Diamondbacks Lose 7-1, Settle for Split with the Angels
By Thomas Lynch
Jun 17, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed (left) throws to first base to complete the double play as he forces out Los Angeles Angels base runner Taylor Featherston in the ninth inning during an interleague game at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The pitching staff of the Arizona Diamondbacks put together outings that ranged from solid to spectacular recently. The Los Angeles Angels put a stop to that today in a big way.
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LA sent nine men to the plate in the sixth inning and scored five times and C.J. Wilson shut down the D’back offense giving the Angels a 7-1 victory. As a result, the two teams split their home-and-home, four game series. The Snakes failed in their eighth attempt to get back to the .500 mark, falling to 32-34. Los Angeles moves to 34-33.
Allen Webster flirted with danger all afternoon. Los Angeles had runners on base in each of the first two innings only to hit into a pair of double plays. In the third, Webster finally surrendered third inning solo home runs to Taylor Featherston and Johnny Giavotella. For Featherston, it was the first long ball of his Major League career. The D’backs broke through in the fifth inning with a run of their own as David Peralta and Nick Ahmed slugged back-to-back doubles to cut the deficit in half.
The sixth inning was where the game was lost. With one out, Mike Trout‘s triple drove in Giavotella. A better throw would have gotten Trout at third, perhaps changing the complexion of the entire game. Albert Pujols was intentionally walked next and then Webster walked David Freese on four pitches. In came Josh Collmenter in his first appearance in 11 days and out went the game. Efren Navarro singled in Trout and Pujols followed by a two-run double by Carlos Perez.
The star of the day was Wilson who improved to 5-5 on the year. He was brilliant, hurling eight innings and allowing just the Ahmed RBI. He didn’t walk anyone and he struck out nine, lowering his ERA to 3.29 in the process.
The D’backs now host the San Diego Padres while the Angels fly to Oakland to play the A’s.