extra base hits since the beginning of the 2013 season, the most in the Majors. David Peralta is making it impossible to keep him out of the lineup. He played in two of the three games this weekend and went four for eight. The rookie drove in two of the three Arizona runs on Sunday and is now hitting .331 on the year. It is obvious that Peralta will be a big part of the D’backs’ future. The only blemish this weekend came in the form of the hard-luck Cody Ross. The veteran outfielder left Sunday’s game with tightness in his left calf.
Up next for the D’backs is a visit from the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers. Monday evening will have Nuno makes his third start for Arizona and will be opposed by Justin Verlander. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM MST.