Arizona Diamondbacks 2017 Season in Review: May
The 2017 season for the Arizona Diamondbacks has come to a close. It is time to take a look back at what transpired. We will continue our review with a look at the month of May
The 2017 version of the Arizona Diamondbacks ended sooner than we wanted, but what a season it was. A 24-win improvement translated into the franchise’s sixth 90-plus win season.
The D-backs finished 52-29 at home and 41-40 on the road. By division, Arizona went 45-31 against the NL West, 17-16 against the NL Central and 19-14 against the NL East. After posting a 5-15 record in interleague play in 2016, the D-backs went 12-8 against AL opponents in 2017.
The season culminated with the Diamondbacks sixth trip to the postseason in 20 seasons.
Venom Strikes is looking back at each month of the season. Make sure you check out our review of April.
General Overview
After starting the season on the right foot in April, the Arizona Diamondbacks continued its early season surge in the second month of the season.
May did not start out well. The D-backs dropped a series to the Washington Nationals in D.C. and then dropped two of three to the Colorado Rockies.
A mediocre start to May continued with a split of a four game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but a series against the free falling New York Mets would jump start Arizona. The D-backs got a four-run victory in game one and two one-run victories in middle game and series finale. The Diamondbacks would finish the season 29-23 in one-run games.
After that series, the D-backs rattled off seven wins in its next eight games against the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox.
The month finished with a 4-3 road trip against the Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates.
The D-backs finished the month 17-11, including 9-3 at home and 8-8 on the road. Arizona hit .256 as a team and the pitchers posted a 3.38 ERA.
The D-backs 43 home runs was one shy of a monthly club record. The offense finished May first in the NL in slugging percentage (.458) and home runs, third in doubles (55), tied for third in triples (6), fourth in OPS (.782) and second in ERA and fourth in strikeouts (254).
Notable Performers
Jake Lamb had a great month. He finished second in the NL in home runs (9), third in RBI (24), second in slugging percentage (.657) and second in OPS (1.057).
Paul Goldschmidt finished tied for fourth in home runs (8), third in RBI (24), seventh in slugging percentage (.602) and 10th in OPS (.999).
Brandon Drury was tied for fourth in the NL in doubles (9).
Zack Godley finished third in ERA (2.20) and Robbie Ray finished eighth in ERA (2.56). Zack Greinke tied for second with four wins, Ray finished fourth with 45 strikeouts and Fernando Rodney finished tied for second with seven saves.
Interesting Stats
- The D-backs set a Major League record with 10 straight home games with 10-plus strikeouts from April 24 to May 11.
- The Diamondbacks struck out more than 10 Nationals on May 3 for the ninth consecutive game, a major league record.
- Greinke carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning on May 11 against the Pirates
- Paul Goldschmidt became the eighth D-back to steal home on May 16 against the Mets.
- The D-backs scored eight runs in the first inning on May 19 at the Padres, which tied a franchise record for the most runs in the opening frame.
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