We saw a glimmer of the Diamondbacks offense.
Inspiration: The D-backs need to play well more than they needed to win this game.
The Early Innings.
Starters: Troy Melton and Eduardo Rodriguez
First Inning: An unusual inning. The Tigers challenged an what would have been an inning-ending out. The out was overturned. The next batter, Spencer Torkelson, hit a fly to shallow center. Gurriel Jr. failed to catch it (possibly due to almost colliding with Perdomo). Jahmai Jones scored and Spencer Torkelson got to third base. The Tigers gained .117 WPA. 1-0 Tigers
Second Inning: The Tigers challenged a safe call on a pickoff play. They lost their challenge. In the bottom of the inning, the Tigers’ three hits resulted in a second run. Then the D-backs excellent defense scored an inning ending double play. 2-0 Tigers
Third Inning: No Diamondbacks struck out in the third! That’s a step in the right direction!
Fourth Inning: Marte with a lead-off single on a pitch above the strike zone. Geno Suarez’s primal scream expressed his frustration after he just missed a barreled ball. Ibanez hit a lead-off homer to increase the Tigers Win Expectancy to 86.7%. After that, Vierling hit a 2-out RBI. 4-0 Tigers
The Diamondbacks Need a Comeback Inning.
Regardless of who wins the game, when the Diamondbacks finally score a run it will end the streak and be a celebration! 34 consecutive innings with 1 run scored (unearned).
Fifth Inning: Eduardo Rodriguez struck out the side.
Sixth Inning & Top Seventh Inning: Dingler hit a homer to increase the Tigers Win expectancy to 97.4% 5-0 Tigers
Rodriguez replaced with Kendall Graveman (bottom seventh).
Melton replaced with Tommy Kahnle (eighth).
Eighth Inning: Alek Thomas homer breaks the streak without an earned run! 5-1 Tigers
Graveman replaced with Kyle Backhus (bottom eighth) .
Bottom of Eighth Inning: Backhus pitched very well! A bloop and three strikeouts.
Kahnle replaced with Will Vest (ninth)
Ninth Inning: Eugenio Suarez hit in the hand by a pitch and left the game.
Summary:
Eugenio Suarez will get x-rays of his hand. Hope he is ok.
We saw a glimmer of the Diamondbacks offense. Alek Thomas hit a homer. In the ninth inning, the Diamondbacks had runners on the corners with one out. They fought to the last out.
The Diamondbacks relievers held the Tigers scoreless.
“We have to keep fighting to get out of it.” — Torey Lovullo.
Comment of the Game.
This comment caught my attention…on 7 June of this season, Backhus made his debut in the Majors. He is part of a promising next season.
AZ Snake Pit.
Bells and Whistles.
Courtesy of FanGraphs.
The WPA leaders (per FanGraphs) were:
- .284 Troy Melton
- .123 Andy Ibanez