Diamondbacks find unlikely hero

The Arizona Diamondbacks offense jumped all over San Francisco Giants starter Madison Bumgarner, scoring two runs in the first and two runs in the second thanks to two home runs and three RBIs from second baseman Aaron Hill.

Hill, who came to Arizona in a trade from the Toronto Blue Jays along with John McDonald for Kelly Johnson, seems to be forgotten on a team with the likes of Justin Upton, Paul Goldschmidt and Miguel Montero.  Hill must have forgot he was not a star as he stole the show by hitting a solo shot in the first inning and a two-run shot in the second inning to put the D-backs up 4-0 after three innings.

Hill, who hit in the No. 2 spot, looked like he was more apt to be hitting in the cleanup role after driving in the majority of the runs for the D-backs.  He has career averages of .267 batting average, .321 on-base percentage and a .418 slugging percentage and is off to a fast start after teeing off on Bumgarner.  To put this game into perspective, in 33 games for the D-backs last year Hill had 16 RBIs and already he has three in two games.

Diamondbacks’ starter Daniel Hudson pitched solidly for six and two thirds innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits, walking two and striking out four.  It might not have been Hudson’s best performance, but it was enough for the win.  The Diamondbacks bullpen again held the Giants scoreless through two and a third innings, with Bryan Shaw getting an out to end the seventh.  David Hernandez pitched a scoreless eighth and J.J. Putz pitched a scoreless ninth for the save.

If the Diamondbacks can repeat this success, handing the lead to the bullpen, the relievers are more than capable of closing out the game which means the Diamondbacks will be able to win the close games like they did last year.  This seems to be the recipe for success and it is good to see the Diamondbacks starting out winning the close ones.

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