Rain Washes Away the D-Backs’ Chances Against the Philadelphia Phillies

Once upon a time, the Arizona Diamondbacks were winning a game against the defending MLB champeen Philadelphia Phillies (we know, hard to believe). Stephen Drew had slugged a lead-off home run off of pitcher-of-the-decade Pedro Martinez, who was making his second major-league start since being brought up to The Show a few weeks ago. By the bottom of the third, Arizona still led.

Then the rains came to Citizens Bank Park, a deluge of the sort of monsoon-like proportions that Phoenicians brag about. A beautiful downpour that people from places like Akron and Omaha move to Phoenix for, and thus pushed Phoenix’s population past Philadelphia’s a few years ago.

The game resumed after a 66-minute delay. Mighty Arizona starter Jon Garland took to the hill, and immediately beaned Chase Utley. With two outs, Jayson Werth lofted a sinking liner in the mystical mist to left field. Ryan Roberts, charging hard, took a diving stab that wasn’t even freaking close, and the ball caromed into a dark, wet corner. Tie ballgame.

But Roberts wasn’t done making this once-promising story for Diamondbacks’ fans more sucky. After an intentional walk to Raul Ibanez, Pedro Felix singled to left. Roberts, who possibly wanted to throw a ball into the rain clouds in order to make them stop, uncorked an errant throw. The error allowed the runners to move up, one being Ibanez, who would later score. At the end of the third, Philly led 3-1. By ballgame’s end, the Phillies, behind a nails pitching performance by 46-year old lefty Jamie Moyer in support of Martinez, won 5-1.

Fairy tale so over.

Hey, at least Phoenix still leads Philly in population.

The two go at it again at 4:05 this afternoon when Arizona’s Dan Haren (12-7, 2.50 ERA) faces Philadelphia’s Cliff Lee (10-9, 2.86). TV: Fox Sports Arizona. Radio: KTAR-AM 620. More info: www.dbacks.com.