Brunch baseball! On a Saturday!
One more thing about last night’s game which deserves honoring. Scott McGough’s four-pitch eighth inning. It included three outs on consecutive pitches, after Pedro Pagés took the first pitch from McGough for a ball. It was the shortest appearance from an Arizona reliever while recording three plus outs for more than three years, since Noé Ramirez had a three-pitch sixth in April 2022. Two other Arizona relievers have also matched that. Tony Peña in 2009, and Gregg Olson in 1998. Technically, a pitcher could record more outs than pitches thrown, between double- or even triple-plays. It’s possible a pitcher could even throw zero pitches, courtesy of a pick-off.
It’s never been done by a Diamondback, but one of the most impressive such outings was by Jeff Nelson of the Mariners, on July 13, 1995. He came in with men on first and second, threw one pitch and got a triple-play. There have also been two recorded cases where a pitcher has thrown no pitches and still got the win: Alan Embree in 2009, and B.J. Ryan in 2003. The scenario was similar in both: the pitcher came in with two outs and a runner on first, and the runner was picked off. The pitcher’s team then took the lead in their next half-inning, putting them in line for the decision. Technically, you go pick-off, IBB, pick-off, IBB, pick-off and get a whole inning on no pitches. That has not yet happened…
No Corbin Carroll in the line-up today, for only the second time this season. He also did not start the final game of the opening series against the Cubs. Instead, Randall Grichuk takes over in RF, which is also what happened against Chicago, in his only previous start playing the field. We also get our weekly Jordan Lawlar start – read that with as much sarcasm as you feel is appropriate – at second-based, with Ketel Marte DHing today. Hopefully, Arizona can get the W, as another defeat would tie the team’s worst losing streak of the year. That was four consecutive L’s at Chase against Tampa and Atlanta, from April 23-26. My mimosa and bacon panini will taste that much sweeter with a victory!