zApr 9, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (44) is greeted at home plate by Gerardo Parra (8) and Eric Chavez (12) after Goldschmidt hit a three run home run against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning of their baseball game at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports
The Diamodbacks didn’t look like the team that has started the season 2-8 and that is a good thing. The Dbacks got an early lead, starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo went enough innings to pitch a quality start, and the bullpen held the lead. Its almost like we saw a completely different team last night. The Snakes grabbed their third road win of the season, defeating the Giants in game two of the series 7-3 in front of another sellout at AT and T Park.
Dbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt doesn’t like to talk about his individual performance, he likes to have his bat do the talking. Goldschmidt doesn’t have to talk about his dominance of Giants starter Tim Lincecum, his bat did the talking once again last night. Goldy’s three run homer in the top of the first set the tone for the Snakes 7-3 victory.
The crowd at AT and T Park barely had time to settle into their seats before the Dbacks grabbed the early lead. Gerardo Parra led off the game with a triple off Lincecum, and Martin Prado drew a walk putting runners at first and second with nobody out. That brought up Goldschmidt and we all now what happened. Goldy is now 13 for 24 with the seven home runs against the two time CY Young award winner. He became just the 35 player to homer to right at AT and T Park.
Goldschmidt talked about his dominance over the Giants right-hander with MLB.com: Obviously I’ve had success right now, but that can change in a hurry,” Goldschmidt said. “There’s plenty of guys that maybe you start off hot and then all of a sudden you don’t get a hit. That’s how baseball is — or vice versa, maybe there’s a guy you don’t hit very well and then for some reason you get a few hits off him. We’re talking a small sample size here. It’s really not anything I think about. No matter who is on the mound — it sounds like a dumb thing — but you try to have a good at-bat. Fortunately, I was able to hit one out today and I’ll try to go out and do the same tomorrow.”
The Giants cut the lead to 3-1 in the second on a Michael Morse home run and the Dbacks responded with a two runs in the third. Goldschmidt drove in his fourth run of the night with a sac fly and Eric Chavez making his first start of the season hit a triple yes a triple plating the other run. The Snakes used the 421 sign to their advantage. Gerardo Parra chased Lincecum after four innings hitting a two run home run making it 7-2 Dbacks. Lincecum left after the fourth allowing 7 runs on 7 hits. Dating back to the 2011 season, Lincecum is 1-7 against the Snakes.
Bronson Arroyo managed to pitch five innings getting his first win of the season. He pitched in and out of trouble all night allowing 3 runs on 6 hits. Arroyo made a short start, but it allowed Dbacks manager Kirk Gibson to use Josh Collmenter for more than one inning in hopes of possibly moving him to the rotation. He went above and beyond going four innings allowing no runs on three hits and getting his first career save. He would be a viable option to return to the rotation.
I find it interesting that the Dbacks are so dominant against CY Young award winners. Arizona has dominated Tim Lincecum, and they dominate two time CY Young award winner Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers. He has a 2.72 era in his past six starts against the Dbacks which is high for him. In all 6 of those games, the Dodgers have lost. The Snakes go for their first series win of the 2014 tonight when Randall Delgado takes the mound.