Arizona Diamondbacks: Four Takeaways from Game 3

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Mar 23, 2017; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker (41) during a spring training game against the Chicago Cubs at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports /

Hitting with RISP

Getting the job done in clutch situations separates teams in contention from sellers at the trade deadline.

It’s early, but the Diamondbacks approach with RISP through the first three games is night and day compared to last season.

As a team, they have hit .346 (9-for-26) with RISP. Overall, Snakes hitters are batting .296, the third highest average in baseball. Batting Average with Balls in Play (BABIP) suggests luck is involved; the Diamondbacks own the second highest BABIP, .387, in the majors so far.

It is hard to say a trend has developed this early, but it is a good sign. Driving in runs from second and third especially with two-outs will always help a team win more.

Lovullo talked about this after yesterday’s game with MLB.com.

"Some great situational [hitting], some great clutch hitting. I thought the big blow was Jeremy Hazelbaker left-on-left lining a ball down the right-field line."

Hazelbaker’s one-out double in the sixth off Giants starter Matt Moore gave the Diamondbacks their first lead, 5-4. The fact that he pinch-hit and it came off a left-hander was impressive.