Fish Fried: Dbacks Lose In Extras, Miss Opportunities

Jul 7, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Chase Anderson throws in the second inning against the Miami Marlins at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Kirk Gibson has always had the reputation for getting new guys just called up from the minors right into the middle of the action on their first day in the big leagues. So it was no surprise that Brandin Hagens made his major league debut on Thursday night in the opener of a four game interleague series with the Marlins in Miami.

However, Gibson and the coaching staff certainly didn’t ease him into his major league debut. Hagens got the call in the 9th inning of a 4-4 game. He was asked to keep the game tied and force extra innings where the Dbacks have excelled this season.

Hagins was able to get through the ninth inning despite allowing a leadoff single to Christian Yelich. With one out Casey McGehee grounded into a 4-6-3 double play and Hagens was out of the inning.

After the Snakes failed to score in the t0p of the 10th inning, Hagins was thrust out there for another inning of work with the same objective: keep the game tied and force another inning of free baseball.  He wasn’t so lucky this time around.

Hagins walked the leadoff man Garett Jones to start of the bottom of the 10th which is never a good sign. Then, Jeff Mathis singled to right and Jones advanced to second base. With nobody out still, Marcell Ozuna doubled on a line drive to center, Jones scored, and the game was over. It resulted in a 5-4 Dbacks loss, and the Fish took the first game of the series.

Diamondbacks Manager Kirk Gibson admitted after the game in his post-game press conference that it was a tough situation to put the kid in: “It’s tough to put a pitcher in that spot right there.”

This game wasn’t without positives for the Diamondbacks. The offense jumped on Marlins starter Brad Penny early scoring the first run of the game in the top of the first on a two out RBI single from Mark Trumbo.

Trumbo continues to swing the bat well, which is a great sign moving forward for the Dbacks and the fans.

Coming into the game, Penny was 10-3 with a 1.97 era in his career against Arizona.

David Peralta continued to do damage this time with two outs in the third inning. He drove home a run with a triple on his birthday which had to feel extra special. Then Trumbo drove in his second run of the night scoring Peralta and it was 3-0 Dbacks.

The Marlins scored two runs in the bottom the inning on Giancarlo Stanton and Donovan Solano RBI singles. The Dbacks added a run in the sixth. Trumbo drew a leadoff walk and scored on a Miguel Montero double off left field wall.

At this point the Snakes were up 4-2, and Gibson went to his reliable set up man Brad Ziegler. He retired the first two batters, but then issued back to back walks. Adeiny Hechavarria made him pay tying up the game 4-4 on an RBI single.

Dbacks starter Chase Anderson turned in another quality start going 6 innings while allowing just 3 runs picking up the no-decision.

The Dbacks will try to tie up the series when Trevor Cahill takes the mound for Arizona against Brad Hand. Cahill has been really good as of late and will look to continue that streak tonight.