The Arizona Diamondbacks had a tremendous weekend filled with drama, hitting heroics, and -- most importantly -- winning games as they swept the Milwaukee Brewers during a three-game road series at Miller Park in the Cheesehead State. As a result of their back-to-back-to-back victories, the Snakes are off to one on the franchise's best starts to a season with a 5-1 record.
The weekend sweep included everything a baseball fan could want, ranging from pitching duels -- like Wade Miley's six-inning showdown with Kyle Lohse during Friday night's 3-1 win -- to such spectacular hits as Eric Hinske's two-run homer on Sunday afternoon to help lift the D-backs 8-7 over the Brewers during an extra-innings affair.
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The Arizona Diamondbacks had a tremendous weekend filled with drama, hitting heroics, and -- most importantly -- winning games as they swept the Milwaukee Brewers during a three-game road series at Miller Park in the Cheesehead State. As a result of their back-to-back-to-back victories, the Snakes are off to one on the franchise's best starts to a season with a 5-1 record.
The weekend sweep included everything a baseball fan could want, ranging from pitching duels -- like Wade Miley's six-inning showdown with Kyle Lohse during Friday night's 3-1 win -- to such spectacular hits as Eric Hinske's two-run homer on Sunday afternoon to help lift the D-backs 8-7 over the Brewers during an extra-innings affair.
Miley's performance on Friday helped redeem the pitcher for his mediocre outings during spring training and may have allayed some fears regarding his long-term role in the front office and amonst the Diamondbacks fanbase. His battle with Lohse was virtually identical -- both pitchers lasted six innings and gave up five hits and one run in the fourth inning -- save for the fact that Miley notched eight strikeouts versus his opponents five.
A wild pitch by Milwaukee reliever Mike Gonzalez in the seventh inning, however, was the difference-maker in the game and helped the D-backs secure a win in the first outing of the three-game series.
With the game tied 1-1 and the bases occupied by Paul Goldschmidt, Jason Kubel, and Cliff Pennington, Gonzalez's wild pitch bounced off Milwaukee catcher Jonathan Lucroy's glove and dribbled towards the dugout. Thanks to Brewers' baseman Yuniesky Betancourt being virtually asleep at the switch, Goldschmidt and Kubel dashed to home plate for a pair of runs.
Arizona didn't need such luck to secure a second win in the series on Saturday night as they assaulted Milwaukee in a 9-2 drubbing. The nonstop hit parade saw Aaron Hill walloped an RBI double and a homer, while Kubel and Goldschmidt claimed two-run moonshots. Patrick Corbin overcame earned runs in the first and second frames and eventually settled down to keep the Brewers scoreless through the rest of his six innings of work and notch his first win.
Hill's and Kubel's hitting also kept the Diamondbacks from being defeated during Sunday's finale with Milwaukee. After Ian Kennedy gave up three runs by the sixth inning, the Brewers were ahead 3-2 in what was a see-saw battle the entire afternoon. Then, a Kubel RBI double to deep left score Montero before a Penning sacrifice fly brought home Goldschmidt to give Arizona a 4-3 advantage before a 359-foot two-run homer by Hill added another couple to the scoreboard.
Milwaukee wasn't done, however, as they added a run in the seventh from a fielder's choice with loaded bases (both courtesy of Arizona reliever Brad Ziegler) and RBI singles by Norichika Aoki and Lucroy in the bottom of the ninth sent the game into extra innings. D-backs manager Kirk Gibson choice of Hinske as a pinch hitter following a Pennington's leadoff single in the 11th proved wise, as the journeyman's 436-foot homer put Arizona on top for good for the 8-7 win.
While its entirely too early in the embryonic season to worry about such things, it should be noted that the D-backs are currently tied for first place in the National League West with the Colorado Rockies. It may not last, but it's a good feeling for the moment.
Arizona will attempt to keep the ball rolling when they return home to Chase Field tonight to face the Pittsburgh Pirates. Trevor Cahill goes against Wandy Rodriguez of the Pirates. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m.
