#GenerationDBacks - a BigJDotCom MLB 18 The Show Production

[bigjdotcom01]

June 25-28: ARIZONA (50-31) @ MIAMI (29-53)

June 25: Arizona 3, Miami 0
June 26: Miami 2, Arizona 1
June 27: Arizona 8, Miami 7
June 28: Arizona 3, Miami 2 (18)

The Arizona Diamondbacks opened up a four game series in Miami with a 3-0 shutout victory. The up and down season of Robbie Ray (5-8) continued as he was magnificent on Monday evening, tossing seven shutout innings and allowing just four hits, while striking out eight and walking none. He would get all the offensive support that he would need in the second inning as A.J. Pollock homered to right. The solo shot was his 20th on the season.

Jake Lamb added an RBI double in the fourth and a solo home run in the seventh. The home run was his 17th on the season. Tyler Thornburg pitched a perfect eighth and Archie Bradley worked the ninth inning to pick up his 24th save.

The Miami Marlins took the second game of the series on Tuesday evening, 2-1. Rookie Elieser Hernandez (5-8) seemed to be in trouble all night, but kept the DBacks from hurting him. He allowed 10 hits in six innings of work, but only allowed on run and he struck out three. All in all, the DBacks pounded out 12 hits, all singles, in the loss.

The Marlins grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second when J.T. Realmuto hit a solo home run to right off of Zack Godley. They would add a second run in the fourth on a Starlin Castro RBI single.

Arizona's lone run came in the fifth when David Peralta lined a two-out single to center to score Jon Jay. Zack Godley (7-2) was the hard luck loser for Arizona. He went 5 2/3 innings, allowing the two earned runs on just five hits. He struck out five and walked just one.

Wednesday evening was a slugfest that the Diamondbacks pulled out, 8-7. The DBacks hit four home runs, two each from A.J. Pollock and Jake Lamb. Pollock went 4 for 4 with a double, triple, two home runs, a walk and a stolen base. His second home run of the night broke a 7-7 tie in the ninth.

Tyler Thornburg (4-3) gave up a game tying home run to Starlin Castro in the bottom of the eighth, but picked up the win. Archie Bradley worked a perfect ninth to earn his 25th save on the season.

Neither starting pitcher had a night to remember. Taijuan Walker lasted just 4 2/3 innings and allowed six runs (four earned) on eight hits. He also grounded into two double plays. Marlins starter Jose Urena lasted just five innings, allowing six runs on 11 hits.

Alex Avila threw out three Marlins trying to steal in the game. A.J. Pollock's stolen base was his major league leading 35th on the year.

The DBacks took the finale on Sunday afternoon in an 18-inning marathon, 3-2. David Peralta broke the 2-2 tie with an RBI double to drive home Daniel Descalso with the go ahead run. Fernando Salas got the final out in relief of winner Yoshihisa Hirano (4-1). Hirano worked 2 2/3 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out four. A.J. Pollock went 1 for 7 with a solo home run, his 23rd. Daniel Descalso tied the game way back in the ninth inning with a two-out, two-strike RBI single to right.

Miami's two runs came off of starter Zack Greinke in the bottom of the seventh on four consecutive singles that knocked Greinke out of the game. He left after six plus innings, allowing two runs on six hits. Dbacks pitchers struck out 20 Marlins and did not issue any walks. Arizona managed just ten hits in the game and did not have any hits or baserunners in innings 10 through 17.

Arizona (50-31) will now return home for a ten game home stand against San Francisco, St Louis and San Diego. The win on Thursday afternoon allowed the DBacks to move back in front of the Dodgers in the National League West by a 1/2 game.

David Peralta ended the marathon in Miami with this double in the 18th inning.

[Proof21]

What a series against the Marlins and an epic way to close it out! Thankfully coming home for a ten game home stand should also provide you with a day off for rest as I’m sure the bullpen - and team in general - will need.

[bigjdotcom01]

June 29 - July 1: SAN FRANCISCO (46-39) @ ARIZONA (53-31)

June 29: Arizona 2, San Francisco 1 (11)
June 30: Arizona 6, San Francisco 1
July 1: Arizona 5, San Francisco 2

One day after a marathon in Miami, the DBacks had to go a little extra on Friday night as they defeated the San Francisco Giants 2-1 in walk off fashion in 11 innings. Alex Avila lined a two-out single to left just in front of Hunter Pence, allowing Paul Goldschmidt to score from third with the game winning run. The exhausted DBacks bullpen was once again stretched as they used five pitchers with Tyler Thornburg (5-3) earning the win as he worked a scoreless 11th inning.

Fernando Salas picked up a blown save, allowing the Giants to tie the game in the top of the ninth. Joe Panik bounced a ball through the left side of the infield with runners on the corners, allowing Hunter Pence to score the game tying run. Archie Bradley was unavailable after tossing three innings yesterday afternoon in Miami.

Arizona took game two behind a strong pitching performance from Robbie Ray as they defeated the Giants 6-1. Ray (6-8) went seven innings, allowing one run on six hits. He struck out just one, whiel walking three. He got solo home runs from Chris Owings, Paul Goldschmidt and Daniel Descalso to power the offense. John Jay hit a big two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the eighth to seal it.

Arizona finished June with an (18-11) record.

The Diamondbacks finished off the sweep on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Giants 5-2 at Chase Field. David Peralta led the way offensively, going 2 for 4 with a two-run home run in the second inning. The DBacks scored three in the first inning, thanks to a Paul Goldschmidt RBI single and an A.J. Pollock two-run bomb.

Zack Godley (8-2) picked up the win, pitching seven innings and allowing two run son seven hits. Archie Bradley worked the ninth to pick up his National League leading 26th save.

Arizona (53-31) has won five straight, while the Giants have lost five straight. The DBacks will continue the homestand on MOnday as they open a three game series with the Cardinals (41-42).

Paul Goldschmidt and the DBacks remain ahead of the Dodgers in the NL West.

[bigjdotcom01]

Quote: Originally Posted by Proof21

What a series against the Marlins and an epic way to close it out! Thankfully coming home for a ten game home stand should also provide you with a day off for rest as I’m sure the bullpen - and team in general - will need.

No off days until after the home stand unfortunately. The bullpen is taxed and it didn't help that the first game went extra innings. Still holding off Los Angeles for first place though.

[OliDegu2008]

Caught on this and I love it! Keep up the good work BigJ!

[bigjdotcom01]

Quote: Originally Posted by OliDegu2008

Caught on this and I love it! Keep up the good work BigJ!

Thanks. The simplified format is allowing me to play more games while still reporting on them. I miss posting the box scores, like in seasons past, but it is just too time consuming at this point.

Enjoy!

[bigjdotcom01]

July 2-4: ST LOUIS (43-43) @ ARIZONA (54-33)

July 2: Arizona 6, St. Louis 4
July 3: St. Louis 3, Arizona 2
July 4: St. Louis 7, Arizona 5

Arizona held on late to take the opener of a three game holiday series with the St Louis Cardinals, 6-4 at Chase Field on Monday evening. Alex Avila drove in four runs with the big blow coming in the eighth inning as he blasted a three-run home run to right, his 12th on the year, to give Arizona a 6-1 lead.

Taijuan Walker (7-5) pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing just one run on seven hits. He struck out nine and walked just one. Tyler Thornburg was responsible for the three Cardinal runs in the ninth. He gave way to Archie Bradley who recorded the final out to record his 27th save.

The St. Louis Cardinals rallied late to pull out a 3-2 victory on Tuesday evening. Jose Martinez lined a two-out, two-run single in the top of the eighth off of Yoshihisa Hirano, and then Jedd Gyorko hit a solo home run to open the ninth off of Andrew Chafin (3-5) as the DBacks wasted a great pitching performance from Zack Greinke.

Greinke went 7 2/3 and left with runners on second and third in th etop of the eighth. He allowed six hits and struck out three. Yoshihisa Hirano came in and promptly gave up a line drive two run single to Jose Martinez. It was his second blown save on the season. Andrew Chafin would face just one batter in the ninth, giving up the long home run to Gyorko. It was Gyorko's 12th home run on the season.

The Cards took the rubber match on the Fourth of July, 7-5. St. Louis used a five run third inning to help them get back to .500. Marcell Ozuna and Dexter Fowler each hit solo home runs to pace the Cardinals offense. A.J. Pollock and Paul Goldschmidt each went 3 for 4 in the losing effort. Jorge De La Rosa had a strong effort out of the DBacks bullpen, pitching the final three scoreless innings.

Carlos Martinez (10-2) picked up the win for the Cards despite giving up three first inning runs. He went six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. Patrick Corbin (6-2) took the loss for the DBacks, lasting just five innings and allowing six runs on seven hits.

Arizona (54-33) continues the homestand tomorrow evening as they welcome the San Diego Padres for a four game weekend series.

Marcel Ozuna and the Cards took two of three from the first place DBacks.

[bigjdotcom01]

TRADE NEWS

New York (AP) - As we get closer to the Major League Baseball trade deadline and the All-Star Break, the trade market is starting to heat up. There were a bunch a minor transactions this week , and a couple of big moves.

The Yankees strengthened their rotation by acquiring Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz in exchange for three minor leaguers in SP Justus Sheffied, second baseman Tyle Wade, and right fielder Billy McKinney. Foltynewicz was (2-6) with a 3.53 ERA in Atlanta. He figures to be at the back end of the Yankees rotation. Sheffield is a 21-year-old prospect and the best player going back to the Braves.

The Red Sox then acquired second baseman D.J. LeMahieu and starting pitcher Tyler Anderson from Colorado in exchange for left fielder Andrew Benintendi. LeMahieu looks to strengthen the Red Sox up the middle and is a big improvement over the aging Dustin Pedroia at second. Tyler Anderson is likely a fifth starter for the second place Red Sox, who trail the Yankees by four games. Andrew Benintendi is a nice acquistion for the Rockies. The 23-year-old was hitting .247 with 13 home runs and seven stolen bases for Boston.

Miami send first baseman Justin Bour to the Angels in exchange for centerfielder Jo Adell and left fielder Brennon Lund. The Angels, sitting in fourth in the A.L. West are looking to add some power at first. Bour was hitting .267 with 12 home runs for Miami. Miami gets back two youngsters as the rebuild continues.

The Nationals, without injured Bryce Harper, acquired Padres right fielder Wil Myers in exchange for closer Koda Glover, left fielder Andrew Stevenson and reliever Trevor Gott. This was an interesting move as maybe the Nationals are looking short and long term here. Harper is a free agent at seasons end and Myers is tied up for four more years. But Myers was hitting just .203 with one home run for the Padres in 123 at-bats.