Starting Pitching Stars as Diamondbacks Take 3 of 4 from the Brewers

After getting back to the .500 Mark against the Rangers on July 7th and 8th, the Diamondbacks were at their peak and had hit cloud 9. Dave Stewart was smiling and glad to not have to answer questions about mount .500 anymore.

After this 2 game sweep in Arlington instead of taking advantage of new found momentum, the Snakes preceded to do the exact opposite losing 6 games in a row bunched in between the All Star Break to the Mets in New York, and the Giants at Chase Field. They then lost 2 of 3 to the Marlins and were in danger of falling out of the playoff picture.

With the Trade Deadline coming up at the end of the month this Brewers series was critical to get back on the right foot.

This series would be part of the equation as to whether the team would buy or sell, and the players knew that. With that in mind the part of the team that has let them down to many times over the years stepped up and put on and a dominating performance.

The starters led the way as the Dbacks took 3 of 4 from the Brew Crew at Chase Field. Here is my recap of the series!

Before we go game by game this is really all you need to know about how the Diamondbacks won the series. Photo Courtesy of Steve Berthiume on twitter:

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Zach Godley was untochable during his major league debut. Photo Courtesy of Getty Images.

Game 1: Brewers-3 Diamondbacks-8

Right-hander Zack Godley made his major league debut for the pitching deprived Diamondbacks on the mound in game 1 of the Brewers on throwback Thursday and was oustanding tossing 6 shutout innings while allowing just 4 hits, striking out 7, and walking none.

His late moving stuff fooled Brewers hitters all night, and he looked like he belonged at the major league level despite only pitching in 3 games above High-A ball before his debut. Godley matched Max Scherzer‘s record for strikeouts in a Diamondbacks debut, and became the first pitcher in the modern era (since 1900) to pitch at least 6 scoreless innings while striking out 7 batters or more and walking none. It was truely a historic performance by Godley on the mound.

The offense gave Godley plenty of run support especially early in the game. After Yasmany Tomas hit a pool shot to right-center to give the Diamondbacks a 1-0 lead in the 2nd, the Dbacks used a 3 run 4th to stretch the lead to 4-0. With 1 out, Oscar Hernandez drove in the 1st run of his career with a single, and 2 batters later, Ender Inciarte drove in a run with a single, and a 2nd run scored thanks to an error by Brewers CF Carlos Gomez.

Despite striking out 10 times in a row over the course of 3 innings, the Dbacks tacked on a run in the 5th, a run in the 6th, and 2 more in the 8th to seal the victory.

turned in the best outing of his 2015 season. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Game 2: Brewers-2 Diamondbacks-1

Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin turned in his best outing since coming back from Tommy John surgery on Friday night striking out 10 and walking 1 in 7 innings of 1 run baseball. Despite this, the offense couldn’t get anything going against Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson who like Corbin tossed a gem

Nelson pitched 7 scorless innings alllowing just 5 hits and walking 3. At that point the Brewers won for the 5th time in 7 games, and Nelson has won 5 of his past 6 starts. The only blemmish for Corbin was a solo home run given up to slugger Ryan Braun to lead off the 6th inning.

After the Brew Crew tacked on an add on run in the 9th off Brad Ziegler to make it 2-0, the Dbacks scored their only run in the game off Brewers closer Francisco Rodriguez who converted his 22nd straight save.

Despite collecting 8 hits, the Dbacks grounded into 3 double plays, left 7 runners on base, and were 0-5 with runners in scoring position. This was one of those games where the Snakes couldn’t take advantage of offensive oppurtunities.

Game 3: Brewers-0 Diamondbacks-2

Rubby De La Rosa continued a run of great starting pitching tossing 8 innings of shutout baseball while allowing just 4 hits and walking 2. He got in trouble early, but he was always able to make the pitch he needed at the right time to get out of jams in a 2-0 win over the Brewers on Saturday night.

De La Rosa won for the 2nd start in a row and he is now 7-1 at home. The right-hander told the media that his two-seam fastball is key for him right now.

“I feel confidence in my two-seamer, so I try to use it because right now it’s really good. I try to throw it no matter what,” De La Rosa said. “When I’m pitching down, it’s a big difference for me.”

I couldn’t have said it any better. When De La Rosa is able to keep the ball down in the zone with his stuff he can beat any team. The Brewers had plenty of chances but didn’t captialize. They were 0-7 with RISP, and they left 10 runners on base.

Brewers starter Taylor Jungmann tossed 6 innings of 2 run ball allowing just 4 hits and striking out 7, but De La Rosa was much better, and he was the hard luck looser.

dealt the 2nd straight scoreless outing for Dbacks starting pitching. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Game 4: Brewers-0 Diamondbacks-3

Jeremy Hellickson continued the run of domianant starting pitching for the Diamondbacks tossing 6 scoreless innings while allowing 4 hits, striking out 6, and walking 3. Once again the Brewers offense had their chances but they couldn’t capitlaize. The Brewers were 0-9 with RISP and they left 9 on base.

Hellickson improved to 5-1 with a 2.33 ERA in his last 6 starts at Chase Field. He was fooling Brewers hitters with his offspeed stuff all night. He had late life on both his breaking ball and his changeup and the bottom of the order in practicular couldn’t do much.

Brewers starter Matt Garza lost for the 4th time in last 5 decisions after allowing 3 runs in 5 innings while walking 3. The Diamondbacks gave Hellickson some early run support in the 4th inning when Jake Lamb tripled in A.J. Pollock to make it 1-0.

The Dbacks have 28 triples with 12 of them coming in July. It was Lamb’s fourth triple. The Dbacks added on their other 2 runs in the 6th thanks to a Chris Owings pinch hit double down the left field line.

Stat of the Series: Dbacks starters during the Brewers series: 0.33 ERA (1 run in 27 IP), 29 K, .168 opponents batting avearage