D-Backs Stop Losing Streak with No-Name Lineup

Keep New Times Free

I Support

Local
Community
Journalism

Support the independent voice of Phoenix and help keep the future of New Times free.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have taken a real beating on their current road trip; they lost seven in a row before snapping that streak on Sunday with a 7-5 win over the Houston Astros. During the streak, the offensive achieved levels of futility -- an average of two runs scored a game, dozens of strikeouts, only four(!) walks -- not seen since April, when the D-Backs hitters couldn't do anything right. So, on Sunday, the D-Backs trotted out what had to be the least-imposing lineup of any team in baseball -- and won.

No Stephen Drew, no Mark Reynolds, no Justin Upton. Instead, just utilityman Chad Tracy hitting third and Miguel Montero hitting clean-up. And surrounding them were no-names like Ryan Roberts, Trent Oeltjen, Alex Romero, and Augie Ojeda. Yet all this ragtag group of bench players and minor-league call-ups did was draw five walks -- one more than the team had drawn in the previous seven games combined -- and notch a few timely hits, including four by infielder Roberts. No fireworks for this lineup, just good baseball.

Of course, you can't throw such a lineup out there everyday and expect to win a bunch of games. Drew should be back in the mix on Tuesday when the D-Backs open a series in San Francisco against the surprising Giants. Same goes for Reynolds, who's been battling flu symptoms. Upton, meanwhile, will begin a rehab stint in the minor leagues today or tomorrow and may be back in the lineup when the D-Backs come home to host the Astros on Friday.

Sunday's win put the D-Backs at 55-70. It now seems like a long time ago that they were only nine games under .500 and making a strong push toward respectability. Even at 15 games under .500, they've leapt ahead of the Pirates and Reds and could easily pass the Mets in terms of wins. Sure, that stuff doesn't mean anything more than a hill of beans, but you gotta look for something positive in this lost season.