For you Diamondbacks completists, May 17 is now officially in the books. For D-Backs faithful, it was hardly worth the wait.
In a rain-delay makeup game against the Braves at Atlanta's Turner Field this afternoon, D-Backs starter Max Scherzer (7-7) got folded, spindled, and mutilated in the 9-4 loss to the Braves. Young Max gave up nine runs (though only three were earned). He served up homers to Garret Anderson and Adam LaRoche, hit a couple of Braves, and flung an attempted toss-out into left field; the latter led to a six-run third for Atlanta.
Arizona's Mark Reynolds had a nice game, nullifying a couple of strikeouts with his 38th long ball of the year, which tied him for tops in the National League.
Atlanta starter Tommy Hanson (8-2) had a better game than Scherzer, striking out seven and holding the Diamondbacks to two runs on six hits in six innings.
Perhaps even you D-Backs completists are in agreement with the statement: "'Nuff said."
From Georgia, the D-Backs now head up the East Coast for a rematch of the July 27-29 series in Phoenix against the Philadelphia Phillies (which the defending world champs took, two games to one). The scheduled pitching match-ups are:
Tuesday, 4:05 p.m.: Jon Garland (6-10, 4.28 ERA) vs. Pedro Martinez (1-0, 5.40).
Wednesday, 4:05 p.m.: Dan Haren (12-7, 2.50) vs. Cliff Lee (10-9, 2.86).
Thursday, 4:05 p.m.: Doug Davis (7-10, 3.59) vs. Joe Blanton (7-6, 3.88).
TV: Fox Sports Arizona. Radio: KTAR-AM 620, KSUN-AM 1400 (Spanish). More info: www.dbacks.com.