RattleON - A DBacks Dynasty Presented by BigJDotCom01

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JULY 2-3: ARIZONA (44-44) @ LOS ANGELES (56-32)

July 2: DBacks 3, Dodgers 1 (11)
July 3: Dodgers 5, DBacks 4

The Arizona Diamondbacks kept the status quo on a brief two game trip to Los Angeles, splitting the two game series to move to (44-44) on the season, twelve games back of the first place Dodgers.

The DBacks blew a ninth inning lead, but rallied to defeat the Dodgers 3-1 in 11 innings to open this quick two game series. Adam Jones’ RBI single in the 11th proved to be the game winner as Arizona extended the Dodgers losing streak to five games.

Dallas Keuchel pitched a gem, going seven innings and allowing just four hits, while striking out five and walking none. Jake Lamb went 3 for 5 with a double and run scored.

Former Dodger Adam Liberatore (1-1) blew the save in the ninth, but picked up the victory working a scoreless tenth. Greg Holland picked up his ninth save as he worked a one, two, three eleventh to close out the game.

In game two, the Dodgers jumped out to a 4-0 lead with Robbie Ray lasting just 4 1/3 innings. He allowed the four runs on six hits. He struck out seven and walked two.

Adam Jones hit a big three-run blast in the top of the sixth off of Rod Stripling to cut the Dodgers lead to 4-3. Kevin Cron then hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth off of Dylan Floro. It was Cron’s first MLB home run and it tied the game at 4-4.

But the DBacks could not hold that lead a former DBack A.J. Pollock hit an RBI double in the bottom half of the inning off of Archie Bradley (0-3) to put Los Angeles in front 5-4.

Kenley Jansen would finish the DBacks off, working a perfect ninth to earn his 19th save.

Arizona (44-44) now heads home to take on the red-hot Rockies (43-45) in the final series before the All-Star break.

Dallas Keuchel tossed a gem, but got a no decision at Dodger Stadium.

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Big Trades

Houston, TX (AP) – The Houston Astros made a big move this week to set them up for the stretch run. The Astros (59-29) with the best record in baseball made a blockbuster deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Astros sent starting pitchers Lance McCullers Jr (88 OVR) and Brad Peacock (85 OVR) to Pittsburgh in exchange for relievers Kyle Crick (84 OVR), and Tyler Lyons (76 OVR), center fielder Starling Marte (83 OVR), first baseman Josh Bell (73 OVR) and starting pitcher Chad Krul (76 OVR).

It looks like an odd move on the outside as the Astros are giving away two starters, but they did add some very good players in return. The Pirates pick up two top starters and despite a (36-51) record, only sit ten games out in the NL Central.

Ironically, the day that this trade went down, the Astros lost Justin Verlander for the season with a torn ACL. They then went out and acquired Clay Buchholz from the Blue Jays in exchange for third baseman Nick Tanielu.

Their neighbors to the north could not sit still as the Astros wheeled and dealed. The Texas Rangers sent 25-year-old first baseman Joey Gallo (82 OVR, A POT) to Boston in exchange for a couple of nice prospects in third baseman Rafael Devers (69 OVR, A POT), and starting pitcher Mike Shawaryn (69 OVR, B POT). The Rangers (42-47) felt that the deal was too sweet to pass up with prospect Ronald Guzman (72 OVR, B POT) ready to play full time.

Rumors are starting to heat up as the calendar has turned to July and the All-Star break is next week in Cleveland.

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JULY 5-7: COLORADO (44-47) @ ARIZONA (46-45)

July 5: Rockies 6, DBacks 1
July 6: DBacks 9, Rockies 6
July 7: DBacks 3, Rockies 0

The DBacks took two of three from the red-hot Rockies as the first half of the season came to a close.

Tyler Anderson was the story in the series opener as he tossed a two-hitter as the Rockies won 6-1. Ian Desmond blasted a three-run home run in the second inning to help pace the offense as the Rockies drew even with the DBacks in the National League West.

Ketel Marte led off the game for Arizona with a solo home run to left off of Tyler Anderson. He would not give up another hit until the seventh inning on a Blake Swihart single to right.

Anderson (6-8) struck out three and did not issue a walk.

Taijuan Walker (6-4) picked up the loss, allowing five runs on six hits over six innings of work. He struck out five and walked two.

Nolan Arenado went 3 for 4 with an RBI double. Charlie Blackmon homered in the third inning. Mark Reynolds went 0 for 2, but walked twice and scored twice.

The DBacks rallied late to defeat the Rockies 9-6 on Saturday evening. Arizona scored five times in the bottom of the eighth to rally and end a two-game losing streak, returning to the .500 mark once again.

Colorado (44-46) grabbed a 3-0 lead in the second thanks to a two-run Nolan Arenado home run in the first and a Mark Reynolds solo home run in the second, both off of Zack Godley.

The DBacks responded in the third, sending eight men to the plate and scoring four times. Jake Lamb had the big blow with a bases clearing three-run triple.

The Rockies would tie it in the fifth on a Nolan Arenado RBI single and they retook the lead in the sixth on a Chris Iannetta RBI double.

That setup Arizona for the big eighth inning rally after leaving the bases loaded in the seventh. RBI singles from Christian Walker and Ildemaro Vargas gave Arizona the lead 6-5. Adam Jones then lined a two-run single to right to plate Walker and Tim Locastro. Carson Kelly would reach on an error, allowing Ketel Marte to score to make it 9-5.

Merrell Kelly (3-5) picked up the win out of the bullpen. He worked a scoreless eighth inning in relief.

In the finale, it was the Zack Greinke show, as he tossed a complete game, two-hit shut-out as the DBacks slipped past the Rockies 3-0.

Greinke (9-5) was masterful. He allowed just two hits, while striking out nine and walking no one.

Adam Jones hit a solo home run in the fourth, his tenth on the year, to give Arizona a 1-0 lead. Wilmer Flores then added some insurance with a two-run shot to left in the eighth to give Greinke some cushion.

Arizona (46-45) now has off until Friday when they travel to St. Louis to face former DBack legend Paul Goldschmidt.

The All-Star game is Tuesday evening in Cleveland.

Jake Lamb leads the DBacks in home runs and RBIs at the All-Star break.

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MLB STANDINGS
(Through July 7)



AMERICAN LEAGUE LEADERS:
BATTING AVERAGE: Jose Altuve (Houston) .347
HITS: JD Martinez (Boston) 124
DOUBLES: Mike Trout (Los Angeles) 31
TRIPLES: Willie Adames (Tampa Bay) 6
HOME RUNS: JD Martinez (Boston) 32
RBI: JD Martinez (Boston) 86
RUNS: Jose Altuve (Houston) 77
STOLEN BASES: Dee Gordon (Seattle) 36
BASE ON BALLS: Giancarlo Stanton (New York) 57
ON BASE %: Mike Trout (Los Angeles) .435
SLUGGING PERCENTAGE: Mike Trout (Los Angeles) .636
OPS: Mike Trout (Los Angeles) 1.071
WINS: Carlos Carrasco (Cleveland) 12
SAVES: Roberto Osuna (Houston) 33
ERA: Carlos Carrasco (Cleveland) 1.85
STRIKEOUTS: Chris Sale (Boston) 143
COMPLETE GAMES: Rick Porcello (Boston) 6
INNINGS PITCHED: Rick Porcello (Boston) 134.0
WALKS ALLOWED: Rick Porcello (Boston) 13
WHIP: Carlos Carrasco (Cleveland) 1.01




NATIONAL LEAGUE LEADERS:
BATTING AVERAGE: Ben Zobrist (Chicago) .356
HITS: Ben Zobrist (Chicago) 114
DOUBLES: Jake Lamb (Arizona) 34
TRIPLES: Ronald Acuna Jr (Atlanta) 9
HOME RUNS: Jung Ho Kung (Pittsburgh) 28
RBI: Cody Bellinger (Los Angeles) 85
RUNS: Justin Turner (Los Angeles) 65
STOLEN BASES: Cesar Hernandez (Philadelphia) 18
BASE ON BALLS: Cesar Hernandez (Philadelphia) 61
ON BASE %: Ben Zobrist (Chicago) .451
SLUGGING PERCENTAGE: Jake Lamb (Arizona) .716
OPS: Jake Lamb (Arizona) 1.058
WINS: Nick Pivetta (Philadelphia) 11
SAVES: Edwin Diaz (New York) 25
ERA: Ross Stripling (Los Angeles) 2.00
STRIKEOUTS: Jacob deGrom (New York) 158
COMPLETE GAMES: Six tied with 2
INNINGS PITCHED: Aaron Nola (Philadelphia) 128.0
WALKS ALLOWED: Zack Greinke (Arizona) 7
WHIP: Hyun-Jin Ryu (Los Angeles) 0.96

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2019 STATE FARM HOME RUN DERBY



Cleveland, OH (AP) – Pittsburgh’s Jung Ho Kang won the State Farm Home Run Derby, defeating Bryce Harper in the final 12-11. Kang, the second-seeded player, defeated Nolan Arenado 10-9 in the opening round, then snuck past Khris Davis 11-10 in the semifinals.

Fourth-seeded Bryce Harper defeated hometown favorite Jose Ramirez 8-7 in the opening round, and took out the top seed JD Martinez 16-13 in the semifinals.

Jung Ho Kang, competing in his first Home Run Derby, had a long home run of 469 feet in his semifinal win over Kris Davis. He hit eight straight balls over the fence at one point. He currently leads the National League with 28 home runs at the All-Star break.

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DBACKS FIRST HALF STATS

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JULY 9: MLB ALL-STAR GAME

Cleveland, OH (AP) – The American League continued their recent dominance in the mid-summer classic as they rallied to defeat the National League 3-2 at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Tuesday evening. Hometown hero Jose Ramirez hit a two-run home run in the bottom half of the fourth inning to put the American League into the lead, earning himself MVP honors.

Max Scherzer was strong for the National League, going two innings without allowing a hit and striking out three.

The National League scored twice in the first inning. Chicago’s Ben Zobrist lined a single to left to score Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr, who had led off the game with a double. Colorado’s Nolan Arenado then drove in Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper to put the National League up 2-0.

Arizona’s players had two hits as Jake Lamb singled to open the second and Wilmer Flores had a pinch hit single in the sixth. Ketel Marte went 0 for 2 and Adam Jones was 0 for 1.

Arizona (46-45) opens the second half of the season on Friday night in St. Louis as they will face former DBack Paul Goldschmidt.

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JULY 12-14: ARIZONA (47-47) @ ST LOUIS (45-47)

July 12: DBacks 3, Cardinals 2
July 13: Cardinals 2, DBacks 1
July 14: Cardinals 7, DBacks 3

The DBacks could not continue the momentum that they started just before the All-Star break as they dropped the final two games in St. Louis to drop back to the .500 mark yet again.

The Diamondbacks hung on to take the opener 3-2 over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Friday evening. Dallas Keuchel had another great outing in picking up the victory. He went seven innings, allowing just one run on five hits. He struck out six and did not issue a walk.

The DBacks grabbed a 2-0 lead right off the bat with a Ketel Marte single and Adam Jones two-run home run off of Carlos Martinez. The Cards would get one back in the bottom half of the first on a Paul DeJong RBI single. But it was the Dallas Keuchel show after that.

The Dbacks would get a crucial insurance run in the sixth on a Jake Lamb solo home run. Arizona left men on base all night, stranding 14 base runners.

The Cardinals got one back in the ninth off of closer Greg Holland. Marcell Ozuna hit an absolute bomb to left to cut the DBacks lead to 3-2. But Holland was able to get the final two outs to pick up his 10th save.

The Cardinals pulled one out on Saturday night as Kolton Wong lined a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth to score Dansby Swanson with the game winning run in a 2-1 victory over the DBacks. The Cards opened the bottom of the ninth with a pinch hit single by Yairo Munoz off the glove of Wilmer Flores. Swanson came in to run and scored two batters later.

The loss ruined a great pitching performance from Robbie Ray. He went seven innings, allowing just two hits and one run. Matt Koch (2-4) took the loss, but he was a bit unlucky on the lead off single to open the ninth.

Arizona had tied the game in the top of the eighth when Adam Jones singled home Ketel Marte, who had opened the eighth with a pinch hit double.

The finale saw Zack Godley leave in the second inning with an apparent arm injury. The extent is unknown but it did not look good. Arizona would go on to drop the finale 7-3 to fall back to .500.

Jarrod Dyson hit a solo home run in the second inning. It was his first on the season, and gave Arizona a 1-0 lead.

The Cards would take the lead in the third on back-to-back RBI doubles from Jose Martinez and Dansby Swanson.

Arizona would tie it back up in the fourth on a Jake Lamb RBI single.

The Cards would blow this one open in the sixth off of Matt Koch and Taijuan Walker. Walker came on in relief of Koch and immediately hit Marcel Ozuna to load the bases. Paul DeJong hit a sac fly to put St. Louis in front 3-2. Harrison Bader then came through with a two-out, two-run single to make it 5-2.

The Cardinals would add two more in the eighth off of Walker to seal it.

Arizona (47-47) will have Monday off as they travel to Dallas to take on the Texas Rangers (44-51) for a quick two-game series to close out the road trip.

The St Louis Cardinals stayed alive in the National League Wild Card chase.