Image: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The D’backs were crushed throughout baseball for the trades that sent Trevor Bauer and Justin Upton packing this offseason. Yet, the main pieces in their haul in those trades, Didi Gregorius and Martin Prado, hit a home run each to give the D’backs their only two runs in the regular nine innings against the Yanks.

Then, after closer J.J. Putz gave up a game-tying solo shot to Francisco Cervelli in the bottom of the ninth, Cody Ross, whose 3-year, $26 million contract he signed this offseason was also panned, delivered the go-ahead single in the 12th to put the D’backs on top for good.

It was sort of a redemption game for GM Kevin Towers as the entire league watches Justin Upton hit home run after home run. Now, nothing can be taken from a one-game sample like today, but it had to feel good anyways.

In the third, Phil Hughes threw a fastball down and in and Gregorius turned on it, driving it out on a line to right field. The home run was Gregorius’ first in the majors and came in his first at bat, and the first pitch, as a D’back.

In the sixth, Hughes tried to go upstairs on Prado, who promptly drove it into the left field bleachers.

The Yanks scored their first run on another mammoth blast off of the bat of Robinson Cano, who was the only blemish on an otherwise outstanding outing from Patrick Corbin.

Corbin went seven innings, only gave up the one run on Cano’s shot, struck out seven and gave up two hits.

In the 12th, Gerardo Parra broke up an 0-for-5 game for him by leading off with a double to right center. After Prado flew out to deep center to move Parra to third, Paul Goldschmidt reached on a catcher’s interference, the second of the game, and Miguel Montero was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Ross.

One of the reasons cited for Ross’ signing in the offseason despite the utter depth of talent in the outfield at the time was his ability to be “clutch.” At least in this case, Ross proved that to be true by hitting a liner into left to score Parra.

Eric Chavez shut the door on the Yanks in the next at bat with a bases clearing double to make the final 6-2.

The win saved the D’backs from the three-game sweep.

The D’backs now travel to Colorado to face the red-hot Rockies, who have won six straight and lead the NL West with an 11-4 record. The pitching match ups look to be Ian Kennedy (1-1, 5.79) against Jhoulys Chacin (2-0, 1.96 and Trevor Cahill (0-2, 3.50) facing off with Jorge De La Rosa (1-1, 3.86). On Sunday, Brandon McCarthy (0-2, 7.47) will be on the bump for the D’backs against a pitcher yet to be determined for the Rockies.

Mar. 19, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks batter Aaron Hill reacts to a high inside pitch as he is walked in the third inning against the Oakland Athletics during a spring training game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Aaron Hill  is probably used to being overlooked.  While playing Second Base for the Toronto Blue Jays, he was overshadowed by Robinson Cano  and Dustin Pedroia.   After being acquired by the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 23rd,  he quietly filled in for the departed Kelly Johnson by hitting .315 in 33 games as the D-Backs won the National League West.   He signed a 2 year, $11 million dollar contract early in the offseason, perhaps the least publicized of Arizona’s offseason moves.  Set to begin his first full season in the Valley, Hill is hoping to re-engerize a career that was slowed for most of 2011.

After four mostly non-eventful seasons in Toronto, Hill had a season in 2009 which most Second Basemen would envy.  He walloped 36 homers and drove in 108 runs while leading the league in at-bats with 686.  He also scored 103 runs and was selected to his only All-Star team.   In 2010, he still managed to hit 26 dingers but his RBI total was only 68 and his batting average slipped to a  woeful .205.  Finally, after managing only 8 home runs and a .299 on-base average through 104 games,  Toronto shipped him along with John McDonald  to Arizona for Johnson, the primary Second Basemen for the D-Backs .    Hill concluded his initial campaign with the NL West Champs by hitting .278 in the five game NLDS loss to the Milwaukee Brewers with one homer and a .435 on-base average.

Now that he is in his first full season with Arizona, Hill decided to move his entire family to the Phoneix area.  According to an article on azcentral.com, Hill also found that his teammates this Spring have treated him like he has been a member of the organization for years.  I am sure he would like to turn the clock back a few years to 2009 and help the D-Backs reach the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

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