There was another pitching duel at Chase Field last night.
Arizona Diamondbacks reliever-turned-starter Josh Collmenter traded blanks with Atlanta Braves starter Jair Jurrjens until the Diamondbacks took the game's first and last lead in the bottom of the sixth. The final score read 2-1.
Chris Young played the hero on offense, hitting a solo homerun followed by a Miguel Montero single and a Juan Miranda triple to give the team a two run lead. All of the Diamondbacks' scores came with two outs in the sixth, making the effort even more impressive.
Atlanta almost made a two-out comeback of their own late in the ninth inning but only managed to score one unearned run off Diamondbacks closer JJ Putz.and the clumsy-fielding Justin Upton.
Putz came out to start the ninth and got Jayson Heyward and Chipper Jones out. The best catcher in the National League, Brian McCann, came up next and doubled. Dan Uggla stepped up to the plate and hit a line drive to Upton, who dropped it for an error and an unearned run.
Putz shrugged it off and struck out Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman to end the game.
Sam Demel, Joe Paterson, and Esmerling Vásquez bridged the innings between Collmenter and Putz in a scoreless effort for the bullpen.
Collmenter has been impressive in his first two starts of the season. He went six innings last night and gave up two hits. Unfortunately for Collmenter and the team, he doesn't miss many bats, only striking out one batter. It will be interesting to see how the league responds to him after he's gone around the loop once or twice.
The Minnesota Twins will be in town this weekend for the first series of interleague ball. Perhaps the Diamondbacks will do something to honor the late great Harmon Killebrew, who died in Scottsdale this week, while his old team is in town.
