Anthony Fenech

Nady fractures left hand

2011-08-12T02:44:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/12/11

PHOENIX -- D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said that Xavier Nady was playing the best baseball he had all year, that his bat was getting quick and that he was beginning to swing a power stick.

But after getting hit and fracturing his left hand in the second inning of Friday's 4-3 win over the Mets, it appears the D-backs are going to be without Nady for an extended period of time.

"It's a big blow to us," Gibson said. "He was playing great. ... He had a great role on the team with his veteran [leadership]."

The 32-year-old veteran was hit by right-hander Dillon Gee on a 1-2 pitch, but stayed in the game and scored on a Cody Ransom double two batters later. He was lifted for Paul Goldschmidt in the top of the third.

"He got drilled, broke his hand at the end of his knuckle or finger," Gibson said. "When I looked at it, it was black.

"I haven't heard how long [he'll be out]."

Nady was hitting .248 in 81 games, with four home runs and 35 RBIs. He is a career .275 hitter over 10 seasons with five teams.

Extra work paying off for Goldschmidt

2011-08-12T02:12:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/12/11

PHOENIX -- Paul Goldschmidt doesn't think as many people knew about his home run against the Astros on Thursday night.

"I had a few texts," he said. "But I had more for my debut."

Goldschmidt said he was greeted by about 20 text messages after his ninth-inning, pinch-hit, game-tying home run to send the game into extra innings, where Chris Young eventually ended it in walk-off fashion for an 8-5 victory in 10 innings.

"There's a lot of guys from [Double-A] Mobile that I keep in touch with, and family members and stuff like that," he said.

D-backs manager Kirk Gibson thinks the home run was a product of the time the rookie first baseman has put in trying to improve at the plate.

"The kid really asks a lot of questions, and he's had a lot of conversations," Gibson said on Thursday. "He's put in extra work -- is trying to understand at-bats, breaking balls -- and he battled."

In a 2-2 count, after fouling off another Mark Melancon breaking ball with a good swing, the Astros' right-handed closer left a fastball over the middle of the plate that Goldschmidt crushed.

"The second breaking ball he fouled off, he had a pretty good swing on," Gibson said. "Then, [Melancon] tried to get the fastball in, and he's very quick in there. That's a big at-bat from a youngster, there."

And while Goldschmidt didn't know how much he could draw from that at-bat, he said, "It doesn't hurt, that's for sure."

Bloomquist's at-bat keys rally vs. Houston

2011-08-12T02:10:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/12/11

PHOENIX -- Lost in the aftermath of a dramatic walk-off win on Thursday night was an eighth-inning walk that set the wheels in motion for another D-backs comeback.

Trailing, 5-1, with one out against Astros right-hander Brett Myers, who kept the D-backs' offense in check most of the night, shortstop Willie Bloomquist drew a nine-pitch walk.

"It was huge," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "He just kind of kept grinding pitches away. And when you're on the other side, you're looking for a quick inning. And then, all of a sudden, it was us giving notice that it wasn't going to be the case."

Bloomquist fell behind 0-2 -- taking a strike before fouling two off, then drawing three balls and fouling off two pitches, before reaching base on a low fastball.

"I was just trying to get a pitch to handle," Bloomquist said. "He didn't give me much to hit all day. He was on the edge of the plate all day long and didn't leave a whole lot over the middle of the plate.

"He threw pretty much the kitchen sink at me. I was trying to get something over the plate that I could put good wood on. But he just kept throwing everything on the edge, and the best I could do was foul it off. And I ended up getting into a full count and walked."

Bloomquist checked his swing twice on breaking balls, reached base and scored a batter later after Ryan Roberts doubled. Miguel Montero then drove Roberts home with a two-out single, and the D-backs cut a four-run deficit to two and Myers was pulled.

Saunders looks back on effort vs. Astros

2011-08-12T02:06:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/12/11

PHOENIX -- For the last couple of starts, Joe Saunders could have used a Band-Aid on the mound.

"Looking back," he said, assessing Thursday night's start against the Astros, "there was maybe one decently hard-hit ball and, other than that, it was off the end of the bat, broken bats, bloopers to right, bloopers up the middle and seeing-eye ground balls."

Saunders pitched into the seventh before being removed, after allowing back-to-back hits to score a run to open the inning. The D-backs eventually won, 8-5.

His final line was six-plus innings pitched, with five runs allowed on 11 hits and a pair of strikeouts and walks.

"You do your job, make your pitches, and that's all you can ask for," the left-hander said.

He allowed a third-inning RBI single to Carlos Lee, and got himself into trouble in the fifth by walking Brett Myers to open the inning. A two-run double by J.D. Martinez and an RBI groundout by Lee later, and the Astros had a 4-0 lead.

"They're a tough team to pitch to, honestly," Saunders said. "We found that out with our other guys.

"It was a battle out there," he continued. "I tried to keep us in the ballgame the best I could, and got as many outs as I could."

Saunders is 8-9 on the season with a 3.76 ERA.

Walk-off shot pads D-backs' West lead

2011-08-11T02:19:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/11/11

PHOENIX -- Chris Young wasn't thinking when he stepped to the plate late in a tie game Thursday night.

He wasn't thinking about his mechanics, his three hitless at-bats earlier in the game, the 32 games since he's hit a home run or the recent slump that he's tried to will himself out of.

"I just wanted to hit the ball hard," he said.

And with two on, one out and Chase Field still buzzing from a game-tying home run an inning earlier, Young saw a pitch, hit it hard and sent it over the fence in left field for a walk-off home run in an 8-5 victory over the Astros. It was the D-backs' 30th comeback win of the season

"It felt amazing, I"m not going to lie," Young said. "The stars lined up for us tonight."

With the win, the D-backs took a four-game set from the Astros and, more importantly, a one-game lead over the Giants in the National League West.

"That makes you smile," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said of the win. "That whole team, we played very well when it counted."

Young's fifth career walk-off home run came on a 1-0 count against Astros left-hander Sergio Escalona, who was summoned a batter earlier by Astros manager Brad Mills.

"They left the lefty in the game and I think that's my at-bat," Young said. "I think I had to try to find a way to take advantage of it before it gets to Kelly [Johnson] and I'm happy I was able to."

But before Young could take advantage of Escalona, rookie Paul Goldschmidt had to take advantage of Astros closer Mark Melancon in the ninth inning, with the D-backs down to their final out and trailing, 5-3.

Goldschmidt was called on to pinch-hit against the right-hander, took two balls and two strikes and fouled off two pitches before launching a fastball off the facade of the upper deck in left field to tie the game.

"I was just trying to go in there and battle," he said. "He left a fastball up and out over the plate and I was glad to hit it."

The home run drew a curtain call from the crowd and closer J.J. Putz from the bullpen, who sat down the Astros in order in the 10th inning.

"It's exciting, obviously," Goldschmidt said, "But we had to go out there and shut it down and J.J. did that, and then we got a couple guys on and [Young] was able to get that big hit."

The big hit was Young's 17th home run of the season and first since July 2 against the A's.

"It's been a few days, huh?" Young joked. "It hasn't been that long.

"I've gone through streaks where I hadn't hit a home run in a month and I've gone through streaks when I've hit seven in a week so it happens," he said. "Just because I don't have a home run in a while, I'm not going to go to the plate to try to hit a home run. You're trying to hit the ball hard and if it goes over the fence, it goes over the fence."

For the third time in the four-game set, the D-backs fell behind early, this time on a third-inning RBI single from Carlos Lee, a fifth-inning two-run double by J.D. Martinez and an RBI groundout from Lee against left-hander Joe Saunders.

In the fifth, Saunders ran into trouble by walking counterpart Brett Myers to lead off the inning and allowing back-to-back singles to Jason Bourgeois and Jose Altuve to load to bases before the Astros plated three and staked claim to a 4-0 lead.

The D-backs broke through against Myers a half-inning later with an RBI single from Willie Bloomquist to cut the lead to three. Saunders pitched into the seventh inning before being removed after a Bourgeois triple found its way under a diving Justin Upton's glove in right and Altuve singled him home a batter later.

"Joe threw the ball good," Gibson said. "He had some tough luck, things didn't go well, but he threw fine."

Saunders went six-plus innings, allowed five runs on 11 hits, struck out two and walked two.

He was outpitched by Myers, who stymied the D-backs through seven innings, allowing one run on four hits before wilting in the eighth after Bloomquist drew a nine-pitch walk with one out.

Ryan Roberts followed with a double, and Miguel Montero scored Roberts on a bloop single to center two batters later as the D-backs cut the lead to 5-3 and Myers was pulled.

He pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowed three runs on six hits, struck out four and walked three.

"I felt really good today," Myers said. "I felt like I didn't give up many hard-hit balls; a couple of bloopers cost me a couple of runs. Over the course of the game, I started feeling a lot better. They're a good-hitting ballclub and you try to keep them on the ropes as much as you can and mix your pitches. They can hurt you -- showed tonight."

In the ninth, Melancon struck out Johnson, allowed an infield hit to Xavier Nady -- a hot shot corralled by Jimmy Paredes at third but thrown away -- and struck out Gerardo Parra before allowing Goldschmidt's blast.

"It was unbelievable," Young said of Goldschmidt's at-bat. "Without that, we're sitting in the locker room and everybody's frustrated."

And what could have been a frustrating series for the D-backs -- a first-place team splitting with a last-place team -- turned out for the better in the end, courtesy of home runs off the bats of two players from the Houston area.

"That's baseball," Gibson said. "Give these guys some credit for their resiliency. We didn't play very well early on and it's frustrating. It could have been a bad series but it wasn't."

D-backs downplay being in first place

2011-08-11T02:18:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/11/11

PHOENIX -- For the first time since June 24, the D-backs are in first place.

But manager Kirk Gibson doesn't care.

"Obviously you want to be there," Gibson said. "But you have to keep that in perspective. It doesn't really mean anything. We want to be there the last day of the season, that's where we want to be.

"I guess as a benchmark of where we want to be, I guess it's good to be there to know where you want to stay."

But Gibson and outfielder Chris Young both said that there wasn't a change in the team's demeanor Thursday.

"It doesn't feel any different than it did yesterday," Young said. "By no means just because you're in first place, the season isn't over yet, we still need to continue to work and we still have a lot more games to win if we want to be in the playoffs."

The D-backs have been a half-game up on the Giants in the National League West 10 times this season but have never led by more than that. They were looking to stand a game up with a victory over the Astros on Thursday, while the Giants are idle.

"We'll approach every game the same, win or lose, then we'll go to the next game," Gibson said. "We have such a long way to go.

"Is it significant? I'm not sure it is right now."

Marquis working hard to improve

2011-08-11T02:16:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/11/11

PHOENIX -- Jason Marquis has gone through this before, stretches of baseball where he can't seem to find a way to get his opponents out.

"I just have to battle and compete and still find a way to get the job done," the D-backs starting pitcher said. "No matter what I feel in between the starts, that's what you're going to get from me on the mound."

And the veteran right-hander is working between starts to get better results during his starts, which haven't been good thus far.

"I have to be down in the zone better," he said. "When I've been ahead, I just haven't finished guys like I've needed to and when I've been behind, I've given up too many hitter's pitches up in the zone and over the plate."

In two starts -- both losses - Marquis has a 12.38 ERA and has given up 15 runs in eight innings. He lasted only four innings in each of his first two starts on the team, against the Giants and Astros.

"The most important thing about [Tuesday] was that we won the ballgame," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said he told Marquis. "He made a lot of mistakes and I don't want to say 'Who cares?' but we just try to overcome it and try to win the game.

"He's a veteran guy, he doesn't have to impress anybody and we want to encourage him to not feel any pressure."

Marquis mentioned that mentally, he doesn't feel any pressure and mechanically, he's not staying over the rubber like he wants to.

"You want to stand out to your teammates and be able to win games," he said. "Obviously my first two outings didn't show that, but I try not to put too much pressure on myself."

Young trying to bust out of slump

2011-08-11T02:15:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/11/11

PHOENIX -- Chris Young can't predict the future.

"I don't go into a game saying, 'I'm going to get four hits' or 'I'm not going to get any hits,'" the D-backs center fielder said. "I just go out there every day with the same plan of having good at-bats and trying to become more consistent."

Young is battling a post-All-Star break slump, hitting .173 in 24 games without a home run and with only four runs driven in.

He doesn't have a multihit game since June 26 against the Tigers and hasn't hit a home run since July 2 against the A's but has hit in four consecutive games, leading D-backs manager Kirk Gibson to talk of an offensive breakout.

"I feel like he's close," Gibson said. "He's had some trouble but he keeps grinding and he just hasn't got the results."

Young doubled off the left-field wall, driving in a run in Wednesday night's win over the Astros.

"I don't really look at it as 'I'm about to go on a tear' or 'I'm about to go in a slump,'" he said. "I just look at it as today's a new day. No matter if I had a bad day yesterday or a great game, it has nothing to do with today's game and just try and prepare for today's game."

He said that in working through a slump, he takes as many cuts as possible and doesn't like to hold back.

"I probably go a little more," he said. "I definitely don't take a step back. Sometimes you need to, but I'm one of the guys that likes to do a little more to try and get all the work I can in so I can make the adjustments I need to as fast as possible."

Cowgill learning to adjust at big league level

2011-08-10T02:27:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/10/11

PHOENIX -- Collin Cowgill is happy to be here.

"It's been great so far," the D-backs outfielder said. "A lot of fun, we're a great team, I have great teammates, so I can't ask for much more right now."

Three weeks into his stay at the big league level, Cowgill is hitting .231 (6-for-26) in nine games and said that the mental adjustment from the Minor Leagues was much bigger than the physical adjustment.

"There's a little better pitching," he said. "But it's just the fact that you have to realize it's the same game but in bigger stadiums.

"That part of it, getting adjusted to it more mentally than physically has been the biggest obstacle so far."

He recorded his first Major League hit in a pinch-hit appearance on July 30 against the Dodgers, when he singled to center field off reliever Scott Elbert at Dodger Stadium.

Since then, he's recorded a hit in each of his four starting appearances in left field.

"Once you realize you can play at this level," he said, "You just got to believe in it, and that's a big thing, especially when you first get up here."

Montero returns to cleanup spot for D-backs

2011-08-10T02:25:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/10/11

PHOENIX -- For the second consecutive day, D-backs catcher Miguel Montero was hitting in the cleanup spot on Wednesday.

During Tuesday night's offensive explosion against the Astros, Montero, hitting between Justin Upton and Chris Young, recorded three hits and drove in three runs.

"Right now, Miggy hasn't been swinging the bat well," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "But if he swings the bat the way he did last night, then I like him anywhere. He did a good job there."

Tuesday night marked the seventh time this season he's been in the cleanup spot, where he was hitting .346. For his career, Montero has hit .270 with two home runs and 20 RBIs in 51 starts as a cleanup hitter.

Two of the left-handed hitter's three hits on Tuesday went the opposite way to left field.

"He knows it," Gibson said of the approach. "It's how you change it."

And while playing catcher on a day-to-day basis, sometimes the fatigue takes a toll on the batting average.

"It's a challenge because you get a little tired," Montero said.

He said that to combat that fatigue, from time-to-time he cuts back on his pre or postgame workouts.

"You're always going to slow down your workout a little bit," he said. "Shut it back a little bit but not as much, you just try to stay on top."

Montero entered Wednesday hitting .274 with 12 home runs and 59 RBIs.

Gibson doing best to keep D-backs fresh

2011-08-10T02:23:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/10/11

PHOENIX -- The dog days of summer are upon the D-backs, and manager Kirk Gibson is doing his best to make sure his team doesn't fall victim to them.

"We had discussions today and that was one of the topics," he said. "How hard do you push? I think physically we're going to try to trim back our batting practice, extra work and stuff like that."

The team opened a 10-game homestand sluggishly with three losses in four days before outslugging the Astros on Tuesday night. After a weekend series against the Mets, the D-backs head east for 10 games against the Phillies, Braves and Nationals.

"We know we're going to be on this road trip," Gibson said. "We're at home, and maybe we can say, 'Hey, guys, spend some more time at home and relax.'

"When we go on the road, we know it's going to be hot and we know it's going to be a terrible environment in the places we're going to go."

Second baseman Kelly Johnson thinks that keeping his body fresh is the easy part, while staying sharp mentally is another story.

"I think the tougher challenge is mentally, but when you're winning games, as a team, it makes it much easier," Johnson said.

"Last year it was a little bit different mentally than this year, but that's a bigger challenge for us in the dog days than anything."

And Gibson agrees.

"We can do that physically, but the mental part is, 'How hard do you push them mentally and how much can they take?'" Gibson said. "Do you blow stuff out of proportion? In the past, we've had some tougher times and streaks we haven't played well, but we've always bounced back.

"So my guess is we will bounce back."

Ground ball is Marquis' best friend

2011-08-09T02:45:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/09/11

PHOENIX -- The way Jason Marquis looks at it, if he's doing his job Tuesday night then the hitter-friendly reputation of Chase Field won't matter.

"The ultimate key for me is keeping the ball on the ground," he said. "Obviously anything in the air is not a good sign, but if I'm doing what I'm supposed to do then that doesn't come into play."

Marquis did what he was supposed to do in his first start, a shellacking at the hands of the Giants last Wednesday, in which the veteran gave up eight runs -- seven earned -- on 10 hits.

In that outing, ground ball after ground ball found hole after hole, which resulted in Marquis getting charged with the loss in his Arizona debut.

D-backs manager Kirk Gibson talked about the need for better defensive positioning when Marquis is on the hill.

"It's really just having an understanding of what he's trying to do to them, and then he gives us an idea of what he expects them to do if he gets his pitch where he wants it," Gibson said. "We'll change things a little bit and be more communicative."

Gibson also said that Marquis has the ability to dictate moves on the field.

"I told him, if he wants to make a move [he can], and there's a lot of veteran guys like that, they'll move guys if they know what they're going to do with a guy," Gibson said.

Marquis entered Tuesday with an 0-4 record and 4.21 ERA in nine career starts at Chase Field.

Collmenter trying to rediscover mojo

2011-08-09T02:43:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/09/11

PHOENIX -- Josh Collmenter is getting back to basics.

"Working the ball down in the zone," Collmenter said of what he's been focusing on. "When I work down in the zone, everything plays off that. If I can keep my fastball location, then it makes the changeup and curveball that much better."

Collmenter has stumbled upon tough times, losing two consecutive starts -- both to the Dodgers -- and getting chased in the third inning of Friday night's 7-4 loss.

After starting the season 3-1 in his first four starts, the rookie right-hander has gone 3-6 since.

"He needs to execute his pitches better," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "He needs to command his fastball better, and the last couple times out he just hasn't had his fastball command."

The 25-year-old is 6-7 on the season with a 3.58 ERA.

"For me, it's just making sure I don't get too far away from what I'm comfortable with and what I do well," Collmenter said. "Sometimes I shy away from that a little bit and try to be too perfect."

And while Gibson said Collmenter is still in the D-backs rotation -- "He's our fifth starter and he hasn't lost his job," the manager said Sunday -- Collmenter said he doesn't worry about things he can't control.

"I know they're going to put the best team out there to win," he said. "And I just want to make sure that I prepare myself every time to be one of those guys."

Injured Blum resumes baseball activities

2011-08-09T02:42:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/09/11

PHOENIX -- On Monday, D-backs infielder Geoff Blum was on the diamond at Chase Field.

Blum, progressing back to the active roster after suffering a broken finger on July 24 against the Rockies, speculates it will take him two more weeks to get back healthy.

"It felt good," he said. "I can't speed up Mother Nature, but I'm doing the best I can."

Blum fractured his right pinky finger fielding a ground ball and was forced to the disabled list for the second time this season.

In addition to continuing a lower-body workout Monday, the veteran took ground balls and fungoes from D-backs third-base coach Matt Williams.

"I've been doing a lot of conditioning and stuff like that to stay in shape and do the things that I can," Blum said. "Obviously, I can't swing a bat, but hopefully here in about a week and a half to two weeks, I'll be able to do that."

D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said Blum is scheduled to have another X-ray in around a week's time.

"We'll get a better idea on when he can start to move it then," Gibson said.

Blum is hitting .200 (3-for-15) in seven games this season.

Hudson hit hard as D-backs drop opener

2011-08-08T04:48:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/08/11

PHOENIX -- "Make one pitch," D-backs starter Daniel Hudson thought to himself, "and get out of this inning."

"Please," he urged his right arm.

But in the first inning of Monday night's game against the Astros at Chase Field, that one pitch wasn't to be found.

For the second time in as many starts, the Astros roughed up Hudson early, to the tune of five runs on six hits in the first inning and seven runs on 11 hits overall, as they cruised to a 9-1 victory in the opener of a four-game set against the D-backs.

"I just tried to tell myself to calm down and get the next guy," Hudson said. "I just couldn't make a pitch and get out of any situation I was in."

And those first-inning situations more often than not began with Hudson delivering a pitch and ended with Houston pounding it all around the diamond.

After retiring leadoff hitter J.B. Shuck, Hudson allowed a double down the left-field line to Jose Altuve before Jason Bourgeois reached on an error by Cody Ransom at short.

J.D. Martinez then gave the Astros a 3-0 lead with an opposite-field home run to right. And while Hudson tried to right the ship by getting Matt Downs to ground out, things remained shaky.

A single off the glove of a diving Paul Goldschmidt at first followed by another single and a double off the glove of an outstretched Justin Upton in right scored two more runs. And suddenly, the D-backs were in a 5-0 hole.

"They came out, swung at everything and hit everything," Hudson said. "When they didn't hit it hard, they found a hole."

And the Astros weren't finished.

In the second they tallied two more runs on four hits, when Matt Downs doubled home a run with one out and Clint Barmes singled home another with two outs.

Houston had its biggest offensive night since July 19 in only a third of the game.

"I gotta give Houston credit, they swung the bats well," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "You can say Daniel missed some of his pitches and his locations, which you do every game, but they just pounded him."

The inning included a physical error by Ransom -- who booted a ground ball with one out -- and a mental error by Hudson, who failed to cover first base when Jimmy Paredes blasted a line drive in and out of the glove of Goldschmidt with two outs.

"That was big," Gibson said of the two-out blunder. "He was just unable to overcome it all."

The last time that Hudson faced the Astros, on May 27 in Houston, he allowed six runs in his first four innings before settling down to pitch six innings.

"It looked like the last time he pitched against them," Gibson said.

Hudson, who struck out one and didn't walk any in dropping to 11-8 on the season, doesn't know what to make of his struggles against the Astros.

"I don't really know," he said. "I don't know how to explain it. I've never really pitched well against them, it's just one of those things where a team has my number."

Meanwhile, Wandy Rodriguez had the number of the entire D-backs offense and allowed just two hits over six innings, both of which came in the first inning.

In that first inning, Kelly Johnson and Chris Young singled and Goldschmidt walked to load the bases with two outs. But Collin Cowgill grounded out to third to end the threat.

In the second inning Rodriguez walked a pair, putting runners on the corners with two outs before Johnson struck out swinging.

From there it was cruise control for the left-hander, who struck out five and walked four on the day.

"He was struggling to find that rhythm, and he did in the fourth inning," Astros manager Brad Mills said. "When you have a lead like that, you'd like him to attack. That was part of the rhythm. He wanted to and in a perfect world he would be able to attack. But that was the frustrating thing for him, that he was having trouble doing that."

The Astros tacked on two runs in the sixth on a Paredes single off Zach Duke, who pitched a career-high four innings in relief of Hudson. And Henry Blanco helped the D-backs avoid their third shutout of the season an inning later by drilling a solo home run to left field.

"It feels good to get one, but unfortunately for me it doesn't count," Blanco said. "You just go out there and try to win games."

For the fourth consecutive day, there was no movement in the National League West standings as the D-backs remain a half-game behind the Giants, who lost Monday night.

The D-backs have lost four of five against sub-.500 teams after taking two of three from the Giants last week.

"It wasn't in the cards tonight," Gibson said of a comeback. "We'll just move on to the next day."

102-year-old fan visits D-backs' clubhouse

2011-08-08T02:52:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/08/11

PHOENIX -- The D-backs welcomed a surprise guest after Sunday night's victory over the Dodgers.

Si Goldstein, celebrating his 102nd birthday at Chase Field, was summoned by the D-backs' bullpen and escorted throughout the clubhouse in a wheelchair by closer J.J. Putz.

"I don't know the next time I'll get to meet a guy that's seen as much as he has," Putz said. "I think it was just as fun for us to have him down there as it was for him being here."

Putz said that the idea to bring Goldstein down was hatched by Micah Owings, who said that if the team came back, it would be cool to have him meet the players.

"We were kind of just shocked that there was a guy here that was 102 years old," Putz said.

And accompanied by his family inside the clubhouse, Goldstein met a number of players, including infielder Sean Burroughs.

"It was cool," Burroughs said. "He knew us all and it was great to meet someone that's lived for so long."

Burroughs couldn't fathom living that long, but added, "Wouldn't we all like to?"

Gibson makes effort to appease fans

2011-08-08T02:51:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/08/11

PHOENIX -- Before every game, D-backs manager Kirk Gibson makes a point to sign autographs for the fans.

"Even in the away stadiums, like San Francisco," Gibson said. "Even though they bury me all game."

But he said that he doesn't answer fan mail or return signed cards because he doesn't know who's on the other end.

"I'd prefer they come to me and meet me in the stadium, honestly," Gibson said. "If somebody wants to send me something, this is a long subject, but I'd rather sign an autograph personally for them in the stadium."

To prove his theory, a couple years ago Gibson signed his name a certain way just to see how quickly it went online.

"It didn't take long," he said.

Gibson says nowadays, he doesn't sign at hotels or outside the stadium, only inside.

"That's why every day I go over there," Gibson said. "They all stand on the side of the dugout and I try to accommodate them."

Bloomquist sits for second consecutive day

2011-08-08T02:49:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/08/11

PHOENIX -- For the second straight day, Willie Bloomquist was given the day off.

But the veteran D-backs infielder doesn't look at it that way.

"I don't really view it as a day off, to be honest," he said. "I look at it as an opportunity to win the game later in the game, versus being off.

"Coming to the field with the mindset that you have the day off, then obviously you're not ready to play."

D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said that he's making a concerted effort to keep the 33-year-old shortstop fresh for the remainder of the season.

"He would never admit it, he'll say he's fine, but I can just see," Gibson said, "When he plays shortstop every day, at some point, he just kind of loses his energy and legs."

Since Stephen Drew was lost for the season on July 20 with a broken right ankle, Bloomquist has started 14 of 16 games at shortstop. He has recorded a hit in all but two of those starts.

"I don't really look at it like I've been playing everyday," he admits. "It's just, if I'm playing today, then I'll do the best I can. And if not, I'll try to figure out a way to help us late in the game if need be."

Gibson said that Bloomquist will be back in the lineup on Wednesday.

"I'm just keeping him fresher, letting him play his game better," Gibson said. "It's not that he doesn't try, it's just that he wears down. So we'll do it that way today."

Ransom, Johnson power Kennedy's 14th win

2011-08-07T19:05:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/07/11

PHOENIX -- Cody Ransom didn't look, Clayton Kershaw didn't have to and suddenly, Kirk Gibson didn't feel so bad anymore.

"Of course," the D-backs manager, who left Saturday's game due to an illness, said about feeling better. "It was a good game."

Trailing by a run in the seventh inning Sunday afternoon, Ransom, the D-backs' journeyman shortstop, hit a game-winning two-run homer off Kershaw, the Dodgers' left-handed ace, for a 4-3 victory at Chase Field, as the D-backs avoided a sweep and remained a half-game behind the Giants in the National League West.

"It worked out for me," Ransom said. "I wasn't sure if I was ever going to get a hit at this park, so it's nice to finally get one here and it happened to help us win a game. We lost a few games in a row, so it was big for us today."

After Kershaw kept the Arizona offense at bay for much of the game, Collin Cowgill hit a one-out single up the middle in the seventh, then Ransom connected with a 1-1 fastball and sent it over the left-field fence, bringing the 25,575 in attendance to their feet and Kershaw to a crouch on the mound.

"I got a lot of hittable pitches today, but I missed them," Ransom said. "He got that one out a little more out over the plate than the rest of them, and it didn't cut as much."

The hometown home run was the first of the Mesa native's stint with the D-backs.

"Hometown guy or not, any hit like that is a lot of fun," Ransom said. "But being at home, I'm sure I'll get some phone calls after the game."

Two innings later, he ended the game with his third backhanded play in the hole at shortstop of the day to retire Juan Rivera and pick up Ian Kennedy's 14th victory -- tied for first in the NL -- and J.J. Putz' 26th save of the season.

Ransom's all-around performance while filling in for Willie Bloomquist helped halt a three-game losing streak.

"We've talked about playing everybody on the team," Gibson said. "You can't expect them to do something like that if you throw them in there occasionally, but you still want to make sure they still feel a part and have their confidence.

"He played good at shortstop today and, obviously, the big blow there was the two-run homer, but that's kind of who we are."

Ransom's home run came an inning after Kennedy had relinquished a two-run lead in the sixth on run-scoring hits by Andre Ethier -- a game-tying double to score Aaron Miles -- and Rivera -- a single to score Ethier.

After retiring Jamey Carroll to open the sixth, the D-backs right-hander battled Miles for eight pitches, but ended up allowing a single.

"He's a battler up there," Kennedy said. "Him and Carroll. They take a lot of pitches and foul balls off with two strikes. They're just hard to strike out."

Kennedy allowed three runs on six hits over seven innings, while striking out three and walking one.

The only other blemish on his line was a solo home run by James Loney in the fifth inning.

"I just tried to throw a quality game," Kennedy said. "I made some pitches where I left some balls up and they got some hits off me, and I just tried to let my team pick me up today, and they really did."

Kennedy pitched at least six innings while allowing three runs or less for the sixth consecutive outing.

The D-backs took an early lead against Kershaw, who hadn't allowed an earned run to them this season entering the game, when Ryan Roberts walked on four pitches to lead off the first and Kelly Johnson followed with his 18th home run of the year.

It was the third home run Kershaw has allowed to a left-handed batter this season.

"It took me too long to adjust," Kershaw said. "You give up a four-pitch walk, you're going to give up runs. It's frustrating, but I did that in the last game, walked a guy on four pitches and gave up a run. Overall, I pitched alright. But the first inning kills you."

But he settled down from there and retired 16 of the next 18 batters before Cowgill's one-out single in the seventh.

He was pulled after giving up a pinch-hit double to Sean Burroughs and ended up allowing four runs on five hits over 6 1/3 innings, with seven strikeouts and three walks.

"The team battled back," said Kershaw. "They gave me a lead and I gave it back. No one to blame but me."

After David Hernandez worked a scoreless eighth inning, Putz delivered his first perfect save since coming off the disabled list on July 26.

"What it comes down to is we needed to take care of business," Kennedy said. "We try to avoid getting swept at our own place, and it's frustrating that we lost a series at our own place, but we have to take care of business."

Gibson irked by D-backs' baserunning mistakes

2011-08-07T19:04:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/07/11

PHOENIX -- D-backs manager Kirk Gibson wasn't happy before Sunday's game against the Dodgers.

He wasn't happy with his health, he wasn't happy with himself and he certainly wasn't happy with the way his team has been running the bases as of late.

"We've just got to play a better game," he said. "We've made several baserunning mistakes this series, and while I want them to remain aggressive, we have to do a better job understanding ...

"Like when [Ryan Roberts] went last night, that was not a smart play," he said about Roberts advancing to third on a close play after a wild pitch while down a pair of runs with an out in the ninth inning on Saturday. "You've got to stop doing that [stuff].

"We've got some work to do and we have to talk about some things," he continued. "The guys have to be smarter."

He also talked about running into a double play to end a seventh-inning rally on Friday night.

"[Sean] Burroughs got doubled off the other day and people can say, 'Oh, that was a tough one,'" Gibson said. "It's not tough. You're down by three runs or two runs, whatever it is, you don't get doubled off, end of story."

But the manager was not immune to criticizing himself.

"That's on me," he said about the number of ground balls that have been finding holes in the D-backs infield. "Those are types of things that I look at to get better at."

Goldschmidt adjusting to life in the Majors

2011-08-07T19:03:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/07/11

PHOENIX -- A week into his Major League career, Paul Goldschmidt has been more a sponge than a first baseman.

"I'm just trying to pick up on anything I can," the 23-year-old said. "There's just a bunch of little things, whether it's hitting or defense or baserunning, that I'm trying to learn from all the guys."

After being called up last Monday, Goldschmidt recorded his first career hit off Matt Cain that night, and on Tuesday, he hit his first career home run off Tim Lincecum during a crucial series win over the Giants.

"That's probably the best part," he said of the race to win the National League West. "Being up here and so close to winning the division, it's going to be a battle for the rest of the year, so that's fun."

In 18 at-bats entering Sunday, Goldschmidt is hitting .222 with four hits, a pair of walks and eight strikeouts.

"You're not going to see that many mistakes up here, and they're just so much more consistent," he said. "You might get your one pitch to hit, foul it off, and then it's a battle from there."

D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said that the biggest adjustment to the big leagues comes off the field versus on.

"The first thing he's got to do is adjust to daily life in the big leagues," Gibson said. "Then you have to understand how they're going to pitch to you and you're going to have to make some adjustments at the plate and in the field.

"You can't teach a guy in a day."

Gibson back in dugout after illness Saturday

2011-08-07T19:02:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/07/11

PHOENIX -- After leaving Saturday night's game early because of an illness, D-backs manager Kirk Gibson returned to the dugout on Sunday.

The 54-year-old said before Sunday's matinee against the Dodgers that the sickness was "something" with his stomach.

He left Saturday night's game early and bench coach Alan Trammell took the reins from there.

"I planned on it yesterday," he said about managing. "It kind of came on when I got here yesterday."

He said he watched some of the D-backs' 5-3 loss to the Dodgers from the clubhouse and the rest from his home.

"It doesn't matter," he said. "Let's move on."

Gibson has a career managerial record of 95-101 entering Sunday.

D-backs, Saunders drop chance to grab first

2011-08-06T19:12:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/06/11

PHOENIX -- Another night, another missed opportunity.

For the second consecutive night on Saturday, the D-backs failed to take hold of first place in the National League West as the Giants continued to lose and the Dodgers continued to play spoiler with a 5-3 victory in front of 33,239 at Chase Field.

"It's unfortunate for us that we've lost three in a row," bench coach Alan Trammell said. "We've had an opportunity."

Off the field, Trammell held the reins for the majority of the game after manager Kirk Gibson exited with an illness early on.

"Right before the game, he told me he was having trouble," Trammell said. "He was there into the first inning, maybe the second and then he said, 'I gotta go.'"

But on the field, the D-backs were run over by the Dodgers' offense, couldn't score runs against a recent callup and, for the second time in as many days, climbed back but couldn't come back.

"We had a couple of opportunities tonight, but we're not clicking right now," Trammell said.

Nathan Eovaldi, 21, making his Major League debut for the Dodgers, withstood some early adversity and matched left-hander Joe Saunders through five innings.

In the second, Eovaldi loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a single before Saunders slapped a two-out ground ball through the right side of the infield to score a pair of runs and give the D-backs a 2-1 lead.

"I needed some Band-Aids," Saunders said. "I made some good pitches and they hit some balls that weren't hit very hard, but you tip your cap to them, and they put the ball in some absolutely perfect spots."

But the Dodgers tied the score an inning later after Eovaldi led off the third with a single and scored three batters later on an Andre Ethier groundout to second.

Eovaldi finished with five innings pitched, allowed two runs on four hits, walked a pair and struck out seven.

"He attacked for the most part, he threw the ball over the plate and his stuff was really good," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "He handled himself well."

Los Angeles took control in the sixth.

After allowing a leadoff single to Ethier, Saunders retired Matt Kemp before shortstop Willie Bloomquist couldn't hang on to a possible inning-ending double-play ball off the bat of Juan Rivera.

Aaron Miles followed with a bloop single to center for a lead the Dodgers wouldn't surrender, and Saunders' day was over.

"Unfortunately, there was a little infield hit and a bloop," Trammell said. "It's not his fault. He was up in the high 90s, [Rod Barajas] was 2-for-2 off of him and that was just my decision to possibly change pitchers and get a ground ball."

Saunders finished with 5 1/3 innings pitched, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out four and walking one to fall under the .500 mark at 8-9.

"I can't really explain it, honestly," Saunders said. "You make your pitch, you do your job and then they still get a hit. You just have to try to turn the page and go after the next guy. You can't really focus on the last hitter."

Trammell, who relieved Saunders with right-hander Brad Ziegler looking for a double-play ground ball, instead saw Barajas deliver his third hit of the game to center field.

"With Barajas already being 2-for-2 off of [Saunders], I was thinking that Ziegler might get a ground ball with runners on first and third," Trammell said. "Didn't happen."

Ziegler retired the next batter before walking pinch-hitter Trent Oeltjen to load the bases and striking out Jamey Carroll to escape further damage.

Carroll entered the game as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the third inning after shortstop Dee Gordon injured his shoulder tagging Kelly Johnson in a rundown. He is listed as day to day.

The Dodgers tacked on a run in the seventh before the D-backs, true to form, tried to muster a comeback.

In the eighth, Justin Upton drove home Bloomquist with a two-out double to the right-center-field gap to cut the deficit to 5-3.

One batter later, Chris Young just missed a game-tying two-run home run to left as the ball died at the warning track. In the ninth, Ryan Roberts doubled to put the potential tying run at the plate, but he was stranded on two groundouts.

"We fall behind, we come back, we fall behind, we come back," Trammell said. "It's tough to come back all the time."

The pair of series-opening losses sets up a tough task for the D-backs to salvage a game against the third-place Dodgers with one of the league's best pitchers, left-hander Clayton Kershaw (13-4, 2.68 ERA), starting on Sunday.

Arizona counters in the matinee with right-hander Ian Kennedy (13-3, 3.17), who is 2-1 against the Dodgers in his career.

"We're in early August and, yes, people are looking," Trammell said. "You're looking, we're looking, everybody in baseball's looking, but we really have to take care of the business at hand."

Gibson leaves D-backs game with illness

2011-08-06T19:11:00.001-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/06/11

PHOENIX -- D-backs manager Kirk Gibson left Saturday night's game against the Dodgers early with an undisclosed illness.

"I thought he was fine during batting practice," bench coach and acting manager Alan Trammell said. "I didn't know anything was wrong, but right before the game he told me he was having trouble."

"He said, 'Be ready,' so I took the lineup card out and I told them that there's a possibility that I might be coming in and just to be prepared," Trammell said.

He said that he thought Gibson left in the second inning of the D-backs' 5-3 loss.

"Gibby was there into the first inning, maybe the second and then he said, 'I gotta go,'" Trammell said.

Duke learning to adjust to role in bullpen

2011-08-06T19:11:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/06/11

PHOENIX -- It's a new thing to Zach Duke, the whole pennant race thing.

"It's a lot of fun," Duke said. "Every game means something and that's a different experience for me, so I just have to make sure to prepare myself to give this team everything that I have every day."

After starting the season in the rotation, Duke is now working out of the bullpen and doing a fine job so far.

"It's been pretty good," he said. "I haven't had to pitch on short rest yet, so that test has yet to be taken for me, but it's so far, so good."

In four relief outings, the left-hander has allowed three runs on seven hits in 10 innings. He has a 2-4 record and 5.02 ERA overall on the season.

"There's less time to prepare and you just have to get loose and get out there," he said of the differences between starting and relieving. "You have to trust you'll throw the ball where you want to, and there's a little more adrenaline to it."

D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said Duke has performed well throughout the transition.

"He's throwing good," Gibson said. "It's probably a big adjustment for him to be in that role, but he's thrown the ball better, and he's a veteran guy.

"It's hard to predict what the influence on our team anyone might have at this important part of the season, so I think you just have to have a good attitude, adjust your role on any given day and be prepared to do it when it counts."

Duke said that starter or reliever, his pregame preparation is still the same.

"Now, my job is to get the next couple of guys out, but you still prepare yourself to give everything you've got from the first pitch," he said.

Ziegler enjoying jump to contending D-backs

2011-08-06T19:09:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/06/11

PHOENIX -- Brad Ziegler can tell he's fitting in with the D-backs.

"They're not afraid to poke fun at me," the right-handed reliever said. "The longer that I've been here, the more that they're throwing me into that mix."

Ziegler is still getting acclimated to the Phoenix area, the D-backs and, among other things, pitching in a pennant race.

After spending the first 3 1/2 seasons of his Major League career with the A's and only once getting within a handful of games of a playoff spot late in the season, the change is a welcome one.

"To go into the second week of August half a game back, it's a great feeling," Ziegler said. "That's what everybody plays for. You want to win the World Series, and to get there, you have to make the playoffs.

"To be this close and have a shot right now, that's right where we want to be."

Ziegler was acquired in a trade from the A's for Brandon Allen and Jordan Norberto on July 31 and has a 2.29 ERA on the season.

He's made two appearances with the D-backs and has not allowed an earned run.

"It's been great," Ziegler said. "It's a real relaxed clubhouse, everybody likes to have fun and joke around with each other a lot, so it's been an easy adjustment for sure."

Burroughs ends skid, shrugs off tough stretch

2011-08-06T19:08:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/06/11

PHOENIX -- Sean Burroughs didn't have a clue.

"What streak?" he asked, after Friday night's 7-4 loss to the Dodgers, in which the D-backs infielder snapped an 0-for-20 slump.

"I've been hitting the ball pretty good, but that's just kind of how it goes."

Burroughs snapped the career-long skid with a seventh-inning single off Chad Billingsley. His previous career-long slump was 18 at-bats in 2003.

"I don't really look too much into things like that," he said. "I just try to go up there, make contact and see what happens."

In a bench role, Burroughs has hit .224 with four RBIs in 58 at-bats this season.

In between his plate appearances off the bench, he likes to jump into pitchers' bullpen sessions to keep his eye fresh.

"I've taken millions of swings every day, but I like to see the ball coming out of a pitcher's hand," he said. "It's hard to emulate."

Burroughs also recently relinquished his jersey number to incoming starter Jason Marquis. The former No. 21 is now wearing No. 11.

"He's had that number his whole career," Burroughs said. "It's fine with me."

D-backs can't erase Collmenter's early woes

2011-08-05T19:20:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 8/6/2011

PHOENIX -- Josh Collmenter was on a mound, in the middle of a baseball diamond, in front of 27,215 people and he was in trouble.

"You almost feel like you're on an island out there," he said.

Two singles. A double. Two more singles. A sacrifice fly.

"It's definitely a different feeling," he said. "It seemed like whatever I threw up there just wasn't as sharp or as fine as it usually is."

And another single.

That was Collmenter's third inning Friday night, as the Dodgers chased him off that mound, scored six runs on six hits and rudely welcomed the D-backs home to Chase Field with a 7-4 defeat.

"He didn't locate the ball very good," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "They were pounding it."

The D-backs remained a half-game behind the Giants, who fell to the Phillies, 9-2, for first place in the National League West.

In the loss, Collmenter's second consecutive at the hands of the Dodgers, the six third-inning runs were the most the rookie right-hander has allowed this season, in his shortest start this season.

"Location, getting behind in counts and that's an aggressive club, so when you throw the ball over the plate, they're going to take their swings at it," he said. "I just wasn't as fine as fine with my pitches as I needed to be."

That much was evident early, when he escaped a two-hit, one-walk first inning unscathed thanks to a Gerardo Parra diving grab of an Aaron Miles line drive in left field with the bases loaded.

"I fell behind and didn't make pitches that I needed to when I needed to," Collmenter said. "They were just way too comfortable in the box and that's my responsibility to make sure they're off-balance."

And after a 1-2-3 second inning, the wheels fell off in the third.

Dee Gordon led off with a bunt single that refused to roll foul. After stealing second, he scored on a single and an error, after Justin Upton botched a Casey Blake single to right field.

Then Andre Ethier doubled off the fence in left. Then Matt Kemp singled. Then Juan Rivera singled Ethier home. Then Miles hit a sacrifice fly, James Loney singled through the hole into right field and then Collmenter's day was over.

"The ball wasn't coming out of his hand like it has in the past," Gibson said. "He's got to be better than that."

And while Collmenter was done, the damage wasn't.

Relieving him was Micah Owings, who promptly gave up a double to Rod Barajas, which plated two Dodgers and staked them to a six-run lead.

Owings ended the third and pitched four more innings of scoreless relief, allowing only two hits while walking three batters and striking out one.

"Micah threw good," Gibson said. "It was good and the way our bullpen's set up, Micah's got length. It's good to have him, but you don't want to use him."

After a spot start at home against the Rockies on July 24, Owings has made two relief appearances and tallied 70-plus pitches in each.

"I felt good and I can remember being on the flip side of that situation," Owings said. "Anytime I can come in and pick the bullpen up and the starter, I'm going to do the best that I can the longest that I can."

Meanwhile, the D-backs couldn't break through against Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley until the sixth inning, when Upton tripled to right field before Chris Young drove him in with a sacrifice fly to center.

But in the seventh, the D-backs chased the right-hander after Ryan Roberts walked, followed by two singles -- including an RBI single from Parra -- before Sean Burroughs snapped an 0-for-20 funk with a single to center.

With the bases loaded, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly called on Matt Guerrier, who allowed an infield single to Willie Bloomquist to make the score 6-3; left-hander Scott Elbert, who struck out pinch-hitter Cody Ransom swinging; and then veteran reliever Mike MacDougal to face Upton with the bases loaded and one out.

After flailing at a pair of MacDougal breaking balls, Upton lined a 1-2 pitch that was speared at shortstop by Gordon, who made a fine defensive play and doubled off Burroughs at second base.

"The play Dee made, I don't know how many guys make that play," Mattingly said. "He hit a seed. That got us out of the inning and took the air out of their sails."

And thus went the D-backs' hopes of a 30th come-from-behind victory.

"We had our opportunity there," Gibson said. "Didn't get what we should have, made a baserunning mistake and got doubled off. Good play by Gordon but you have to know where to go."

Barajas hit his 10th home run to right-center in the eighth, a solo shot off Bryan Shaw for insurance. And while the D-backs answered in the eighth with a Miguel Montero sacrifice fly, scoring Young, it wasn't enough.

"We pushed them to the end, though," Gibson said. "We didn't make it easy on them, and I hope we play better tomorrow."

After tense series, D-backs wary of letdown

2011-08-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/05/11

PHOENIX -- Kirk Gibson was lost on Thursday.

"We're not usually home on an off-day. We're usually traveling," the D-backs manager said. "I got in a good nap, though. It was good.

"It was a very relaxing day yesterday."

A relaxing day after a not-so-relaxing series, in which the D-backs took two of three from their National League West rival and defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants.

"It was definitely a playoff atmosphere," infielder Ryan Roberts said. "Everything was at stake for first place, and we didn't come out of there with first place, but we did come out of there with two wins."

Transition to this weekend, when the fourth-place Dodgers come to town.

"We have to guard against a letdown," Gibson said. "But I'm pretty confident that when they get out there, when our pitcher goes out to the bullpen and guys start warming up, they'll be ready."

The D-backs took two of three against the Dodgers last weekend and are 6-3 against them this season.

"I thought the intensity level in the Giants series was top-notch," Gibson said. "And you have to try to keep that in every game. You can't take games for granted, so when we come out tonight, the off-day will be officially over and we'll have to get back to work."

Top pick Bauer already impressing D-backs

2011-08-05T19:18:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/05/11

PHOENIX -- The first inning of Trevor Bauer's second Minor League start for high Class A Visalia got off on the wrong foot.

He walked two of the first three Stockton Ports batters he faced, but the 20-year-old first-round Draft pick of the D-backs rebounded to strike out a pair of batters and exit the first inning on the right foot.

Color D-backs president and CEO Derrick Hall impressed.

"He's a talent, that's for sure," Hall, who was on hand in Stockton, Calif., said on Friday. "He looks really good."

Bauer was touched up the next inning, giving up a two-run home run and finished allowing only those two runs on two hits in three innings. He struck out six, walked three, threw 55 pitches and was tagged with his first professional loss.

"We saw that if he gets in to trouble, he can get out of it," Hall said.

He was accompanied by general manager Kevin Towers and said that Bauer touched 97 mph on the radar gun while mixing five pitches.

"At times, he can be overpowering," Hall said.

The right-handed Bauer was drafted by the D-backs with the No. 3 overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft in June and signed on July 25.

Roberts nets D-backs' Heart and Hustle Award

2011-08-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/05/11

PHOENIX -- Ryan Roberts is never the biggest, tallest or strongest player on the field.

But the D-backs infielder always plays the hardest to make up for it.

"You always want to hustle and give 100 percent every day," Roberts said. "Because that's the proper way to play baseball."

And on Friday, Roberts was rewarded for his hard play as the D-backs winner of the Heart and Hustle Award, presented by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association to active players who demonstrate a passion for the game and best embody the values, spirit and tradition of the game.

"It's a great deal," he said. "You work so hard every day to accomplish what you do in baseball and a lot of it goes unseen and I guess this is a reflection of that hard work."

Roberts was awarded with a wooden plaque during a pregame presentation prior to Friday night's game against the Dodgers.

While playing four positions in 98 games this season, the six-year Major League veteran is hitting .259 with a career-high 15 home runs, 45 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.

"With the younger generation coming up, if I can give just at least that to them, to play hard and to run the ball out and to do anything petty like that," Roberts said, "it would be a huge accomplishment."

The MLBPAA formed committees comprised of alumni players with established relationships to each team to vote for the winners. Near the end of the season, all alumni and active players will vote to select one winner out of the 30 team winners, to be announced in November.

D-backs agree to contract with first pick Bauer

2011-07-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/25/11

PHOENIX -- Trevor Bauer loves to play baseball.

So after his collegiate career ended in early June, it didn't take him long to pick up a baseball.

"When I'm not playing, it kind of eats at me," Bauer said.

It didn't take him long to start throwing again -- probably two weeks, he said -- and it didn't taken him long to sign his first Major League contract.

On Monday, Bauer and his family were at Chase Field as the D-backs announced the signing of the 2011 Golden Spikes Award winner.

The signing bonus was $3.4 million, a source told MLB.com. The guaranteed contract totals $4.4 million.

"I'm itching to get back out there," he said. "And I'm happy to have the opportunity to do that right now."

After following him since his teenage years in Southern California, the D-backs selected the UCLA junior right-hander with the third overall pick in the MLB First-Year Player Draft last month.

"This is a very exciting day for us, to welcome someone so accomplished in the amateur world who now takes the first step in his professional career," D-backs senior vice president of scouting and development Jerry Dipoto said.

At UCLA, Bauer was as dominant as they come in the collegiate ranks and became the first Bruins player to win the Golden Spikes Award, presented annually by USA Baseball to the nation's premier college player.

In three seasons, he became the school's record-holder in wins, strikeouts and innings, totaling a career mark of 34-8 with a 2.36 ERA and 460 strikeouts in 373 1/3 innings.

Last season, he went 13-2 with a 1.25 ERA and led the country with 203 strikeouts and 10 complete games.

"I'm definitely excited to get this part of the process taken care of and start the next phase, which is actually playing baseball, which is what I enjoy doing, so I'm pretty excited about that part," Bauer said.

The D-backs will send Bauer to High Class A Visalia, where he will start Saturday for the Rawhide against Stockton in his first professional start.

Dipoto said Bauer will throw two innings or around 40 pitches and won't come out of the bullpen.

"He's a starter," Dipoto said. "We're going to start off with a few shorter starts and reintroduce him to innings."

Bauer has been throwing two to three bullpen sessions a week, along with long toss and the use of weighted baseballs during his time away from the mound.

He spent four weeks in Houston at the Texas Baseball Ranch to better prepare for pitching in the Minors the rest of the season.

"It's something that I wanted to do, and this is something that I've been looking forward to," Bauer said.

The 20-year-old said that while he feels believes in his abilities enough that he could compete at the Major League level right now, he knows that the organization values performance over potential.

"Performance will dictate it all," Bauer said. "So it really depends on how I perform in the Minor Leagues, and I'm just trying to take it one day at a time and go out there to prepare and perform well."

Bauer threw 136 2/3 innings this season at UCLA, figures to throw around 35 Minor League innings this year and expects to throw 200-plus in the years to come given a clean bill of health.

"We're looking at this as an opportunity to build him towards 165-170 innings this year as we go through the rest of the season," Dipoto said.

"To answer the Major League opportunity or possibility question," Dipoto continued, "when you're as talented as Trevor is, anything's possible.

"We believe, obviously, that giving him a Major League contract right out of the chute that he's really close to being able to contribute at this level."

And Bauer has no reservations about moving through the D-backs Minor League system.

"I wouldn't want it any other way," the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder said. "I've always had to earn everything I've been given, so hopefully it stays the same from here on out, but I'd like to go out there and have a shot to prove that I can help this organization whether it be this year, next year or in the future."

And he said that his desire to get back onto the field was a driving force in getting his contract signed sooner rather than later.

"I wanted to sign as quickly as possible and get out and pitch," he said. "That's what they drafted me for and that's what I enjoy doing so it just seemed logical to get out there and pitch."

The D-backs have drafted pitchers in the first round in five of the past six years, including this year, with Bauer and No. 7 selection Archie Bradley, a right-hander out of Broken Arrow High School in Oklahoma.

"We are embarking on something new with this organization as we build a foundation of pitching," Dipoto said. "It's an exciting group of young guys, and we haven't even scratched the surface of what we're capable of."

Gibson's goal: Better slide slow by D-backs

2011-07-25T18:45:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/25/11

PHOENIX -- Throughout the season, D-backs manager Kirk Gibson has talked extensively about the team adding skills.

"We want to have more tools in our tool chest," he said.

He's talked extensively about the team sharpening skills.

"We made a big thing about that in Spring Training," he said.

And during a weekend where two plays at the plate went two different ways for the D-backs, Gibson talked extensively about a tool he would like to see improve: Sliding.

"It's not something we're going to be able to correct right now," he admitted. "But I think it's something we're going to need to get better at as I look forward in general."

On Saturday, starting pitcher Josh Collmenter didn't slide and was thrown out.

On Sunday, right fielder Justin Upton slid and was called safe.

Both plays, lost in a pair of D-backs blowout victories, didn't mean as much for the game's outcome as they did to the manager.

"I probably tend to look more into that because I'm always trying to find a way to be safe and score runs," Gibson said.

And the D-backs didn't score a run in the sixth inning of Saturday night's game, when Collmenter was thrown out at home on a Gerardo Parra single to left field that looked to plate an easy run.

But a perfect relay from left, coupled with Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta standing at home plate -- in an apparent attempt to deke Collmenter -- and Upton standing behind home plate -- with his hands up, an apparent signal for Collmenter to cross the plate standing -- produced a bang-bang play at the plate.

"You never want to make it even that close," Collmenter said.

Because, as he quickly found out, it isn't good to give the fielders the benefit of the doubt, which he did by coming home standing. Home-plate umpire Derryl Cousins called him out on the play.

"That's going to happen," Gibson said. "We're going to make mistakes. The thing that you worry about is maybe [Upton] says 'slide' really late.

"One of the things that we talk about is having the on-deck guy in the proper position and when you have to slide, you have to be [saying] 'Down, down, down' or 'Up, up, up.' And that's just all part of the mechanics of what it takes to win a ballgame."

A day later, Upton scored on a fielder's choice to second base when, after Sean Burroughs hit a ground ball straight to Jonathan Herrera with the Rockies' infield playing in, a hook slide beat Iannetta's tag.

"It was very good," Gibson said Sunday. "We were talking about slides today and how they can affect a play, and there you got it.

"When I look at the game, I'm always looking for resources to get the job done and [Upton] showed you today specifically about sliding."

Upton said that the slide was instinctual and that he saw the play developing about halfway between third base and home.

"I'll be honest with you, I thought it was a bad read on my part," he said. "So I tried to make up for it and was able to score."

Gibson said that the team slid one time in Spring Training but stressed that practicing slides isn't something you can take the team out on the field and do consistently.

He's began to make a library of good slides for the team to watch next spring.

"As you can see, there's times when a better slide would have gained us an advantage or a poor slide didn't work out good for us," he said.

"There's an art to it."

Upton leads offense as D-backs blank Rox

2011-07-24T19:42:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 7/24/2011

PHOENIX -- Sunday afternoon, the D-backs took what Ubaldo Jimenez gave them.

And then they took some more. And more. And then, with another impressive all-around performance, they took a three-game series from the Rockies with a 7-0 win in front of 28,090 at Chase Field.

"Things got hard, they got tough and we didn't look very good," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "But this is a big win. This series is a big win."

For the second straight night, Justin Upton powered the D-backs lineup, while the righty-lefty duo of Micah Owings and Zach Duke recorded the team's ninth shutout of the season in the finale of a 10-game homestand.

Gerardo Parra was a late scratch because of a sore left wrist, Kelly Johnson was out again with a sore left calf and Geoff Blum exited early with a broken right pinky, but the remaining D-backs cobbled together 11 hits while chasing Jimenez after five innings to leave Phoenix on a high note.

"I'm very proud of the guys today," Gibson said. "We threw a lineup out there and we didn't have a choice, these were the guys and they did a hell of a job."

Early on, it looked as if Jimenez would be the one chasing the D-backs out of town.

The Rockies right-hander struck out five of the first nine batters he faced before Willie Bloomquist, Xavier Nady and Upton strung together consecutive opposite-field hits with two outs in the third for an early lead.

Upton's double, which landed just inside the right-field line, scored both after back-to-back singles.

"Very frustrating," Jimenez said. "After getting the first two outs, you want to finish the inning right away. But they kept going the opposite way with me."

And the D-backs -- as has been customary of late against Jimenez -- didn't stop there, scoring a run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth before he was pulled.

"You just have to give the guys credit," Gibson said. "I told you guys a couple of days ago, I felt like we were ready to start swinging the bat. We've kind of gotten back into it."

In the fourth, Owings helped his own cause with a single up the middle, driving in Miguel Montero.

In the fifth, Nady led off the inning with a single before Upton smacked a broken-bat triple off the wall in right field.

Three batters later, Sean Burroughs scored Upton on a fielder's choice to second as Upton just beat a throw home with a nifty hook slide.

Burroughs took over for Blum in the third inning after Blum fractured his pinky fielding a ground ball in the second inning.

"Hopefully it will be a two-to three-week deal and we'll get back out there," Blum said.

The D-backs have now scored five or more runs in each of Jimenez' past three starts against them and have knocked him out of the game in the sixth inning or sooner each time.

He finished with five innings on Sunday, allowing five runs on eight hits while striking out eight and walking two.

Meanwhile, Owings held the Rockies scoreless in a spot start that Gibson said afterward wasn't so spotty after all.

After pitching in the bullpen for nearly two months, the right-hander threw five innings of two-hit baseball, striking out two and walking three.

"That's what we were hoping for," Gibson said. "He did a great job and, right now, he is our fifth guy. I think he'll probably get another start. Why wouldn't he?"

Owings continued his mastery of Colorado and now sports a 4-0 record with a 0.79 ERA (two earned runs in 22 2/3 innings) against them in his career.

"It felt great," Owings said. "Obviously, you never know how it's going to go, you just go out there and do the best you can."

Duke took over for Owings in the sixth and pitched four scoreless innings, allowing three hits to record his first career save.

"It's funny, because the other day during batting practice, when I found out I was starting, [Duke] said, 'You go five, and I'll go four,'" Owings said. "And that's what happened."

Ahead, 5-0, entering the sixth, the D-backs put the game away with two runs off reliever Matt Belisle on a single from Chris Young and a fielder's choice from Montero.

Upton singled in the eighth to complete a 4-for-4 day, raising his batting average to .301, and finished with nine hits for the series, the most in a series for his career.

"I don't know what's going on with me," Upton said. "I'm getting some bloop shots and squaring some balls up. The ball's just been falling for me."

Nady added two hits, scored three runs and was hit by a pitch.

The D-backs trail the Giants by four games in the National League West and embark on a nine-game road trip against division foes beginning Tuesday in San Diego.

"I know there's been some things written about where we're headed," Gibson said. "This team doesn't believe that."

Geoff Blum exits game after fracturing right pinky

2011-07-24T19:39:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/24/11

PHOENIX -- Geoff Blum appears snakebitten.

"Yeah, pardon the pun, huh?" he said. "I told Kelly Johnson just a couple minutes ago that maybe this is what I get for wanting to play here."

And after breaking his right pinky finger early in Sunday afternoon's 7-0 win over the Rockies, the D-backs third baseman seems to be headed back to the disabled list a mere 10 games after coming off it.

"You get tested sometimes," he said. "Unfortunately, we have to go through it again."

Blum was injured while fielding a ground ball off the bat of Ryan Spilborghs in the second inning.

"He hit it pretty good, had some top spin on it," Blum said.

The ball jumped up and hit him on the end of the finger, but the 13-year veteran figured it was a typical bad hop kind of thing, until he faced Ubaldo Jimenez in the third inning.

"The second curve I swung at, I had absolutely no grip on my hand," he said.

Blum struck out looking in that at-bat, went into the field and tried to throw in the third inning, but there was a shooting pain.

He was lifted by D-backs manager Kirk Gibson for Sean Burroughs shortly thereafter.

"He's definitely out," Gibson said.

Blum will meet with Dr. Don Sheridan on Monday, who will determine how serious the break is and how long he will be out.

"Hopefully it will be a two- to three-week deal and we'll get back out there," Blum said.

The 38-year-old hit .214 (3-for-14) in six games prior to Sunday after being sidelined for the first three-plus months of the season because of right knee surgery.

"I'm getting to know the team physicians around here pretty good, unfortunately," Blum said. "But they took good care of me the first time with my knee, and I know they'll do a good job with the hand."

Parra out of lineup with sore left wrist

2011-07-24T19:38:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/24/11

PHOENIX -- Right fielder Gerardo Parra was a late scratch from Sunday's lineup for the D-backs because of a sore left wrist after being hit by a pitch on Saturday night.

"It's fine," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said, noting that X-rays taken last night came back negative.

Parra, who had two hits, two walks and scored three times on Saturday, has a hit in 13 of his last 20 games.

"He had a great game in the No. 2 hole, and I've talked to you guys about moving him up," Gibson said. "He was more patient and he can be that way.

"It's baby steps for him. He's been here for a while, yet he's very, very young."

Xavier Nady filled Parra's spot in the lineup against Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez, playing left field and hitting second on Sunday.

Also shelved, for the second consecutive day, was second baseman Kelly Johnson, who was removed from Friday night's game with left calf soreness.

"Just sore," Gibson said of Johnson.

Series with Rockies a family affair for Young

2011-07-24T19:36:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/24/11

PHOENIX -- D-backs first-base coach Eric Young remembers watching his son Eric Jr. in Little League.

"I had to contain my emotions back then," Young admitted.

But it was nothing like Friday night, when Eric Jr. made his first appearance in front of his dad on a big league diamond as a pinch-hitter.

"I got chills and I was smiling so wide inside that I had to contain it," Young said. "I just went back to watching him as a Little Leaguer going up to hit, and it was just an awesome feeling."

And it was almost an empty feeling for Young's youngest son, Dallas, who hasn't yet grasped the difference between the Major and Minor Leagues and wondered Wednesday night if he was going to see his older brother.

"He asked, saying '[The D-backs are] playing the Rockies, dad,'" Young said. "And we had to explain to him that, no, your brother won't be here."

But Young Jr. was recalled by Colorado from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Thursday, which made for perfect timing.

"I think, for me, more than watching Junior play, to have both of my sons here is why it was such a special weekend for me," Young said.

They were able to get lunch before Friday's series opener, and while Young hoped that his son would get a start or two during the series, watching him draw a walk on Friday as a pinch-hitter was enough.

"I said that, 'If [you don't start], do your thing as a pinch-hitter," Young said.

In parts of three big league seasons, Young Jr. has a .242 average in 277 at-bats with 25 stolen bases.

Collmenter credits curveball for hot streak

2011-07-24T19:25:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/24/11

PHOENIX -- Josh Collmenter isn't the same pitcher he was a month or two ago.

For proof, look at the numbers.

Two straight victories, three straight quality starts and on Saturday, with a scoreless first inning, he recorded a scoreless streak of 15 innings for the second time this season.

The results, Collmenter said, are due in no small part to his newfound confidence in his curveball.

"I've been able to get some outs with it and I've been more confident to throw it in situations that I probably wouldn't have earlier in the season," he said.

Collmenter said that battery mate Miguel Montero called for more curveballs in Saturday's win.

"It's good to see that he has confidence in it and that he knows I can execute that pitch," Collmenter said. "It's good to execute that third pitch, especially for seeing hitters the second and third time around."

The 25-year-old right-hander has a 5-5 record with a 3.00 ERA in 13 starts this season.

"I like to see it," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said of Collmenter's curveball. "I think if he's going to continue to be a starter, that's always good to have a third pitch.

"But he knows how to pitch."

Upton, Montero beat Rockies into submission

2011-07-23T19:54:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 7/23/2011

PHOENIX -- Earlier in the week, after the D-backs hit three home runs in a victory over the Brewers, manager Kirk Gibson said that he thought his team was ready to emerge from a post-All-Star break slump.

"I feel like we're coming out of it," he said on Thursday.

Two days later, the team had done just that.

The D-backs broke out of it early and often on Saturday evening, as they put up crooked number after crooked number on the Chase Field scoreboard in a 12-3 victory over the Rockies.

Their first six batters reached base, Justin Upton drove in six runs and Miguel Montero drove in five in the team's biggest offensive outburst in over a month.

"It was good," Gibson said. "We haven't done that in a while."

And while Friday night's postgame fireworks show had long since ended, the team put on an early fireworks display for the 34,849 in attendance on Saturday.

Willie Bloomquist singled to start the shellacking, and by the time the first inning ended, the D-backs had five runs on five hits against Rockies right-hander Jason Hammel. The team batted around in the first, providing Josh Collmenter with a comfortable cushion and the most run support he's enjoyed all year.

"Obviously, this was an ideal situation to jump on [Hammel] really quick," Gibson said. "It's easier to be a pitcher when you have a five-run lead in the first inning."

Upton and Montero both delivered two-run doubles in the opening frame, while Collmenter collected his first career RBI on a single up the middle to put the Rockies in a hole they wouldn't emerge from.

But the offense wasn't finished there.

The next inning, Montero -- who entered the game 1-for-11 lifetime against Hammel -- socked an 0-2 breaking ball into the right-field seats for a two-run home run, giving the D-backs a 7-1 lead.

"I was looking fastball the whole time," Montero admitted. "It was a lucky one."

And while the D-backs loaded up on baserunners -- to the tune of 14 hits, seven walks and a hit batter -- Collmenter cruised to a second consecutive victory in his third straight quality start.

The right-hander pitched seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits, while striking out three and walking none, for his sixth victory of the season.

"It's big anytime you have a lead when you're a pitcher, especially early on," Collmenter said. "It gives you a little cushion out there, and lets you ease into it and get more comfortable on the mound -- knowing you don't have to be quite as perfect."

And at the plate, he recorded his first multi-hit game when he added a sixth-inning single.

"It was nice to get a couple of those," he said. "It's been a while. I was just trying to hit the ball up the middle, that's what your coach from Little League on up says. So I guess in the back of my mind, that's what I was thinking."

Hammel labored through 5 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs on 12 hits. He struck out seven and walked four.

"Warming up in the bullpen, I felt I had no-hit stuff," Hammel said. "So yes, very frustrating."

The Rockies touched Collmenter up for runs in the second inning -- on Troy Tulowitzki's 19th home run of the year, a solo shot to right field -- and in the third, when Ty Wigginton singled home two runs.

And while Collmenter threw at least seven innings without issuing a walk for the second time this season, the D-backs offense scored at least 12 runs for the fourth time this season.

"You can come in here and have some energy and have some fun," Gibson said. "And I think we did that before the game, and it carried into the game."

But the fun didn't stop until Upton had his turn to put an exclamation point on the proceedings with a seventh-inning grand slam to left field, his 17th home run of the season and second career grand slam.

The home run came on the first pitch by Colorado left-handed reliever Eric Stults, who hit Gerardo Parra on the wrist one batter earlier.

"He left it over the inner half of the plate, it was up and I barreled it up," Upton said.

The upper-deck blast tied Upton's career-high of six RBIs, and Upton and Montero became the first pair of D-backs teammates to each record five RBIs in a single game.

"That's nice," Montero said of the accomplishment. "What can I say? It's pretty good."

"I feel good at the plate," he said. "I'm trying to stay a little bit quieter at the plate, trying to get better pitches to hit -- and it shows in the results."

With the win, the D-backs kept pace with the Giants in the National League West, and will oppose Ubaldo Jimenez in the rubber game of the series on Sunday afternoon.

"I like it when they feel good about themselves," Gibson said about his team. "Hopefully, this will carry into [Sunday] and beyond that."

Hemond honored in Cooperstown

2011-07-23T19:51:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/23/11

PHOENIX -- D-backs special assistant to the president and CEO Roland Hemond received the Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award in Cooperstown, N.Y., on Saturday.

"He's like my Ernie Harwell," Gibson said, in reference to the Tigers' legendary broadcaster. "I've just now been able to spend real time with Roland since I've been in this organization, and this is time well spent."

Hemond, who is in the fifth season of his second tour of duty with the D-backs, is a three-time MLB Executive of the Year Award winner, and has 60 years of professional baseball experience.

Hemond's baseball career began in 1951 as a front office member of the Eastern League's Hartford Chiefs, and he spent 23 seasons as a general manager for the White Sox and Orioles.

"The thing about these guys, they've served the game for so long," Gibson said. "For many, many, many years -- and the most amazing thing about it is not only their contributions and things that they have accomplished, but their recall of it."

And Gibson recalled his first at-bat against Bert Blyleven, the former Twins pitcher set to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday.

Gibson faced Blyleven in his first game, a Spring Training contest in Bradenton, Fla., in 1978.

"I struck out three times on about nine pitches," Gibson said. "They were all curveballs, and I had never seen a curveball quite like that before. It was like, 'Oh my gosh.'

"It certainly distinguished him from others, because that was the best curveball I saw."

Roberto Alomar, Blyleven and Pat Gillick make up the National Baseball Hall of Fame's Class of 2011. Sunday's annual induction ceremony behind the Clark Sports Center, which is about a mile from the famous red-brick museum, will be broadcast live on MLB.com and MLB Network beginning at 8:30 a.m. MST.

Johnson day to day with calf soreness

2011-07-23T19:50:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/23/11

PHOENIX -- D-backs manager Kirk Gibson didn't know where Kelly Johnson was before Saturday evening's game, but knew the second baseman wouldn't be in the starting lineup.

"I haven't seen him yet today," Gibson said in his pregame meeting with the media. "I knew I wasn't going to play him today."

Johnson left Friday night's game with soreness in his left calf, something that Gibson said the team will follow on a day-to-day basis.

"He's been sore. But they deal with aches and pains all along, and they're usually able to resolve most of it," Gibson said.

The second baseman is hitting .218 on the season, with 17 home runs and 44 RBIs. He's played 92 games.

After hitting a two-run home run in Thursday's game against the Brewers, Johnson ran out two hard ground balls on Friday night, before being removed from the game for precautionary reasons.

"We became concerned about it, and wanted to see how it responds today," Gibson said.

The skipper said that he believed Johnson would be able to pinch-hit, but added with a wry smile, "Even if he wasn't, I would tell you he was."

Bloomquist provides spark to D-backs

2011-07-23T19:48:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/23/11

PHOENIX -- Willie Bloomquist isn't Stephen Drew.

Bloomquist knows it, his manager knows it. But two games into his everyday role at shortstop, the veteran hasn't showed it.

Since the season-ending Drew injury, Bloomquist is 4-for-14, as the D-backs' resident pest at the top of the order.

"He plays with a lot of energy," manager Kirk Gibson said. "He's done pretty well for us. He started off the season very good at leadoff, gave us a lot of energy. And then he got hurt, went on the [disabled list] and kind of lost that.

"Now, he's kind of regained that again, and I think he understands what the loss of Stephen means. And that's the kind of guy you want to have that's going to fill in for Stephen."

Bloomquist led off Saturday's game with a single, and scored two batters later on a Justin Upton double, part of a five-run Arizona first inning off Rockies starter Jason Hammel.

He looks to get most of his playing time at shortstop in the leadoff spot.

"He understands it," Gibson said. "He's pesky on the bases, he's pretty good at disrupting over there when he's on first. He battles and understands the game situations. He walks and fouls a lot of pitches off."

Vote now for former All-Star pitcher Johnson

2011-07-22T17:57:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/22/11

PHOENIX -- Randy Johnson has received Cy Young Award votes.

He's received All-Star votes, MVP votes and one day, he will receive Hall-of-Fame votes.

Now, the retired left-hander needs your vote to get elected to the Pepsi Max Field of Dreams "Dream Team."

The Pepsi Max Field of Dreams campaign has nominated three all-time greats at each position, from catcher to reliever, and the leading vote-getters at each position will be selected to the "Dream Team."

From now through Aug. 31, vote up to 25 times a day for these living legends and help create the Pepsi MAX Field of Dreams Team. For each ballot cast, you will be entered to win a chance to take on the winning "Dream Team" with 10 of your friends on your home turf next spring, surrounded by family, friends and media.

The more you vote, the better a chance you have of winning the sweepstakes.

Johnson, whose 4,875 strikeouts stands second all-time, pitched 22 big league seasons -- including eight in Arizona -- and won five Cy Young Awards and was named to the All-Star team 10 times.

He won 303 games, compiled a career ERA of 3.29 and shared World Series MVP honors while delivering the D-backs their only World Series title in 2001.

In 2004, he pitched a perfect game against the Atlanta Braves, striking out 13 batters in recording the 17th perfect game in Major League Baseball history.

After beginning his career with the Montreal Expos, Johnson was traded to Seattle, where he pitched 10 seasons and established himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball with the Mariners.

He was traded midseason to the Astros in 1998 and signed as a free agent with the D-backs the following off-season.

The lanky left-hander pitched six seasons in Arizona, and was traded to the Yankees, pitched two seasons in New York before being returned to the D-backs via trade and finishing up his career as a member of the Giants. He pitched until he was 45 years old and retired after the 2009 season with the highest strikeouts per nine innings ratio at 10.6.

He is up against Phillies right-hander Steve Carlton and Braves right-hander Greg Maddux.

Four fan finalists will be announced in September and will vie for votes to determine whose team will play the legends in their hometown.

The winner will be announced during the MLB postseason.

So what are you waiting for? Cast your ballots now, start building your all-time dream team now and you could end up playing against them in your own backyard!

Kennedy, D-backs bullpen blank Brewers

2011-07-21T20:01:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 7/22/2011

PHOENIX -- One day after Stephen Drew ran through a red light in the fourth inning and hurt his ankle, Justin Upton was given a green light in the fourth inning and hurt Milwaukee's Zack Greinke.

Upton pounced on a 3-0 offering from Greinke and pounded it into the upper deck for a solo home run, giving starting pitcher Ian Kennedy all the offense he'd need in a 4-0 win at Chase Field.

"I hit that one pretty good," Upton said. "[Greinke has] a good fastball, and he's not the type of guy that's going to pitch around anybody."

Greinke didn't pitch around Upton, and he watched as the right fielder's 16th home run of the season traveled to left-center for the first of three D-backs round-trippers on the day.

"You kind of play with fire once you get to [ball three]," Greinke said. "You throw a strike, see what happens and hope for the best. He hit it."

With the win, the D-backs secured a split of the four-game series against the National League Central-leading Brewers.

"We're happy to see them go," manager Kirk Gibson said. "Fortunately, we got them -- not by a ton, but they were very tough games for us to play."

Miguel Montero followed Upton's lead two batters later, hitting his 11th home run of the season, to left field. Kelly Johnson put an exclamation point on the win in the eighth inning with a two-run opposite-field homer, his 17th.

"When you win a game and you hit some home runs, it tends to make you feel better," Gibson said.

The multi-homer inning was the D-backs' eighth of the season, and they trail only the Brewers in the NL in this department.

While the D-backs were showing off their power stroke, Kennedy was keeping the Brewers' power hitters off balance en route to picking up his 11th victory.

The right-hander pitched seven innings, allowing no runs on four hits, striking out five and walking two.

"I felt like I was throwing pretty good," Kennedy said. "We needed to even this series out, and I knew Greinke was going to give us a tough game. A couple of guys hit home runs, and tonight that's what we needed."

Kennedy held the Brewers hitless in six chances with runners in scoring position and wasn't threatened for much of the night outside the fifth inning before Bryan Shaw took over in the eighth inning.

In that fifth inning, Yuniesky Betancourt and Jonathan Lucroy hit back-to-back singles with one out, then Greinke sacrificed them into scoring position for right fielder Corey Hart.

With a base open and his team ahead by two runs, Kennedy walked Hart and retired Nyjer Morgan on a flyout to center to end the inning.

"I wasn't going to give Hart anything to hit," Kennedy said. "We saw what he can do this series. If he puts the barrel on the ball, he hits it pretty far, and he could have put them ahead by one swing."

Kennedy threw seven innings for the 12th time this year, which ties him for fourth in the NL, and held his opponent to one run or fewers for the 10th time, which ties for fourth in the Majors.

"He's unbelievable," Upton said. "He goes out there, he pounds the zone and keeps us on our toes, and we love playing behind him."

After coming on in relief of Kennedy, Shaw allowed a leadoff single to Hart and plunked Morgan before navigating his way out of that jam with the help of a pitcher's best friend, a shortstop-to-second double play on a ball hit by Ryan Braun.

"I just stuck with my best pitch," Shaw said of that first-pitch disposal of Braun. "I went with my cutter away and got him to chase a little bit and roll over."

With two outs, Gibson summoned left-hander Joe Paterson to face the left-handed-hitting Prince Fielder, who was sent back to the dugout after flailing at three breaking balls.

Fielder, roundly booed the entire series for not choosing Upton to participate in this year's Home Run Derby, went 1-for-16 in the series.

"We're very lucky," Gibson. "We pitched [Fielder] good, but these guys are a good team. They're very, very tough to play against and very explosive."

David Hernandez pitched a scoreless ninth inning, and after he struck out Betancourt swinging, the D-backs gained a half-game on the Giants in the NL West and now stand four games out.

"The victory helps us move on from yesterday," Gibson said. "It was a tough loss, and the guys bounced back and played well tonight."

Drew's season is over after fracturing right ankle

2011-07-20T20:10:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/20/11

PHOENIX -- Stephen Drew's season is over.

D-backs manager Kirk Gibson confirmed that his shortstop wouldn't be back this year after Drew fractured his right ankle sliding into home plate in the fourth inning of Arizona's 5-2 loss in 10 innings to the Brewers on Wednesday.

"It's disappointing, and we know how important Stephen is," Gibson said. "But if you've been around the game a while, it happens. It's fairly common that you're going to lose star players. You hope it doesn't happen to you."

Drew needs surgery and will undergo tests on Thursday to see what the extent of the injury is.

He was injured trying to score from second base on a double by Chris Young to left field, when Ryan Braun's relay to Casey McGehee beat him on a feet-first slide at the plate, which Jonathan Lucroy was blocking. Drew, who ran through a stop sign from third-base coach Matt Williams, caught his foot on Lucroy as he slid past the catcher.

"Home plate, it's a dangerous place where collisions happen and slides happen and there's a lot of blocking and stuff like that," Gibson said.

Drew couldn't get up and was helped off the field by two trainers.

"He's a shortstop," infielder Ryan Roberts said. "That's the captain of the infield right there. Look around the league and all the big-name players play shortstop, so it's a big loss for the team and we'll find a way to bounce back from it."

Drew was hitting .252 on the season with five home runs and 45 RBIs. He recorded a .980 fielding percentage and made seven errors.

Gibson said he didn't have any answers on filling Drew's spot, but veteran Willie Bloomquist figures to see action at shortstop in the immediate future.

"We're certainly going to miss him," Bloomquist said. "He's a huge part of this team. We're going to have to find a way to pick up the slack, and I'm going to have to figure out a way to elevate and do things a little bit sharper and a little bit better."

In his four full years manning the middle of the D-backs' diamond, Drew has played 150-plus games three times and has twice had to go on the 15-day disabled list -- in 2006 and '09 -- both hamstring injuries.

He has a .269 career average with 70 home runs, 321 RBIs and a .978 fielding percentage.

"We now know what the Giants are feeling," Gibson said, referring to the season-ending injury to San Francisco's star catcher Buster Posey earlier this year. "We're in a similar situation [with] this and we'll have to find a way to get through it. There's nothing we can do about it.

"We wish him well and hope that he has a good recovery and he'll be able to resume his career next year."

Braun's would-be second homer overturned

2011-07-20T20:09:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/20/11

PHOENIX -- Ryan Braun was denied his second home run of the game in the top of the eighth inning of the Brewers' 5-2 win on Wednesday night after umpires overturned a long drive with instant replay.

With Milwaukee holding a 2-0 lead over Arizona, Braun jumped on a 1-0 offering from reliever Bryan Shaw and hit down the right-field line and over the fence.

Initially ruled a home run by first-base umpire Marvin Hudson, the Tim McClelland-chiefed crew reviewed the play and overturned it.

Video replays confirmed the ball leaving the field of play to the right of the foul pole.

Did Braun know the ball was foul?

"Honestly, I couldn't tell," Braun said. "I knew it was close, but I couldn't really tell whether it was fair or foul. I knew by [D-backs right fielder Justin Upton's] reaction that he was pretty sure it was foul."

It was the fifth home run overturned via replay in D-backs games this season and the third at Chase Field. The Brewers have been involved in three replay situations this season.

Braun doubled on the next pitch.

Cook shocked to get callup from D-backs

2011-07-20T20:08:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/20/11

PHOENIX -- Ryan Cook was on a bus in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Tuesday with his Double-A Mobile BayBears teammates when manager Turner Ward stopped to address the team.

"He told everybody to enjoy our off-day and that when we got back, the schedule would be the same," Cook said.

What Cook didn't know at the moment was that he wouldn't be back and that his schedule wouldn't be the same.

"Then he told [us] that [we] might want to turn the TV on tomorrow night, check it out and watch the D-backs game, because [we] might get to watch one of [our] teammates pitch," Cook said.

"Everyone kind of lost it on the bus."

Cook, a 24-year-old right-handed reliever, was called up on Wednesday along with reliever Bryan Shaw, while the D-backs outrighted reliever Yhency Brazoban and optioned starter Barry Enright to Triple-A Reno.

"It was a shock to me," Cook said. "I was just going about my business and the next thing you know, I got the call."

In Mobile, Cook took over the closer's duties after Shaw was promoted to Reno earlier this year.

He had a 2.25 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 44 innings for Mobile.

D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said he would probably slot Cook into a fifth-through-seventh-inning role.

"He's been evaluated from everybody in the organization throughout the year, and I think they feel that he's got the kind of stuff that can help us," Gibson said.

He noted that both moves were made after the bullpen was heavily taxed in Tuesday night's 11-3 loss to the Brewers.

"We wanted to have our bullpen recharged," Gibson said. "We didn't want to be short down there."

Putz nearing return from disabled list

2011-07-20T20:06:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/20/11

PHOENIX -- D-backs closer J.J. Putz has only one more hurdle to clear before being activated from the disabled list.

"Personally, I'd like to see him pitch back-to-back [days]," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "I want to make sure. I don't want him to be available one day in the closer's role and not the other."

Putz pitched an inning of scoreless relief on Tuesday night in extended spring training, threw 17 pitches, induced three ground-ball outs and reported no discomfort on Wednesday.

"It went well," Putz said. "Everything feels good. I still think I need maybe one more outing in a competitive atmosphere."

Gibson said on Wednesday that he expects Putz to head to Triple-A Reno and pitch Friday and Saturday before the team makes a decision on when to bring him back.

"It depends on when I go back-to-back days," Putz said. "I figure if I pitch Friday and don't pitch Saturday, it's kind of pointless for one game then a day off.

"It's good to get out there that second day and see how everything feels," he continued. "Not so much how you feel that day, but after those two days."

Putz has 21 saves with a 3.12 ERA in 34 games this season. He has been sidelined since July 1 with a right elbow injury.

"Realistically, probably the beginning of the next road trip," he said.

One day later, Allen's blast still amazes

2011-07-20T20:03:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/20/11

PHOENIX -- If it wasn't for the second deck at Chase Field, Brandon Allen's fifth-inning home run on Tuesday night might still be going.

"It was the farthest left-handed-hit home run I've seen here," right fielder Justin Upton said.

Upton was caught by cameras looking in amazement as the ball landed.

"Statistics say I hit a couple longer," Upton said. "I don't believe it."

Allen's homer carried an estimated 455 feet by ESPN Stats and Information.

"I guess it was a good shot," Allen said after Tuesday's loss. "I'll take it."

D-backs manager Kirk Gibson, who was known to hit a long home run or two back in his day, was as amazed as Upton with the home run.

"Oh, my gosh," he said. "How do they measure that?"

Homers spoil Enright's return to D-backs

2011-07-19T20:18:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 7/19/2011

PHOENIX -- It wasn't the start Barry Enright hoped for.

First, a home run. Then, a single and a home run. Then, a couple of outs later, another single followed by another home run.

"You never want to come up here and start a game like that," he said.

Five runs and six hits later, Enright escaped his first inning since being recalled from the Minor Leagues, but the deficit was too deep for the D-backs to dig out of as they fell, 11-3, to the Brewers on Tuesday night at Chase Field.

"It's very cliché," Enright said, "but it was one of those games. It's very disappointing, obviously, to come up here and disappoint these guys, myself and have a loss for these guys when they're playing great."

He allowed a leadoff home run to Corey Hart and two-run home runs to Ryan Braun and Yuniesky Betancourt as the powerful Milwaukee lineup rudely welcomed the right-hander back to the big leagues after his two-plus months at Triple-A Reno.

"He had a bad game tonight," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "He didn't throw quality pitches. He left a cement mixer over the plate, they pounded it. He left three fastballs over the plate, they pounded it."

"When you put them over the plate, sometimes that's what happens," Hart said. "We didn't miss the ones he put over."

Enright followed the worst inning of his Major League career with a perfect inning, before allowing a solo home run to Rickie Weeks in the third and being lifted for reliever Zach Duke -- whose spot he took in the rotation -- after the frame.

His final line was three innings, six runs on seven hits with two strikeouts.

"To put the ball down the middle for those guys, the first inning especially," Enright said, "it's not acceptable. Location is going to be who I am."

True to form, the D-backs responded to Enright's first-inning shellacking with two runs in their half of the frame off Yovani Gallardo on an RBI single by Justin Upton and a sacrifice fly by Miguel Montero.

Upton's single broke an 0-for-20 skid and was one of two hits the right fielder had on the night.

And when first baseman Brandon Allen disposed of a Gallardo fastball inside the foul pole and into the second deck in right field -- at an ESPN Stats and Information-estimated 455 feet -- it looked as if the D-backs were ready to pull off their 26th comeback win.

"I didn't really look at it," Allen said, when asked if he had ever hit a ball that far in a game. "But I don't think so."

But a bullpen implosion in the sixth inning erased any thoughts of a rally.

After Duke allowed back-to-back singles to Betancourt and Jonathan Lucroy and walked Gallardo to start the inning, he was relieved by right-hander Yhency Brazoban, who walked in two runs and forced home another on a hit-by-pitch before Gibson went back to the bullpen.

"You're not going to get yourself out of trouble doing that," Gibson said. "We know that, so we have to find people that can perform in those situations."

Micah Owings eliminated any further damage, inducing a double play from Prince Fielder and a groundout from Weeks to escape the bases-loaded, no-out jam.

The D-backs, however, wouldn't threaten any further damage, singling twice in the final four frames, and Betancourt put an exclamation point on the Brewers' 11-run, 14-hit assault with a two-run home run in the ninth off Sam Demel for the team's fifth home run of the game.

"In all aspects of the game we didn't play well," Gibson said. "So it seems really bad. It's not that bad. We've got a game tomorrow. We'll be fine."

With the loss, the D-backs fell to 4 1/2 games behind the Giants in the National League West.

"We'll absorb it and move on," Gibson continued. "We're going to write it off, we're going to regroup, have a good attitude tomorrow and believe that we're going to win the game."

Gibson can relate to Heilman's situation

2011-07-19T20:17:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/19/11

PHOENIX -- D-backs manager Kirk Gibson was released in 1992, a month into the season as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

"There's no easy way, there's no joy to it," he said. "It stinks."

Which is why it was tough to release reliever Aaron Heilman after Monday night's victory.

"I remember what Aaron did for us last year, as well as the effort he put in this year," Gibson said. "He gave 100 percent effort all the time, it's just one of those deals and the way the game moves sometimes."

Heilman, 32, went 4-1 with a 6.88 ERA (27 earned runs in 35 1/3 innings) with 11 walks and 33 strikeouts in 32 games with the D-backs this season. He joined Arizona last year after one season with the Cubs and six with the Mets, the team that drafted him in 2001.

"I knew exactly how he felt," Gibson said. "But I encouraged him to believe in himself and that maybe there was a better opportunity, maybe it will help his career."

Gibson's 1992 release helped him, as he played three productive seasons in Detroit after that to finish his career.

"I'm sure he'll draw some interest," he said. "He throws the ball fine, he just hasn't had a good year for us."

Roberts swinging hot bat since break

2011-07-19T20:16:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/19/11

PHOENIX -- In Monday's postgame press conference, D-backs manager Kirk Gibson playfully referred to Ryan Roberts this way:

"He's good and he's a knucklehead, too," Gibson said. "Reminds me a lot of his manager."

In the 3-0 win over the Brewers, Roberts hit his 13th home run of the year and second in as many days. It was the second time this year he's homered in consecutive days.

He's 4-for-9 since the All-Star break and has hit safely in each start during that span.

"I was just struggling right before the break," he said. "I wasn't tired, I didn't feel like I needed a break, but it did obviously help to rest the body.

"It was just one of those moments in baseball where it wasn't going right for me."

The 30-year-old infielder is hitting .263 with 40 RBIs and 13 stolen bases entering Tuesday's game.

"He's so anxious to do right and do well that he takes everything you say," Gibson said. "He doesn't take it with a grain of salt, he really takes it to heart and sometimes looks a little further than what it is.

"I can relate to that. I love his eagerness, his desire, determination and the way he plays."

Roberts hit leadoff and started at third base on Tuesday.

Duke ready to help D-backs out of bullpen

2011-07-19T20:13:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/19/11

PHOENIX -- Zach Duke knows his role.

"My job is to get guys out when I have the opportunity to get them out," the D-backs left-hander said on Tuesday.

"I'm just going to try to help this team win games any way that I can."

And with the recent callup of Barry Enright to fill out the back end of the rotation, Duke, a starter by trade, will get his first experience in the bullpen.

"It's a new challenge," he said. "It will be a different experience."

The 28-year-old has struggled in a starting role this year with a 2-4 record and a 5.47 ERA in nine starts. His D-backs tenure began in late May after he injured his pitching hand on a line-drive comebacker in Spring Training.

D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said he was unsure of the role Duke will fill, but could see him used in both long relief and special left-handed situations.

"He's gotten left-handers out better than he has right-handers," Gibson said. "But we could use him in long relief, obviously. He would give us some length."

Duke, who hasn't pitched since the All-Star break, said he has been preparing the same as he would if he were starting.

"I just prepare everyday to be ready to pitch," he said. "That way, whenever the phone rings and it's my time, I'm prepared to give everything I've got."

Collmenter uncorks best start of young career

2011-07-18T20:28:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 7/18/2011

PHOENIX -- Before Monday night's opener with the Brewers, D-backs manager Kirk Gibson was asked what he wanted from starting pitcher Josh Collmenter.

"I'd like to see a complete game," he said. "But we know that might not happen."

Collmenter tried his hardest to prove his manager's words true, pitching eight dominant innings in a 3-0 victory in the midst of a dust storm and in front of 17,404 at Chase Field.

"He threw an exceptional game," Gibson said. "No question."

Collmenter blanked the Brewers for the second straight game, registered the longest outing of his career and extended his scoreless streak to 14 innings -- all of those coming against Milwaukee.

"I think today was a culmination of everything that I can do as a pitcher," the right-handed rookie said. "I really had everything working and kept them off-balance."

On July 6 at Miller Park, Collmenter allowed three hits, struck out three and walked one in six innings.

On Monday, he allowed three hits, struck out seven and walked none over 105 pitches (74 strikes).

"I just wanted to make sure I went out there and didn't change a whole lot from last time," Collmenter said. "And see how they'd react and adjust to what I was doing, and I was able to kind of plug along and get some early outs and some quick innings when I needed them."

Collmenter was backed by a fine defensive play from Willie Bloomquist in the first inning and a two-run home run by Ryan Roberts in the sixth.

With Nyjer Morgan on second base with two outs in the first and Prince Fielder up, the Brewers first baseman -- who was booed consistently throughout the game -- lined sharply into the hole at shortstop.

Bloomquist laid out to make a back-handed stab in the outfield grass and with Morgan trying to score from second, threw from his knees to Henry Blanco, who was blocking the plate.

"He made a great play and a great throw from his knees," Gibson said, ensuring the play did not go unnoticed.

The D-backs opened the scoring in the third when Gerardo Parra grounded into a double play to score Blanco with the bases loaded.

Roberts' blast came with two outs in the sixth, immediately after Chris Young doubled, and traveled deep into the left-field seats for his second home run in as many games.

"I did everything I could do," said Brewers starter Randy Wolf. "I made a mistake, that happens. I did my job to the best of my ability.

Meanwhile, Collmenter was working through the Brewers' lineup with ease, at one point retiring 12 straight batters -- a career-high -- from the start of the second inning through the end of the fifth.

In fact, he retired 21 of 22 batters after the first inning, with the lone hit a Yuniesky Betancourt bunt single that led off the sixth.

"I kind of got locked in," Collmenter said. "It's good as a pitcher when you're in those zones, and it was definitely good to get back on track, with the last one before the break and now this one after the break, and give our rotation momentum."

Wolf bent but did not break, pitching seven serviceable innings, allowing two earned runs on eight hits and striking out three.

He escaped unscathed from a pair of two-on, no-out jams and surrendered only a run on the double-play ball in the third after the D-backs loaded the bases with no outs.

"Honestly, we didn't make use of our opportunities," Gibson said. "You just have to deal with that and keep playing."

Gibson said he didn't seriously consider leaving Collmenter in for the ninth to earn his first career complete game.

"Just because of where he's at, his youth and how far we pushed him," Gibson said. "You just worry about doing the right thing sometimes with those guys. But after the eighth inning, we knew he was done."

And while he understood his manager's decision, Collmenter said he wanted to keep pitching.

"I didn't know how many pitches I was at," he said. "I thought I was right around 100, and anytime you get to that position, you want to be able to finish it."

Instead, David Hernandez picked up his ninth save of the season, sitting the Brewers down in order in the ninth.

The D-backs' third straight victory kept them 3 1/2 games behind the Giants, who blanked the Dodgers, in the National League West.

"We haven't been swinging the bats great since we've come back from the All-Star break," Gibson said. "But here we've won three out of four games, so that's the part we're after."

Heilman's stint with D-backs may be over

2011-07-18T20:26:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/18/11

PHOENIX -- It appears that Aaron Heilman's time with the D-backs could be nearing its end.

After Monday night's 3-0 victory over the Brewers, the reliever shook hands with teammates, cleaned out his locker and exited the clubhouse with a D-backs duffel bag and a large cardboard box of belongings.

Although no roster move has been announced by the organization, Heilman's release could be the move associated with starting pitcher Barry Enright's expected callup. Gibson said on Friday that Enright would be summoned from Triple-A Reno for Tuesday's start against the Brewers.

Heilman re-signed with the D-backs on a one-year, $2 million deal in the offseason.

After he was unable to win a rotation spot out of Spring Training, the right-hander struggled out of the bullpen, posting a 6.88 ERA in 32 games. He struck out 33 batters in 35 1/3 innings and allowed opponents a .318 batting average.

The 32-year-old had a 4.50 ERA with six saves in 70 games for the D-backs in 2010.

D-backs' family day a big hit with players

2011-07-18T20:24:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/18/11

PHOENIX -- "Little X" just wanted to run the bases.

"We ran around once," D-backs first baseman Xavier Nady said of his son, Xavier. "And he was wiped out."

The D-backs held a family day gathering in right field for the players and their children after Sunday's win over the Dodgers.

"It was cool," Nady said. "When you have a chance to let the kids run around and be around other kids, it's always a good time."

Everyone took a family picture, some -- like "Little X," as the D-backs call him -- ran the bases, others took batting practice in the outfield and some were too small to venture on their own.

"I like family day, because I get to spend time with my kids on the field and take a good picture," said D-backs catcher Miguel Montero.

Montero's son, Angel, was stuck in his dad's arms during the get-together, just like during the All-Star Game media availability, when he poked at microphones.

Starting pitcher Joe Saunders was there with his two daughters, Mattea and Avellina.

"It gives us a chance to take some pictures and gives them a chance to have a smile on their face," Saunders said. "It's a lot of fun for them and it makes us smile too, which is nice."

Putz throws smooth inning; Drew sits out

2011-07-18T20:23:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/18/11

PHOENIX -- D-backs reliever J.J. Putz threw a successful inning Sunday night in extended spring training.

When asked about it, Putz gave a thumbs-up, indicating everything went smooth.

D-backs manager Kirk Gibson and pitching coach Charles Nagy were in attendance. Gibson said he expected Putz to throw again on Tuesday.

"He'd like to be activated probably, but I'd like to be more convinced that we're doing the right thing," he said. "I want to see him bounce back on Tuesday for sure."

Shortstop Stephen Drew wasn't in the lineup Monday night against Brewers left-hander Randy Wolf.

"He's not in the lineup, but he might win the game," Gibson said.

Drew hasn't had a multi-hit game since June 23 and is hitting .254 on the season.

"He hasn't been swinging the bat as well as he has in the past," Gibson said. "But he's out there right now, as we speak, working on it. That's what they do."

Upton trying to crack season-worst slump

2011-07-18T20:22:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/18/11

PHOENIX -- Monday was "No Media Day," Justin Upton said with a smile.

And he wasn't kidding.

The D-backs right fielder wasn't in a talking mood before a hitter's meeting prior to the start of a four-game series with the Brewers. The Dodgers held Upton hitless in 11 at-bats over the weekend.

"He was on fire," said D-backs manager Kirk Gibson. "Not many guys do that all year long, but he's still very dangerous."

On July 5, Upton hit a solo home run off Monday's starter, Randy Wolf, in a 7-3 victory over Milwaukee. He scored three runs in that series and has five career home runs against the Brewers.

But his batting average has dropped 25 points after it hit a season-high .306 on June 27, and the five-game stretch without a hit -- he finished Monday's 3-0 win in an 0-for-18 dip -- is his longest all season.

Still, Gibson has no worries about the two-time All-Star, who is hitting .281 on the season with 15 home runs, 46 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.

"Hitting, it comes and it goes," Gibson said. "The thing about our team, I don't think we rely on one guy. It seems there can always be somebody in our lineup that can do damage.

"That's kind of the way we're constructed."

D-backs' pitchers showing prowess at plate

2011-07-18T20:20:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/18/11

PHOENIX -- The dinner explains it all.

The D-backs' starting pitchers have a National League-leading four home runs and 19 RBIs, as well as the second-highest batting average in the Senior Circuit.

"It keeps things fun," Daniel Hudson said about a monthly hitting competition between Arizona starters, with dinner on the line.

"It's a friendly competition," he said, before noting that he's never lost.

Each month, the group picks a different category -- hits, sacrifice bunts, on-base percentage -- with the loser buying dinner.

"It keeps things light," Hudson said.

Hudson is hitting .359 with a home run and 12 RBIs this season, anchoring the staff. Not to be forgotten is bullpen teammate Micah Owings, who sports a career .288 average.

"It's been awesome watching him swing it the way he has," Owings said. "It brings back a couple of memories of back when I did it a little bit. My hat's off to him."

Owings credits his offensive success to getting a chance early in his career to swing the bat in the NL, and says that being able to hit is an added plus to any team.

"We've got some starters and guys in the 'pen that can swing it, so it's always nice to give [manager Kirk Gibson] some options," Owings said.

The D-backs' 29 hits and .176 pitchers' average -- entering Monday's action -- both place second in the NL to the Brewers, whose staff has 33 hits with a .193 average.

Hudson gets it done with his arm and his bat

2011-07-17T20:33:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 7/17/2011

PHOENIX -- You couldn't ignore Daniel Hudson on Sunday.

If he wasn't on the mound, pitching the second complete game of his career, he was at the plate, recording the second multi-hit game of his career. And if he wasn't at the plate, then he was crossing it, after hitting his first home run.

"It definitely is [memorable]," Hudson said. "My first home run, you get a complete game against the Dodgers, we're big rivals and everything like that. It feels great."

No, you couldn't ignore Hudson's performance -- nine innings pitched, one run allowed on five hits, a home run and three RBIs -- in the D-backs' 4-1 victory over the Dodgers at Chase Field.

But his teammates tried.

"I said to the guys to kind of sit down and let it be a little bit," catcher Miguel Montero said.

Hudson received the silent treatment, which eventually gave way to a celebration, inside the dugout after hitting what proved to be a game-winning home run off Ted Lilly.

"I knew they were going to do something like that," Hudson said. "I just said, 'Thanks guys, appreciate it. Thanks for the support.' They came around and gave me high-fives after that."

The solo shot was the first of his career, a breaking ball-turned-laser beam that just found its way over the fence in left field.

"I just hit it hard," Hudson said. "It was top-spinning, so I didn't know if it was going to clear the fence, and I think I heard somebody reached out over the fence and brought it back for me."

And as he continued to stifle the Dodgers from the hill, Hudson wasn't done at the plate, driving in two more runs with two outs the very next inning after manager Kirk Gibson elected to stick with the hot-hitting pitcher instead of opting for a pinch-hitter.

"It's Daniel Hudson," Gibson said matter-of-factly. "He's very competitive, hitting over .300, and he wanted to finish the game. He did well."

Hudson once again jumped on a breaking ball, sending it into left field past the outstretched glove of Juan Uribe, to score Chris Young and Ryan Roberts and give himself more than enough offense to work with for his career-high 10th victory of the season.

He also earned himself a place in franchise history, as it was the second time a pitcher has gone nine innings and driven in three runs in the same game. Brandon Webb did it on May 20, 2006, against the Braves.

"It's a good round number to get to," Hudson said of his 10th win. "Obviously, Ian [Kennedy] got his last night, and I was happy for him. We just try to match each other and push each other to win."

The 24-year-old also became the youngest pitcher in franchise history to toss two complete games in a season, the most since Dan Haren threw three in 2009.

"I take pride in going out there, keeping my pitch count low and working deep into games," Hudson said. "I think that's something I work hard in between starts on -- to have enough stamina to throw a lot of pitches."

Hudson methodically worked through the Dodgers' lineup, allowing one run on five hits -- the run scored on a wild pitch -- while striking out three and walking none.

He didn't surrender a hit through the first three innings, threw 113 pitches, didn't allow more than two baserunners in any inning and saved his most efficient frame for last, retiring the Dodgers on nine pitches in the ninth.

"He's very good at closing out things," Gibson said. "He showed a lot of character and he was impressive today. Well rested and sharp.

"I was kind of watching him through the first innings and noticed he was getting through them very efficiently, and thought this might be a day that he might be able to go all the way, and he did."

Gibson stuck with Hudson in the seventh after Los Angeles intentionally walked two batters and manager Don Mattingly replaced Lilly with right-hander Blake Hawksworth.

"I liked the matchup, honestly," Gibson said. "I know Hawksworth's good, and I know righties are better against him."

Lilly was tagged with his 10th loss after pitching 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits. Both intentional walks were his, and he struck out nine.

Roberts opened the scoring in the second inning with a solo home run to left, his 12th of the year.

"I just caught a changeup," Roberts said. "I put a good swing on it, and it went out."

With the series victory, the D-backs keep pace with the Giants in the National League West and sit three and a half games out heading into a four-game set with the Brewers on Monday.

"We want to win every series," Gibson said, "but we certainly feel better now that we won the series.

"We need for us to keep where we're at. It's the only way to get to the Giants."

Hernandez playing his hand well

2011-07-17T20:32:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/17/11

PHOENIX -- David Hernandez knows how to play his hand.

That much D-backs manager Kirk Gibson knows from watching the right-handed setup man-turned-closer during clubhouse card games.

"He's kind of quiet, but he's devious in the way he likes to beat you," Gibson said. "He's very sly and very good."

And the 26-year-old has been very good in locking down saves at the back end of the bullpen since J.J. Putz went on the shelf with an elbow injury, saving six games in as many opportunities and not allowing a hit -- much less a run -- in the process.

"There's a little more adrenaline closing out games vs. coming in for the eighth," Hernandez said on Saturday night.

Hernandez has eight saves and has come around to the "closer's mentality" so critical to success in the ninth inning.

"I don't know if he did initially," Gibson said about having that mentality. "It's something different, but I'm sure he likes it. Why wouldn't you?"

"At first I took [the role] with optimism," Hernandez said. "I didn't know if I was ready, but I put the work in and took it day by day."

Hernandez's jump from starter to reliever to closer has happened in just a year's time.

"In quick time," Gibson said. "The one thing that worries me is, he was a starter last year, he relieved very little last year, and he's come in here and has the most appearances on our team. He seems healthy, he always says he feels good, so I hope he's one of those durable guys."

Hernandez has a 3.19 ERA in 42 1/3 innings.

Kennedy tinkers with mechanics on the fly

2011-07-17T20:31:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/17/11

PHOENIX -- Ian Kennedy wasn't feeling good during Saturday night's fifth inning, when he was walking batters left and right. The problem wasn't physical or mental, but mechanical.

"I needed to find something," Kennedy said, "either to fix it or pitch around it somehow."

He went to the windup, he went to the slide-step, just trying to throw the ball down the middle, but it kept sailing away.

"I was getting high on the ball," he said, "and trying to get on top of it any way I could."

Usually, he said, he stays in the stretch with a man on third base, whereas many pitchers go to the windup. And without his control, he first tried a slide-step.

"It helped for a couple of pitches, then I knew I needed to go to the windup," he said.

And it worked, as he retired Andre Ethier on a popup to shortstop with the bases loaded.

"It helped," Kennedy said. "It felt like my hands were a lot quicker."

Kennedy walked three batters that inning -- something manager Kirk Gibson said he'd never seen out of the 26-year-old -- and allowed a hit and a run, but he escaped relatively unscathed.

"I felt like I needed to change some things in order to get control of the ball," Kennedy said. "I don't usually change things during the game."

Drew does not regret missed triple

2011-07-17T20:29:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/17/11

PHOENIX -- Stephen Drew would do it again.

"That's how I play," Drew said about unsuccessfully trying to stretch a double into a triple on Saturday night. "It was just unfortunate that the ball bounced right to [Andre Ethier]."

Leading off the third inning, Drew laced a pitch to right-center off Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda. When he was halfway between first and second, the ball bounced off the padding and directly to right fielder Ethier.

"I saw him running sideways, so my initial read was that if he's running sideways, I've got a good chance to get to third," Drew said. "I had no clue where the ball was at."

By the time Drew rounded second, Ethier had the ball, and he relayed it to Rafael Furcal, who threw a strike to Juan Uribe at third to beat Drew by a few steps for the first out of the inning.

"I think if you saw [third-base coach] Matty [Williams], he was telling him to hold up," manager Kirk Gibson said. "We hope the guys have better judgment on plays like that, but I'd rather continue to hold reins on the guys than whip them."

Drew has five triples on the season, tied for seventh in the National League.

"Off the bat, it looked like a triple," Drew said. "My initial thought was to keep running, because I thought [Ethier] was still running, and that's a chance I'm going to take.

"If I had to do it again, I would do it again."

Allen put right to test in return to D-backs

2011-07-16T20:35:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 07/16/11

PHOENIX -- How's this for your first at-bat back in the big leagues: pinch-hitting with two on, two out and down two in the ninth inning.

"You get a little antsy," said D-backs first baseman Brandon Allen, who was recalled from Triple-A before Friday's series opener against hte Dodgers. "But I felt comfortable."

Pinch-hitting and facing Dodgers reliever Javy Guerra with the D-backs trailing, 6-4, on Friday, Allen took a ball, then a hack, then another ball to put the count in his favor, before fouling a Guerra fastball straight back to the screen.

"I turned around and asked the ump, he said it was a little up and in," Allen said about the 2-1 pitch. "I was just a little anxious. I wouldn't take that pitch back. I'd let it go."

The next pitch, Allen was caught looking at a fastball low in the zone and hopped out of the box in disgust as the D-backs took the series-opening loss.

"I thought it was low," Allen said. "But I guess it's too close to take."

Allen was in the lineup for Saturday's game against right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, hitting seventh and playing first base.

"I'll be ready whenever they call on me," he said. "Lefty, righty, it doesn't matter. If they want me in there, I'll be in there."

All-Star event to feature 'Glee' choreographer

2011-06-09T22:45:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/09/11

PHOENIX -- The first MLB All-Star Saturday Night Charity Dance Party will feature "Glee" choreographer Zach Woodlee.

Woodlee will bring his talents to the Phoenix Convention Center on July 9 to teach and judge a special All-Star dance during the event.

Attendees will have the chance to win prizes, and net proceeds from the event will be divided equally between the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Stand Up To Cancer and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Participants will dance to an eclectic mix of music throughout the event, which will run from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Participants will have the chance to win prizes that include a VIP Glee package to visit the set of Glee during the 2012 season.

Additional VIP guests will be on hand, including MLB legends, guest DJs and other celebrities to be announced closer to the event.

D-backs fulfill draft strategy, nab power arms

2011-06-08T22:40:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/08/11

PHOENIX -- D-backs scouting director Ray Montgomery knows his numbers.

"Forty-six percent of the rosters are pitchers," he said. "It takes a lot of pitchers to win. Our draft focus was that."

And the organization set that tone early, beginning with the D-backs first two picks of the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft, when it selected right-handed pitchers Trevor Bauer (third overall) and Archie Bradley (seventh overall).

"You come out there with those two arms at the top and with what we added behind those guys," Montgomery said on a conference call on Wednesday. "We certainly feel very good about what we accomplished the last three days."

Bauer, whom the D-backs had been scouting since the age of 12, is a junior at UCLA and went 13-2 with a 1.25 ERA this season. He completed 10 games, striking out 203 in 136 2/3 innings and walked only 36.

Bradley, an 18-year-old from Broken Arrow High School in Oklahoma, went 12-1 with a 0.29 ERA while leading his team to the state championship in his senior season. The hard-throwing Bradley also starred at quarterback and has committed to the University of Oklahoma to play football.

"We tried to get power arms," Montgomery said. "I don't think you can ever have enough of that."

Rounding out the team's Day 1 selections was Kent State left-hander Andrew Chafin, taken 43rd overall in the compensation round.

Chafin, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound junior, underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2009 and missed all of the 2010 season, but returned as the team's Friday starter and went 8-1 with a 2.02 ERA in 12 starts this season. He recorded two shutouts, struck out 105 batters in 89 innings and walked 23.

The team picked up where it left off on Day 2 of the draft by selecting Coastal Carolina starting pitcher Anthony Meo, who many project as a middle reliever at the next level but who, Montgomery said, will pitch to his comfort zone in the professional ranks.

"At this point, I think we send him out there as a starter," Montgomery said. "That's what he's done and that's what he's comfortable doing."

Meo recently threw a no-hitter in a Big South Tournament game and has a repertoire of an above-average fastball, a slider, a cutter and a changeup that's still a work in progress.

"He's got the change, but at this point it's just the pitch that's behind the other two," Montgomery said.

The four early selections of pitchers outlined the D-backs' draft strategy, as they took 28 pitchers in total, eight of those being left-handers.

Of the team's 52 picks, 38 were from the college ranks and 14 were fresh out of high school.

Some, like third-round selection Justin Bianco, are still playing in the high school state playoffs.

Bianco, from Peters Township High School in western Pennsylvania, is a 6-foot center fielder with power and speed potential. He's hitting close to .600 on the season and has a left-handed bat that Montgomery likes.

"He's a good runner and has a good body," Montgomery said, noting that coming from the Northeast, he might be a little behind repetition-wise.

The selection of Bianco signaled another trend within the organization's drafting technique this year: choosing players up the middle of the diamond. In all, the D-backs took 13 players designated to fill those positions (catcher, middle infield, center field) and spent four picks on catchers.

In the fifth round, they took Michael Perez out of San Juan, Puerto Rico and in the 15th round, Bauer's collegiate backstop Steve Rodriguez out of UCLA.

"We like his intangibles," Montgomery said of Rodriguez, who recorded a .996 fielding percentage while throwing out 59 percent of runners attempting to steal last season.

The team selected Kansas State right-hander Evan Marshall in the fourth round and TCU right-hander Kyle Winkler in the 10th, both picks representing upside on the mound.

Marshall served both starting and relieving roles at Kansas State and Winkler, who was last seen walking off the mound with an injury in the NCAA Regionals, was previously drafted by Montgomery during his time with the Brewers.

"We have a lot of history with Kyle," he said. "He has a nice package of stuff."

While a number of pitchers that the D-backs drafted might be thrust into new roles upon their arrivals in the Minor Leagues, Montgomery said he wouldn't rule out anything at the time.

"We're not going to restrict anybody," he said.

Montgomery said that the team has agreed to terms with a few picks, somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 players.

"Some will be slower than others," he said. "But we're looking forward to getting them signed and on their paths to the big leagues."

D-backs select Matt Williams' son in 49th round

2011-06-08T22:37:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/08/11

PHOENIX -- The D-backs selected third base coach Matt Williams' son, Jacob, in the 49th round of the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday.

Williams, a 6-foot-1 switch-hitting first baseman from South Mountain Community College, hit .264 with no home runs and 22 RBIs on the season.

He played in 54 games, 49 of which he started, and had an on-base percentage of .399.

He graduated from Scottsdale, Ariz. Brophy Prep in 2009.

Anthony Meo highlights Diamondbacks' Day 2 arms haul

2011-06-07T22:42:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/07/11

PHOENIX -- The D-backs made a commitment to pitching on Monday by selecting right-handers Trevor Bauer and Archie Bradley with the third and seventh picks, respectively, in the first round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.

The organization picked up where they left off on Tuesday, and selected 17 pitchers -- 11 of them right-handers -- on Day 2 of the Draft.

"After yesterday, we felt very strong coming into today -- and I think we just built on that," D-backs scouting director Ray Montgomery said on a conference call. "We added a little bit more on the mound, and I don't think you ever can get enough of that."

In the second round, the team selected right-hander Anthony Meo, a junior from Coastal Carolina. Many believe Meo, who features a four-pitch repertoire with a low- to mid-90's fastball, is best suited for the bullpen. But Montgomery said the team would put him wherever he feels most comfortable.

"At this point, I think we send him out as a starter," Montgomery said. "That's what he's done, that's what he's comfortable doing. His workload has been good, and he's handled it well. We'll handle him in that role until he tells us differently."

The team followed up its pick of Meo with high school outfielder Justin Bianco from Peters Township (Penn.) High School.

Bianco, Montgomery said, has an above-average arm, with above-average power.

"He has a good body, and he's a good runner," he said. "He's young, and he's a great kid."

Bianco is hitting close to .600 on the season, as his team battles through the Pennsylvania high school playoffs.

On the day, the D-backs selected 22 players from the college ranks and seven from high school.

They added two catchers -- including the college backstop for No. 3 pick Bauer, Steve Rodriguez -- and made a commitment to the middle of the field, taking three shortstops, two center fielders and a second baseman.

"We focused on middle-of-the-field, athletic guys," Montgomery said. "It's gone beyond what I could have expected."

D-backs selections for Rounds 6-30:

• Round 6: RHP, Matt Price: A finalist for the NCBWA's Stopper of the Year award, the South Carolina sophomore was an All-SEC selection and recorded 17 saves with a 2.25 ERA. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Price struck out 63 batters in 48 innings, holding opponents to a .202 batting average.

• Round 7: CF, Ben Roberts: Roberts is a multi-sport star from Missoula Sentinel High School in Montana, and is ranked among the best prospects in this year's graduating class. In 21 games this season, Roberts hit .323 with three home runs and 21 RBIs. He is committed to Washington State.

• Round 8: RHP, Jesse Darrah: Darrah, a junior from Fresno Pacific University, broke the school record for strikeouts with 101 in 88 2/3 innings pitched last season. He was one of the most dominant pitchers at the NAIA level, and struck out three batters in three exhibition innings against the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies.

• Round 9: SS, John Leonard: The 6-foot-2, 170-pound Leonard, from Connellsville Area High School in Pennyslvania, is committed to North Carolina State.

• Round 10: RHP, Kyle Winkler: Winkler was 8-2 with a 1.39 ERA in 13 starts this season for TCU. He struck out 99 batters in 90 2/3 innings, completed two games and held hitters to a .200 batting average. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound junior was a member of the 2010 Collegiate National Team.

• Round 11: LHP, William Locante: A lefty from Cumberland University, the 6-foot, 190-pound junior went 8-2 with a 2.11 ERA in 13 starts, posting two shutouts and striking out 118 in 81 innings. Prior to Cumberland, Locante played two seasons at Tennessee. Opponents hit .179 against him in 2011.

• Round 12: SS, Joshua Parr: The junior shortstop from Illinois batted .302 with two home runs and 36 RBIs for the Illini in 2011. He stole 17 bases in 19 attempts, was an All-Big Ten second-team selection and was named to the all-tournament team at the NCAA Fullerton Regional.

• Round 13: LHP, John Pedrotty: The 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior left-hander went 7-2 with a 4.62 ERA for Holy Cross. He completed two games, struck out 56 batters in 60 1/3 innings and walked 26.

• Round 14: RHP, Cody Geyer: Geyer, a second baseman/pitcher from Walters State Community College in North Carolina, holds the North Carolina high school record for career home runs. He was named first-team All-State and Rawlings Top 200 All-American in 2010.

• Round 15: C, Steven Rodriguez: The junior catcher from UCLA hit .196 with no home runs and 17 RBIs during his 2011 campaign. The 6-foot-1 switch-hitter had a .996 fielding percentage, and threw out 59 percent of attempted basestealers.

• Round 16: LHP, Michael Blake: The junior from Hawaii saw action at both pitcher and first base and played 47 games, batting .241 with 16 runs and 23 RBIs. On the mound, he pitched 8 1/3 innings in 10 appearances with a 3.24 ERA.

• Round 17: LHP, Adam Choplick: Choplick, a high school pitcher from Denton, Texas, signed a letter of intent to Oklahoma, and was a two-sport star at Billy Ryan High School. He threw a perfect game in late April, striking out 16 batters. He played first base for the majority of his senior season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

• Round 18: LHP, Taylor Siemens: Siemens, a 6-foot-5 senior from California Baptist University, went 9-2 with two complete games in the spring. He struck out 95 in 105 1/3 innings.

• Round 19: 2B, Danny Pulfer: The Oregon second baseman hit a team-leading .351 and stole nine bases for the Ducks. The 5-foot-9 junior hit two home runs, drove in 20 runs, had an on-base percentage of .426 and was named Pac-10 All-Conference.

• Round 20: SS, Tommy Williams: The 6-foot-2 high school shortstop hails from Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) High School.

• Round 21: 1B, John Griffin: The All-Conference USA First Team selection at Central Florida led the conference in home runs (19), slugging percentage and total bases (166). The senior hit .343 in 2011.

• Round 22: SS, Garrett Weber: The Fresno State senior hit .274 with five home runs and 33 RBIs. He walked 19 times, struck out 32 times and scored 30 runs.

• Round 23: 3B, Ryan Court: The Illinois State senior hit .323 with six home runs and 35 RBIs in 2011. He stole seven bases and was one of 30 finalists for the Lowe's Senior Class Award.

• Round 24: RHP, Matt Ogden: Committed to Michigan, the 6-foot-3 right-hander hails from Smoky Hill High School in Colorado.

• Round 25: OF, George Williams: Williams is a 6-foot, 182-pound outfielder from North Carolina State.

• Round 26: RHP, Austin Platt: Platt, a right-handed pitcher from Braden River (Fla.) High School, is 6-foot-3, 190 pounds.

• Round 27: RHP, Wyatt Strahan: The 6-foot-5, 200-pound pitcher was 6-4 with a 1.48 ERA at Villa Park High School in California. He is committed to Southern California.

• Round 28: RHP, Truman Sample: The Rogers State junior was drafted by the Rangers after last season, and went 2-0 with a 4.56 ERA and four saves in 23 2/3 innings.

• Round 29: 3B, Carter Bell: The junior from Oregon State hit .299 with one home run and 22 RBIs in 2011. He played for Team Canada last summer in the World Baseball Championships. He was drafted in 2008 by the Giants, but did not sign.

• Round 30: RHP, Dexter Price: The Auburn transfer was 6-3 with a 2.39 ERA in 79 innings at the University of South Carolina Beaufort.

D-backs show plenty of fight, but fall in 11

2011-06-05T22:31:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/05/11

PHOENIX -- Despite two shutouts and a ninth-inning meltdown, the Nationals came into hot Arizona, faced a red-hot D-backs team, and escaped with a series split.

Michael Morse's grand slam to center field punctuated a five-run 11th inning after the Nationals blew a three-run ninth-inning lead, as the visitors ended the D-backs' seven-game homestand with a 9-4 victory in front of 23,129 at Chase Field.

"There's a lot of opportunities that were missed," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "It was a very intense baseball game today, it was entertaining, it was well-played, but somebody had to lose, and unfortunately, it was us."

Morse's grand slam, which came off left-handed reliever Joe Paterson and landed just above the yellow line in center, followed a bases-loaded walk to Rick Ankiel that drove in what proved to be the game's winning run in an exciting, ejection-filled contest.

"The team battled back and I didn't get the job done," Paterson said. "I just had to throw strikes versus Ankiel, and I didn't do that."

Trailing by three runs in the ninth, Arizona closed the gap with tough at-bat after tough at-bat against Nationals closer Drew Storen, who allowed back-to-back singles to Stephen Drew and Chris Young, then followed with back-to-back walks to Miguel Montero and Juan Miranda, forcing in a run.

Todd Coffey entered and allowed a sacrifice fly to Melvin Mora before being relieved by Sean Burnett, who entered and allowed a pinch-hit RBI groundout to Xavier Nady -- who beat out a game-ending double-play by half a step -- to tie the game.

"They had great at-bats," Gibson said. "The guys played hard, they didn't give in and it was a good ballgame. We just didn't come out on top when it was all said and done."

Gibson watched the final three innings from his office in the clubhouse after being the fourth ejection of first-base umpire Gary Darling's crew in the eighth inning, three innings after the trading of hit-by-pitches throughout the series culminated in a warning from home-plate umpire Rob Drake.

Gibson was ejected along with relief pitcher Esmerling Vazquez, who hit and drew the ire of Nationals shortstop Danny Espinosa.

"Batters get hit in games," Gibson said. "It was a good baseball game, that's the way I look at it. There was no intent there -- we were playing baseball. I had no problem. The umpires did what they thought was right and we play by the rules."

One batter later, after Aaron Heilman was brought in from the bullpen, Wilson Ramos hit a three-run home run to left field for a 4-1 Nationals lead, took a leisurely stroll around the bases and drew the ire of D-backs third-base coach Matt Williams.

"It was no big deal," Gibson said. "None of it is offensive to me."

A warning was issued to D-backs starting pitcher Ian Kennedy in the fifth inning after he hit Jayson Werth on the left shoulder, the third hit-by-pitch for Werth of the four-game series.

"In Werth's case, you have to crowd him," Gibson said. "We're not throwing at him, we're trying to throw him tight. Espinosa and Morse the same way, these guys are big and they like to get their arms out over the plate, so you have to pitch them in."

Nationals starter Jason Marquis and manager Jim Riggleman were ejected in the sixth after Marquis hit Justin Upton, his fourth hit-by-pitch of the series.

"I don't think there was necessarily intent, everybody's trying to win a ballgame," Upton said. "But at some point, the pitcher has to hit his spot. If you're trying to come in and show me in, then hit the mitt. Getting hit [four] times in three days is pretty ridiculous."

Riggleman agreed that there was no intent on Washington's part.

"I can promise you we did not one time have any intent to hit Upton," he said. "I feel terrible that he got hit four times. We didn't want to hit him. It's freakish that the same guy kept getting hit."

After the ejection, Tyler Clippard was summoned from the bullpen with a one-run lead, one out and runners on first and second, and he struck out Stephen Drew and Chris Young to escape any damage.

Clippard pitched 2 1/3 superb innings of relief, striking out six and allowing one run on one hit -- a Kelly Johnson solo home run in the eighth -- before being relieved by Storen.

Until Johnson's home run, his 11th of the season, the D-backs were limited to three hits in the game. They finished with six.

Pitching under the weather, Kennedy went seven innings, allowed one run on five hits, struck out three and walked three.

"Personally, I felt pretty bad," he said about battling the flu for a week. "I just tried to get as many innings as I could out of myself."

Werth opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the second inning, scoring Roger Bernadina, who had three hits on the game.

The D-backs finished their homestand with a 4-3 record and sit a half-game behind the Giants in the National League West.

"We played tough," Upton said. "We were battling, grinding, and we never feel like the game's over. We were able to put together a rally, we fought, they just came out on top."

Kirk Gibson, Esmerling Vazquez ejected after hit-by-pitch

2011-06-05T22:26:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/05/11

PHOENIX -- D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said it was just baseball. Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said it was freakish.

But whatever it was, both managers and two pitchers were ejected in Sunday's 9-4 win for the Nationals at Chase Field, after a series-long swap of hit-by-pitches from the two teams.

Home-plate umpire Rob Drake issued a warning to both benches in the fifth inning after D-backs starter Ian Kennedy plunked Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth on the left shoulder for his third hit-by-pitch of the series.

Two batters later, Kennedy nicked the jersey of Michael Morse but was allowed to stay in the game.

"Once we give warnings, if we deem it's intentional, then there are ejections," crew chief Gary Darling said. "The rest of it will be in our report to the league."

Kennedy said there was no intent in his hit batters, that he threw two-seam fastballs that just got away and that he agreed with Drake's decision not to throw him out.

"I think he was paying attention," Kennedy said. "He was a very good umpire, we were pounding [Morse] in during this series, and it was great on his part to see that, because, obviously, it just nicked his jersey."

But an inning later, Marquis hit Upton -- the right fielder's fourth hit-by-pitch of the series -- and was ejected, along with Riggleman, per MLB rules.

"We aren't throwing at anybody," Riggleman said. "We are trying to win the game. We don't want [Marquis] coming out of that game. He doesn't want to come out of that game. It's freakish that the same guy kept getting hit, and I'm disappointed that Jason didn't get to pitch, but somehow or another, we came out with a win."

Two innings later, D-backs reliever Esmerling Vazquez hit Danny Espinosa and both he and Gibson were shown the door.

"Batters get hit in games," Gibson said. "It was a good baseball game, that's the way I look at it. There was no intent there -- we were playing baseball. I had no problem. The umpires did what they thought was right and we play by the rules."

In the 11th, Espinosa was once again hit by a pitch, but D-backs left-handed reliever Joe Paterson wasn't ejected.

When asked after the game if the crew deemed only the sixth and eighth-inning hit-by-pitches from Marquis and Vazquez intentional, Darling said, "That's right."

Saunders spending time on highlight reels

2011-06-05T22:24:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/05/11

PHOENIX -- D-backs starter Joe Saunders found himself on ESPN's SportsCenter two nights in a row for two different reasons.

On Friday, he was wearing bubblegum on the top of his hat, courtesy of closer J.J. Putz.

"I saw that," Saunders said. "My friendly pitching coach came in and told me. I was giving him a fist and he said, 'Hey, how's it going. You have bubblegum on your hat.'"

On Saturday, he was diving and making a backhanded toss to first base that earned him a spot on SportsCenter's top plays.

The play was a replica of one earlier in the year that he couldn't make in Chicago.

"I can make that play," he said. "I was mad for not making that play because I've made it a ton of times, so it was a good play."

Saunders said that when he was with the Angels, Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki would often test him by bunting.

"I've had some practice with it and finally proved the fact that I could make that play."

He nabbed Ian Desmond on the third-inning play and tabbed Putz as the team's main culprit in the clubhouse -- and dugout -- pranks.

"J.J. usually tries to get a different guy each time," Saunders said. "Whoever's dumb enough like me not to pay attention."

Duke excited for homecoming in Pittsburgh

2011-06-05T22:23:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/05/11

PHOENIX -- Welcome back Zach.

Wednesday will serve as a homecoming of sorts for D-backs starter Zach Duke, who is slated to start against the Pirates at PNC Park.

Duke pitched six seasons in Pittsburgh after being selected by the Pirates in the 20th round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft.

"It's good to get back there," he said. "I spent a lot of time there, had some good memories, had some bad memories, but it will be good."

Duke earned an All-Star appearance with the Pirates in 2009, during a campaign in which he went 11-16 with a 4.06 ERA.

He is scheduled to face Paul Maholm. The two were teammates for six seasons.

Duke is 31-31 with a 4.26 ERA in 81 career starts at PNC Park.

"It's a pitchers' ballpark for sure," he said. "Left field gets deep in a hurry. It plays very fair, and it's a good place to play."

Saunders credits healthy leg for success

2011-06-05T22:21:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/05/11

PHOENIX -- D-backs starter Joe Saunders said he kept it "On the hush-hush."

But after his third straight win on Saturday, the left-hander opened up about a leg issue that was bothering him for the first month and a half of the season.

"Knock on wood," he said. "It's not a factor anymore."

Saunders said that after his first start of the season, against the Cubs in cold Chicago, he tweaked something in his left leg that made it hard to push off the rubber and keep the ball down in the strike zone.

"It was just sore," he said. "It was tough to me to push off like I was capable of doing, and it was a struggle to go deep in games.

"I'm feeling a lot better now. It's nice to see the velocity come back. It gives you more confidence."

Saunders has pitched at least seven innings in two of his last three starts and has allowed two earned runs or less in three of his last four starts. He is 3-5 with a 4.32 ERA in 12 starts this season

"I think he has more life to his pitches," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "He's had pretty good movement and has kept the opponents off balance pretty well."

D-backs cruise behind stellar Saunders outing

2011-06-04T22:19:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/04/11

PHOENIX -- Pitching beats hitting. Or, as of late, D-backs pitching blanks Nationals hitting.

For the second time in as many games, D-backs pitchers shut out Nationals hitters as Joe Saunders pitched seven superb innings, leading the team to a 2-0 victory over Washington on Saturday in front of 26,199 at Chase Field.

After going winless over the first month and a half of the season, Saunders picked up his third consecutive victory, allowing just two hits while striking out five.

"I had good command," Saunders said. "The defense was awesome behind me, I got some ground balls, which was nice, and Hank [Blanco] was awesome back there."

And for the second time in as many starts, Saunders had to wiggle out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning before hitting cruise control.

"It was a little shaky in the first inning for me," he said. "These bases-loaded [situations] in the first inning are getting kind of ridiculous. I'm getting tired of that, but I felt good today."

After allowing a leadoff single to Jerry Hairston, hitting Jayson Werth with one out and walking Danny Espinosa with two outs, the left-hander worked his way out of the inning by inducing a flyout from Wilson Ramos.

He allowed only two baserunners the rest of the way and credited his changeup command as something that contributed to his success.

"I think I probably threw more than normal," Saunders said. "With a team like that, they are aggressive, and I tried to work that against them the best that I could, and I was fortunate to get some ground balls and just have some fun out there."

Stephen Drew tripled home Kelly Johnson with two outs in the bottom of the first to provide the D-backs with the only run the staff needed as the team posted back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 2009.

The shutout was Arizona's fifth this season and its fourth victory in six games this homestand.

"It's huge to get wins when they're picking us up and we're not getting a lot of offense," Drew said. "But at the same time, we're getting timely hitting, and it's a good feeling to have."

Opposing Saunders, Nationals starter Livan Hernandez turned in seven solid innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He struck out three and walked four.

"He's a veteran guy, he's a gamer and he pitched very well," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said.

The two starting pitchers combined to sit the opposition down in order nine times.

In the seventh, Xavier Nady smacked a double to right field to score Chris Young, who singled to lead off the inning and was running on the pitch.

"That was great execution and a huge, huge run," Gibson said.

Nady, a part-time player who has started in each of the past three games, was hitting .467 in 15 career at-bats against Hernandez entering the game.

"With him, you just try to swing at strikes," Nady said. "Fortunately, I kind of saw a little bit of everything and I was able to put a good swing on the pitch."

After Saunders was lifted in the seventh for pinch-hitter Sean Burroughs, David Hernandez worked his way through a two-on, two-out jam in the eighth by striking out Mike Morse, and J.J. Putz nailed down his 17th save of the season in the ninth.

Each team recorded four hits. Hairston singled and doubled for the Nationals, who were shut out in back-to-back games for the second time this season and the ninth time overall.

Hernandez has been involved in five of those shutouts.

"It's not something I can control," he said. "I go and try to pitch good. That's all."

With the victory, the D-backs improved to 18-4 in their past 22 games and sit a half-game ahead of the Giants in the National League West. Ian Kennedy faces Jason Marquis Sunday afternoon to wrap up the home stand.

"It's a very good accomplishment," Gibson said of the shutouts. "We have a game tomorrow, and we hope Ian's on his game. I've had confidence in these guys all along, from the get-go, even when things didn't look good -- but our rotation has gelled pretty good."

Putz a positive influence on young Paterson

2011-06-04T22:14:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/04/11

PHOENIX -- J.J. Putz took left-handed reliever Joe Paterson under his wing early in Spring Training.

"He adopted him right away," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "I think it's been huge."

Paterson pitched the ninth inning of Friday night's 4-0 win over the Nationals, striking out one and lowering his ERA to 0.66 on the season.

"Last night was a big inning he threw," Gibson said. "A lot of guys were hanging, and at the same time, it helped me develop him for some future situations. He got some pretty good righties out there."

Paterson is in his first big league season and Gibson said he couldn't measure the impact that Putz has had on the youngster.

"J.J. made him feel comfortable," Gibson said. "You could see it in his eyes early. He was a Rule 5 guy, he knows the deal, and he was trying to impress people.

"J.J. was right there for him and he walked him through it."

Owings getting the job done out of the bullpen

2011-06-04T22:13:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/04/11

PHOENIX -- In his second stint with the D-backs, Micah Owings is excelling in a relief role.

"I feel good," Owings said. "I just throw the best I can whenever I get the opportunity to get out there in whatever the situation is."

Owings made his season debut in a starting role on May 21 against the Twins, pitching 5 1/3 innings and allowing three runs on seven hits.

He made a second start five days later, earning his first victory of the season by beating the Rockies, but was bumped from the rotation when Zach Duke returned from injury.

In three relief appearances since, Owings has pitched four scoreless innings, allowing only one hit.

"He's pitched great," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "He's deceiving, and in the bullpen role he's been in, he's gotten better and better."

Owings last pitched on Thursday and struck out three over two innings.

"He just mowed them down," Gibson said.

The 28-year-old said consistency on the mound has been his primary focus.

"I know that's how I can help the team," he said. "Consistency and control. I've never really bought into speeds and radar guns and things like that."

Upton, Heilman dismiss retaliation talk

2011-06-03T22:07:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/03/11

PHOENIX -- Late in Thursday night's game, D-backs right fielder Justin Upton and Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth were plunked in back-to-back innings.

With the Nationals ahead 4-1, Upton was hit by left-handed reliever Sean Burnett in the left shoulder.

An inning later, Heilman hit Werth with a fastball in the left elbow and on Friday, both D-backs dismissed any sort of retaliation was involved.

"It was a coincidence," Upton said. "With two strikes, he obviously wasn't trying to hit me and I think one just got away from Aaron. There's nothing there."

Heilman, who allowed two runs on two hits in an inning's worth of work, said he had to work the inside half of the plate against Werth.

"He's a tough hitter," Heilman said. "You have to pitch him aggressively and pitch inside."

Werth was not in the lineup on Friday.

The right-handed reliever has been struggling of late and Kirk Gibson said it was a priority to get him back on track.

"I feel good," Heilman said. "Certainly last night I didn't get the results I wanted. It's a long season and I'll just keep grinding it out and battling it out."

Montero working on sweep tags at home

2011-06-03T22:05:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/03/11

PHOENIX -- Before Friday's game, D-backs bullpen and catching coach Glenn Sherlock was working with catcher Miguel Montero on sweep tags at home plate.

"Obviously there has been a lot going on with tag plays and things at home plate," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "We always try to do something at home and sharpen things up."

Gibson said the team has had conversations about it, but he said not to read much into Montero's pregame practice.

He also explained his thoughts on the recent hot-button topic of catchers blocking home plate in light of Giants catcher Buster Posey being injured just over a week ago.

"I'll just say this: I thought the play was within the rules," Gibson said. "And I'll tell you from the way I looked at it as a player, if you're coming down the line and the catcher's up in front of the plate, you don't know. A lot of guys will bait you to slide, but when it's a close play like that, you have no idea if that ball's going to be caught or if it's going to be mishandled. "[It] is bang-bang. So if you assume it's going to be caught -- lets assume its going to be caught right there -- if he slides, is he going to be safe or is he going to be out? So it's a baseball play and I think that he chose to make sure the ball was dislodged and it's an unfortunate play, but I do feel it was within the rules. Those plays have been going on for many years.

"I don't know this but it'd be interesting -- I would say probably more runners get hurt at home plate in collisions than catchers over time, in my guess. I have no basis; it's a baseball play so right now it's within the rules. If they should change it then we'll adapt to it."

When asked if he instructs his catchers to avoid contact, Gibson said he leaves that up to Spurlock.

"But I played with a guy, Mike Scioscia," Gibson said. "He was pretty much on the plate, and his theory was if you're on the plate, you're deeper and you have a better chance for reading it. And you're also taking it more head on. He would stay there and in the end, if he didn't have to, he would just go down and roll. I watched him get crushed, getting knocked out at home plate and hanging on to the ball.

"But getting back to your original question, I think the play was within the rules."

Gibson scratches Miranda from lineup again

2011-06-03T22:04:00.000-07:00

HOENIX -- For the second straight night, D-backs first baseman Juan Miranda was not in the starting lineup.

"He's fine," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said, before saying that he just decided to go with Xavier Nady on Friday night.

Miranda was a late scratch from Thursday's lineup because he wasn't feeling well, but he did make a pinch-hit performance in the seventh inning, grounding out to first base.

Gibson said following the loss that Miranda's scratch was related to a collision with pitcher Daniel Hudson the night before.

"He didn't feel tip top so we made a change," Gibson said. "It was something with his neck."

Miranda said on Friday that he hit his neck on the field during the collision, but that he's feeling better.

"I'm ready," he said, adding that he expected to be back in the lineup on Saturday.

Diamondbacks, METRO unveil All-Star trains

2011-06-03T22:01:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/03/11

PHOENIX -- Luis Gonzalez wanted to take the train for a ride.

"I don't think they'd let me," he said. "But it has a lot of power on it."

On Friday, Gonzalez was in the driver's seat of the first All-Star Game-themed METRO train at the METRO Operations and Maintenance Center on a day that marks a 40-day countdown to the Midsummer Classic in Phoenix.

The train is the first of six wrapped with images of MLB All-Stars that will serve as one of the most utilized vehicles of transportation during the All-Star festivities in July.

"METRO light rail is a big part of the All-Star Game," D-backs president and CEO Derrick Hall said.

"It's going to be an important way to transport people very easily to and from the game and its surrounding events, and we've worked well with them to make sure we could get some of these wrapped up."

A special guest crew of D-backs outfielder Justin Upton, MLB vice president of western operations and special projects Laurel Prieb, METRO director of community relations John Farry and City of Phoenix councilman Michael Johnson accompanied Gonzalez in driving the train out of the garage for the unveiling.

Upton -- the 23-year-old right fielder, MLB All-Star FanFest spokesperson and All-Star Game hopeful -- had his image plastered on each side of the train.

"It's great," he said of the partnership. "In general, having the All-Star Game here is a big event for us. It's huge for our city, and I think we deserve it because it's a great place for people to come and it's a great place to enjoy a weekend of baseball."

Upton and Gonzalez, a five-time All-Star who is serving as MLB's All-Star summer ambassador, are serving as the team's most visible figures.

"This is exciting," Gonzalez said. "The league awarding the game to Phoenix is a great move and it's going to be a great time."

Hall said the partnership between MLB, the D-backs and METRO began about a year ago and was finalized six weeks prior to Friday's ceremony, with design of the exterior and panels on the interior.

"We've been really excited to see how the final product was," he said. "So to come out here and see it in its entirety, we're thrilled."

Johnson spoke in front of a small crowd of people and was also thrilled with the prospects of the area hosting another prolific sporting event.

"We have the All-Star Game, we have an all-star team and we have an all-star city," he said. "We're glad to have the opportunity to showcase what being an All-Star is all about."

METRO has a stop outside of Chase Field and nine spots that fans can park and ride to the ballpark.

"We're definitely committed to them," Hall said. "And they know how important we are to them and vice versa."

The MLB All-Star Game will be held on July 12 at Chase Field.

"Having the decorative stuff around the city is really making it feel closer than it is," Upton said.

Offense silenced in series opener

2011-06-02T21:56:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 6/3/2011

PHOENIX -- A comeback wasn't in the cards for the D-backs on Thursday night.

Propelled by three first-inning runs and an impressive pitching performance from Jordan Zimmermann, the Nationals defeated the D-backs, 6-1, in front of 17,810 at Chase Field.

"We knew coming in he had good stuff," D-backs right fielder Justin Upton said. "He showed it tonight."

The D-backs hit a number of balls hard but couldn't muster more than a run against the 25-year-old right-hander, who threw seven innings, allowed six hits and struck out four.

"He pitched and pounded the zone," Upton said. "We were able to barrel him up a few times, but it didn't work out for us."

Zimmermann walked one, singled twice at the plate and earned his third victory of the season.

"Very efficient," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said of Zimmermann's performance. "He's sneaky, has good velocity and he throws the ball good."

Opposing Zimmermann was left-hander Zach Duke, who found himself behind the eight-ball early in his first home start, allowing three runs on four hits in the first inning.

After Duke struck out Roger Bernadina to open the game, Ian Desmond doubled on a high fly ball that evaded D-backs second baseman Kelly Johnson in shallow right field.

"Kelly would tell you he wishes he would have made it," Gibson said. "But it's not an easy play by any means.

"Playing him up the middle, you're running an extremely long way and your eyes are bouncing, you're all out and then you're just basically running to a spot and hoping you can throw your glove up."

Two batters later, Mike Morse singled Desmond home. Danny Espinosa followed with a single before Wilson Ramos doubled two runs home on an 0-2 pitch to deep center field.

"I didn't execute that pitch," Duke said of the pitch to Ramos. "I left a cutter up in the middle, he hit it hard and obviously that's the turning point in the game."

Duke settled down after that inning and pitched five frames, allowing four runs on 10 hits while striking out six. He walked none.

"The first inning got out of control for me," he said. "I was able to keep us in it and give us a chance, but unfortunately we didn't get it done tonight."

Washington pitchers bent, but did not break during a pair of two-on, two-out at-bats that could have provided the spark the D-backs needed to cue their 18th comeback of the season.

In both the fifth and eighth innings, Arizona hitters squared up on the baseball and laced pitches to right field, but both times right at Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth.

"The D-backs hit the ball hard," said Zimmermann, who induced an inning-ending flyout from Ryan Roberts in the fifth, stranding two runners. "And some that were hard hit but right at guys. I got a little lucky there."

The D-backs were finally rewarded by scraping across a run in the seventh on a RBI groundout by Gerardo Parra, scoring Miguel Montero, who doubled to lead off the seventh.

Washington added two runs in the ninth off Aaron Heilman on a triple from Bernadina and a single from Morse, his fourth of the game for a career-high four hits, extending his hit streak to 11 games.

"We didn't play very good," Gibson said. "Not a lot went right for us. Just one of those nights."

Upton had two hits, extending his hitting streak to five games.

"We swung the bats well," he said. "But they played good defense. That's baseball sometimes."

Putz named Major's top reliever for May

2011-06-02T21:51:00.000-07:00

PHOENIX -- On the field, D-backs closer J.J Putz has recorded 16 saves with a 1.88 ERA.

Off the field, he has been every bit the stabilizing leader at the back end of the bullpen that the team envisioned when signed him in the offseason.

"He's been more than we probably could have imagined he'd be," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "He's had a good month and we look forward to many more good months."

On Thursday, Putz was named the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month for May.

"It's a great honor," Putz said. "There were a lot of guys deserving of it, but I wouldn't have been in those opportunities had the starting pitching not pitched the way it has the last month.

"And the guys in front of me in the bullpen, holding those leads until I can get in there and try to do my job," he continued, "And the guys behind me, they all deserve a little piece of this."

In May, Putz converted all 11 of his save opportunities and allowed just one unearned run on five hits in 13 innings, walking four and striking out 10.

He also won the award in June 2007 as a member of the Mariners.

"He earned it obviously," Gibson said. "He was real effective for us and we were able to have the good fortune to pick him up, but beyond what he's done on the field, I've spoke several times to what he's done off the field and what he means to not only the bullpen or pitching staff but the whole team."

Bloomquist's aggressive style pays dividends

2011-06-02T21:46:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/02/11

PHOENIX -- Willie Bloomquist wasn't thinking.

"Had I thought about it, I probably wouldn't have gone because it's not really a smart play," the D-backs infielder/outfielder said about advancing two bases on an infield groundout in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 6-5 victory over the Marlins.

"It just kind of happened," he said. "I'm willing to push the envelope and make them make a play."

Standing on first with one out, Bloomquist was running on the 2-1 pitch that Ryan Roberts grounded to third base.

"I had a pretty good idea," he said. "I was a few steps around second base when the third baseman was releasing that ball and figured it would take two long, perfect throws to get me."

He figured right, and after Greg Dobbs connected with Gaby Sanchez for the forceout at first, Bloomquist slid into third without a throw.

The 10-year Major League veteran said he wanted to put more pressure on the defense.

"Maybe they throw that ball away and we get an easy win," he said. "Not only that but it brings up the fact that the pitcher can't throw a curveball in the dirt, or maybe he'll be a little less likely to bury one with a guy on third."

After Kelly Johnson walked, Justin Upton's bloop single to right scored Bloomquist for the victory.

"No, not really," Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said when asked if he was surprised Bloomquist went first-to-third. "He's a very good runner."

D-backs working on on-field communication

2011-06-02T19:19:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/02/11

PHOENIX -- Earlier this week, D-backs manager Kirk Gibson talked about how the team is always trying to improve its communication on the field.

"There are tiny communication things in virtually every aspect of the game," he said. "It's important that we watch around."

On Wednesday, starting pitcher Daniel Hudson and first baseman Juan Miranda weren't looking around, until the last second, on a pop fly that landed just in front of the Marlins dugout.

"There was no communication," Hudson said. "I didn't hear anything. Nobody called it."

Hudson was sprinting from the mound and Miranda from first base when the two collided.

"At the last second I saw him so I tried to slide and make a brace for it," Hudson said.

The collision was not serious and both stayed in the game.

Hudson said he wasn't supposed to call it but noted the situation of the game for his hot pursuit.

"I had given up a few runs and I was trying to get an out any way I could by trying to hustle after it," he said.

Communication, along with hustling and staying humble, are things that Gibson preaches on a daily basis.

"I know I've always done it, and encourage everyone else to do it," he said. "You're trying to solve this puzzle and there are clues. You see it and try to communicate."

Marlins' rally is short-lived in stunner

2011-06-01T19:17:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/01/11

PHOENIX -- Halfway through the finale of an nine-game West Coast swing, the Marlins were looking forward to a sweet plane ride back.

But four unanswered Arizona runs and one Justin Upton broken-bat, bloop single later and the Marlins were heading home on a sour note after a 6-5 walk-off loss at Chase Field on Wednesday night.

"It was a tough one," Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said. "Because we played a good game against a very good team."

With the loss, the Marlins still managed a winning road trip, with a record of 5-4 and without ace pitcher Josh Johnson and a healthy Hanley Ramirez at shortstop.

"We started out the road trip real strong," Marlins catcher John Buck said. "We played a couple of flat games, but I don't think we'll really hold our heads down too much after today's game.

"Minus those two games, I think we had a pretty good road trip. But obviously, we'd rather go home winning two series rather than one."

Upton's opposite-field single off reliever Burke Badenhop in the bottom of the ninth scored Willie Bloomquist and took closer J.J. Putz off the hook from blowing his first save of the season.

"I'm disappointed for today's game," Rodriguez said. "I thought we had control of the game, Javy [Vazquez] had control of the game, they made adjustments and you just have to tip your hat to a very good team."

In the top of the ninth, Putz allowed a leadoff home run to Buck to tie the game, 5-5.

The game took a turn with the Marlins ahead, 4-0, in the sixth, on D-backs third baseman Ryan Roberts' two-run home run to left field that cut the lead in half.

"That home run was clutch," Rodriguez said. "It got them back into the game."

The home run was the first bump in the road for Vazquez, who cruised through five innings of two-hit baseball to start the game.

"Everything was working," Vazquez said. "I was being aggressive and mixing it up."

After the Roberts home run, Kelly Johnson tripled and scored on a groundout from Upton. Vazquez escaped the inning but was lifted after a leadoff double by Chris Young in the seventh.

He allowed four runs on six hits, striking out five and walking one.

"I thought I pitched well," Vazquez said. "Just a few mistakes here and there, but I feel good with the way I'm throwing it right now."

Vazquez was relieved by left-handed veteran Randy Choate, who hit a batter and intentionally walked another to load the bases before being relieved by Edward Mujica.

With the bases loaded, Mujica induced a high chopper down the third-base line from pinch-hitter Xavier Nady. Anticipating a double play, Marlins third baseman Greg Dobbs jumped for the ball and came down with his foot on the bag but without the ball, which had skipped off his glove.

"I think he will say yeah, he should have made the play," Rodriguez said. "He was thinking of stepping on the bag and then throwing and that's when he missed the ball."

Young scored from the third to tie the game and the D-backs took the lead an inning later on his second double of the game, scoring Stephen Drew.

Buck tied the game with his sixth home run of the season, a solo shot to right field off Putz in a one-strike count.

With Clay Hensley pitching in the home half of the ninth, Bloomquist singled before the right-hander struck out Sean Burroughs and promptly left with an injury.

After his changeup was swung through, Hensley winced, clutched his right shoulder and dropping to a crouch before being removed from the game.

"We have to wait and see," Rodriguez said. "But the way it looked, it looks like he's going to be out for a while."

With one out, Badenhop entered the game, induced a groundout to third base from Roberts while Bloomquist advanced two bases to third, before walking Johnson and allowing the game-winning bleeder on a broken bat to Upton a batter later.

"When you give a team like that more chances, it's usually not good for the opposite team," Buck said.

Right fielder Mike Stanton fell a double shy of the franchise's first cycle in the loss. He put the Marlins on the board in the second inning with a two-run home run to left-center, tripled home a run an inning later and singled in the sixth.

Stanton struck out swinging against reliever David Hernandez in the eighth.

"I don't worry about that stuff," he said. "I'm just trying to help the team win, I'm not worried about the cycle when we're tied up."

The Marlins sit two games back of the Phillies in the National League East and return to action at home on Friday against the Brewers.

Marlins deciding whether Hanley will hit DL

2011-06-01T19:15:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/01/11

PHOENIX -- Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said on Wednesday that the time is quickly approaching for the team to decide whether to place shortstop Hanley Ramirez on the disabled list.

"Definitely Friday," he said. "We have to make a decision by Friday because we can't keep going with only one shortstop out there."

Ramirez has been out since Sunday, when he was pulled in the second inning against the Dodgers because of lower back pain. Rodriguez said Ramirez has been suffering from both lower back and sciatic pain in his leg.

"The lower back pain is more consistent and down the leg, it goes on and off," Rodriguez said. "He said he felt better but he's still not able to play, not able to pinch-hit or run, so we have to wait and see."

Rodriguez is hopeful Ramirez will be able to play Friday, "But then again, if you ask him, he won't know. If he feels better, then definitely Friday. That off-day tomorrow is going to help, but we don't have the answer."

The three-time All-Star is hitting .210 with four home runs, 17 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.

Gaby wraps up solid May

2011-06-01T19:13:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/01/11

PHOENIX -- Gaby Sanchez doesn't want to talk about it.

"I really don't want to talk about anything like that," he joked, in response to a question about mashing at the plate in the month of May. "As a baseball player, I don't think we like to talk about anything like that."

In May, the Marlins' first baseman hit .345 with six home runs and 25 RBIs. He walked 13 times and struck out 16 times.

"I guess most of it is preparation," he said. "The stuff I do before the game even starts and trying to get my swing the way I want it before the game even starts, that's one of the big things."

The 27-year-old hit safely in 20 of 28 games in the month and recorded 12 multihit contests.

He is hitting .322 on the season, good for sixth in the National League, with nine home runs and 35 RBIs.

Sanchez has a career .304 batting average in the month of May, only eclipsed by a .375 career average in the month of June.

Buck's Buck-A-Roos coming to Sun Life

2011-06-01T19:06:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 06/01/11

PHOENIX -- Beginning this week, every Friday night home game will be a Buck-A-Roo night at Sun Life Stadium.

As part of the program, Marlins catcher John Buck will host families living with autism and children in the foster care system for a game.

"People need to become more aware, and I want to use whatever platform I have as a baseball player to create awareness," Buck said.

He said the idea came from his wife, Brooke, who always hears kids say they wished they could go inside and watch a game while she works coat and food drives at stadiums.

"She was like 'What? You've never been to a game but you've been to these coat and food drives?'" he said. "So that's how it kind of started."

Brooke Buck decided to start a program in Kansas City and also worked charitable functions during Buck's two seasons in Toronto.

Each Friday, 30 Buck-A-Roos will receive a bright yellow t-shirt, a voucher redeemable for a hot dog, soda and bag of chips as well as Founders Clubs seats located behind home plate.

"We have a soft spot in our hearts for children with autism and developmental delays," Buck, who has a family member affected by autism, said. "There are thousands of kids in South Florida that don't have a family to call their own."

Sanchez ends D-backs win streak

2011-05-31T19:04:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 05/31/11

PHOENIX -- D-backs manager Kirk Gibson likes to keep his team humble.

But on Tuesday night, it was Marlins starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez who humbled them in a 5-2 defeat at Chase Field, snapping the team's seven-game win streak.

On the mound, Sanchez threw eight innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out eight, as he picked up his fifth victory of the season in dominant fashion.

And at the plate, he drove in a pair of runs on groundouts.

"We ran into a very good pitcher tonight on the other side," Gibson said. "He pitched a heck of a game. You have to tip your cap to him."

One day removed from an offensive outburst, scoring 15 runs on 19 hits in a Memorial Day victory, the D-backs were limited to two opportunities with multiple runners on base.

"He dealt with those situations well," Gibson said, noting the 27-year-old right-hander's ability to change his pitch sequence throughout the game.

Added Kelly Johnson, who struck out and hit a solo home run in the eighth: "I haven't seen something like that in a while, just in terms of being so off-balance. I never felt comfortable."

Johnson's home run and a solo shot from Justin Upton in the first inning accounted for all of Arizona's offense on the night.

D-backs starter Ian Kennedy, winner of his past three decisions coming in, never found a groove, was touched up in the fourth inning and only lasted five innings.

"It's frustrating," Kennedy said. "You want to continue the streak, but it wasn't my night and it falls on me."

Kennedy allowed three runs, struck out four and walked three. He threw two wild pitches and hit a batter.

"I wasn't throwing strikes with anything," he said. "I beat myself, that's what I feel like."

Leading 1-0 in the fourth, Kennedy allowed a single to Greg Dobbs and a double to Mike Stanton, and then walked John Buck.

With the bases loaded, he allowed a full-count walk to Emilio Bonifacio to tie the game, followed by an RBI groundout to shortstop from Sanchez for a 2-1 Marlins lead.

"They did a good job of working him," Gibson said. "They got his pitch count up, extended him in the second, third and fourth innings and he maybe wasn't as sharp as he has been in the past."

Kennedy's five innings pitched were his fewest since throwing three innings on April 13 against the Cardinals, and the loss snapped his career-high five-game win streak.

In the fifth, Logan Morrison led off with an opposite-field home run. In the sixth, Sanchez drove in his second run of the game with a groundout to third base and Gaby Sanchez hit his ninth home run of the season to left field in the seventh.

"You have to give the Marlins credit," Gibson said. "They made the most of their opportunities and got five runs on the board."

Said Morrison: "You can never have enough runs in this ballpark. Those guys are young and strong and they just keep coming at you."

The Marlins victory snaps a two-game losing streak where they were outscored 23-4 and outhit 36-6.

Xavier Nady's pinch-hit flyout to left with two outs and two men on in the seventh ended the D-backs' final threat for a comeback.

Both Upton and Johnson have homered in consecutive games and Johnson is riding a season-high seven-game hitting streak.

"It's just hitting the ball hard and where it goes, it goes," Johnson said. "That's the way it goes sometimes."

Sanchez picked up his fourth consecutive victory, five days after shutting out the Giants in San Francisco.

"I've always thought he was good," Johnson said. "But tonight was special, I'll say that."

Marlins closer Leo Nunez took over for Sanchez and notched his NL-leading 19th save with a flawless ninth inning.

Arizona remains in sole possession of first place in the NL West, a half-game ahead of San Francisco.

"They'll come back tomorrow," Gibson said of his team. "We've been on an exceptional run."

D-backs put in work during live bunting practice

2011-05-31T19:01:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 05/31/11

PHOENIX -- D-backs manager Kirk Gibson promised the team would get back to basics.

That the team, despite a seven-game winning streak and 15 victories in its last 17 tries, would work on fundamentals upon returning to Chase Field.

On Tuesday, the pitchers did just that, as the team called on a pair of Minor League pitchers to throw four innings of live bunting practice.

"It's something we want to continue to get better at," Gibson said. "We work on it virtually every day off of a coach, but it's not [as] comfortable against those Minor Leaguers."

The pitchers worked on situational bunting, from sacrifices to squeezes, with men on base and without.

During the drill, rookie starting pitcher Josh Collmenter was hit on the hand from a left-handed Minor League reliever, but Gibson said it was nothing serious.

"It's a risk you take," Gibson said. "You have to get into it; you're in a game, you have to get your rear end into it, you have to get turned around and get your chin behind the bat and simulate it.

"Because we need to execute those situations. Obviously, calling a squeeze, I have to be confident they can do it and they have to feel confident in themselves."

Roberts back in lineup for D-backs

2011-05-31T18:59:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 05/31/11

PHOENIX -- After a day off on Monday, Ryan Roberts was back in the D-backs lineup on Tuesday, hitting leadoff and playing third base.

"Physically, it helps 100 percent," Roberts said of his day off. "Mentally, maybe 30 percent because you stay in tune with the game and watch how it develops."

Roberts has played in 44 games this season. The 30-year-old is hitting .280 in 143 at-bats, scoring 29 runs and has played four different positions for the D-backs.

"I feel good," he said. "You never hope for a day off. You always want to be in the lineup, but when they come it's good to take your rest and let your body rest."

Roberts said he doesn't care where he's playing and only worries that he is playing.

"Any position is good," he said. "I've played a lot of positions over the years, so just getting on the field is my goal."

In parts of six Major League seasons, Roberts has played five positions: shortstop, second base, third base, right field and left field.

Duke set to start on Thursday

2011-05-31T18:57:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 05/31/11

PHOENIX -- D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said on Tuesday that Zach Duke will make his second start of the year against the Nationals on Thursday.

Duke, a 28-year-old left-hander, made his team debut on Saturday against the Astros, after missing more than two months with a hand injury.

He threw seven innings of shutout baseball, striking out four and walking one. He allowed three hits on 99 pitches.

He did work at the plate as well, bashing his first career home run, a three-run shot off of Astros starter Bud Norris in the fourth inning.

Gibson said after Monday night's victory over the Marlins that he would decide Thursday's starter after the game.

Duke was acquired in an offseason trade with the Pirates.

In six career starts against Washington, he is 2-2 with a 5.19 ERA.

Homecoming kings: Upton, Johnson lead rout

2011-05-30T18:55:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 05/30/11

PHOENIX -- After a weeklong road trip, the D-backs were happy to be home.

Just how happy, the Marlins found out the hard way.

Powered by a season-high five home runs and a career-high four extra-base hits from Kelly Johnson, the D-backs blasted the Marlins, 15-4, in front of 23,465 at Chase Field on Monday night.

"I expected they would be happy to be home," said Arizona manager Kirk Gibson.

And they were -- none more than Johnson, who homered twice and fell a single short of his second career cycle, and Justin Upton, who was a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate.

"We love coming home and we love hitting in this park," Upton said. "We came out and jumped on them early, and the bats came alive."

The D-backs have won seven straight games, 15 of their past 17 and lead the National League West by a half-game over the Giants.

"We feel good about ourselves and we've played good at home," Gibson said. "We have some momentum going for us and we're on a little run right now."

This particular run started with a Gerardo Parra solo home run to left -- the first of four opposite-field blasts by D-backs left-handers -- with Arizona trailing 2-0 in the third inning. Johnson repeated the feat two batters later before four straight two-out singles scored two runners and gave the D-backs a lead they would not relinquish.

Starting pitcher Joe Saunders picked up his second win of the season, going six innings and allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out seven.

"It was a battle out there for me right from the first inning," said Saunders, who worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out first-inning jam.

"I didn't have my best stuff, but like I've preached all year, you just gotta keep the team as close as possible and we came up with some huge hits tonight."

Saunders was lifted after 93 pitches. He walked none.

"He did a good job of getting out of [the jam]," Gibson said. "He kept us in the game."

Beginning in the third inning, the D-backs scored in five straight frames, bookended with four-run outbursts.

In the sixth, Johnson smacked his second home run of the game before Upton and Stephen Drew singled back-to-back and advanced on a double-steal, which scored Upton after Marlins reliever Joe Webb threw a pickoff attempt down the left-field line.

With Drew on third, Chris Young walked and a batter later, Miguel Montero hit a 2-2 pitch into the left-field seats for an 11-4 D-backs lead.

Arizona strung together four consecutive hits to start the seventh, highlighted by an RBI triple from Johnson and Upton's 10th home run of the season -- in massive fashion -- launching an 0-1 offering from Mike Dunn into the upper deck in left.

"I got some good pitches to hit tonight and didn't miss them," Upton said.

Johnson batted in the eighth a single shy of hitting for the cycle, but he struck out swinging on a fastball against Marlins closer Leo Nunez.

"He's one of the best in the game," Johnson said. "It's not ever an easy at-bat. I was looking for something in the zone but was also respecting his changeup. He just went fastball in and it was tough to face."

The second baseman has hit safely in six straight games, is hitting .333 (18-for-54) in his past 13 games and has five home runs in his past nine.

"I feel real good," he said. "I hit some balls hard and got some good pitches to hit. When that happens, it's nice."

Johnson tied a career-high with four hits and became only the second player in the Major Leagues with four extra-base hits this season. Upton's five hits also tied a career-high, and the right fielder recorded his team-leading 15th multi-hit game.

Demel feeling better while rehabbing shoulder

2011-05-30T18:50:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 05/30/11

PHOENIX -- D-backs reliever Sam Demel is progressing in his rehab from shoulder tendinitis that sent him to the 15-day disabled list six days ago.

"I'm feeling good," he said. "But it all depends on the arm."

Demel, a 25-year-old right-hander, has undergone five days of rehab since being shelved, mostly concentrating on soft tissue and rotator cuff work, while keeping his lower body in shape.

D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said during the last road trip that he expected Demel to be out longer than the minimum stay on the DL.

"He's good, in there working out," Gibson said. "He'll throw a bullpen session around Saturday and we'll go from that point. It will be his first time on the mound and he'll throw on flat ground until then."

Demel said Monday was his second time throwing since the injury, and that he was feeling better.

"It's all about the arm," he said. "Hopefully I'll be back sooner rather than later."

In 21 appearances this season, Demel has a 1.72 ERA in 15 2/3 innings pitched. He has not allowed an earned run since April 11 against the Cardinals.

Gibson very appreciative on Memorial Day

2011-05-30T18:49:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 05/30/11

PHOENIX -- Memorial Day hits home for D-backs manager Kirk Gibson.

"I grew up in a very traditional household and a very patriotic household," Gibson said. "I think I understand the importance of people who fight for our freedom in the past and to this day."

Gibson's father, Robert, was on the USS Missouri in September 1945 when the U.S. and Japan signed a peace treaty that officially ended World War II.

The D-backs commemorated the holiday by honoring the military and those who died while in military service prior to Monday's game against the Marlins.

Staff Sgt. Denisse Weltha was awarded as the recipient of the Grand Canyon University American Hero Award, Cpl. Jerry Johs was awarded the American Patriot Program's Operation Fields of Green Award and U.S. Army officer Steve Martin threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

"I'm very appreciative of it," Gibson said. "They need to be recognized. I know I stand there for the national anthem every day, and look at the flag and support those people that risk their lives for us everyday so we can do what we do.

"I'm humbled by the whole thing, and they're very courageous people."

Gibson, Trammell certainly on same page

2011-05-30T18:46:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 05/30/11

PHOENIX -- The pressure was off D-backs manager Kirk Gibson as he sat in his office in the top of the seventh inning Sunday, a few innings after being ejected by home-plate umpire D.J. Reyburn.

There was one out, Henry Blanco was on first base and pinch-hitter Sean Burroughs was at the plate with the D-backs trailing by a run.

"I was just sitting there playing manager, no pressure on me now," Gibson said. "And thought it was a good time to hit-and-run."

Bench coach Alan Trammell thought the same and put the play in effect.

"That's how scary it is," Gibson said about the communication between him and Trammell.

An inning later, with first baseman Xavier Nady due up with two outs and the tying run on second base, Trammell stuck with the veteran.

"It was a no-brainer," Gibson said. "I wouldn't have even considered taking him out, because part of the way I want to develop this team is that I want everybody to be involved."

Nady doubled, scoring Ryan Roberts and Chris Young, and the D-backs took the lead and claimed a 4-2 victory over the Astros.

"We communicate well," Gibson said. "Things are kind of clicking right now -- the trick is to keep them that way."

Hudson, D-Backs complete sweep of Twins

2011-05-22T23:44:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 05/22/11

PHOENIX -- A week ago in Los Angeles, D-Backs manager Kirk Gibson talked about his team losing six straight one-run games.

"My thought is that we lost six one-run games and everybody's feeling pitiful about it," he said. "My thinking is, well, we're going to win the next six."

A week later, and Gibson's words have proved true.

Propelled by eight strong innings from starting pitcher Daniel Hudson, the D-Backs beat the Twins 3-2 on Sunday in front of 31,017 at Chase Field, climbing back to the .500 mark and earning the franchise's first six-game winning streak since April 2008.

"We want to keep climbing," Gibson said. "We're fortunate to win six in a row but we have to be much better than that."

Ryan Roberts' sacrifice fly in the seventh inning scored Willie Bloomquist, Hudson held the Twins following a leadoff single in the eighth and J.J. Putz breezed through the ninth for his 12th save in as many chances.

The win was the team's third one-run victory of the seven-game home stand.

After Delmon Young's first home run of the year tied the game in the top half of the inning, Bloomquist led off the seventh with a double to left-center, advancing to third on an error by Ben Revere.

Roberts drove in the game-winning run a batter later, on a deep fly ball to center field that Revere juggled on the run before catching.

"It's been somebody new every night it seems like," Bloomquist said. "Somebody's making a big pitch or getting a big hit or making a big play. It was a good homestand and a great way to bounce back after a not-so-great road trip."

Hudson earned his second consecutive victory and fifth in his past six starts, allowing two runs on eight hits. He struck out six and walked none.

"It was my game," Hudson said he told Gibson. "I didn't want any of those guys to take it from me."

The right-hander threw 113 pitches and surpassed the 110-pitch mark for the third consecutive outing.

"He was in control," said Gibson. "I went over and talked to him and he said he wanted it, that it was his game. If you look at that last inning, his velocity picked up and he laid it all out there today and got rewarded."

After Juan Miranda homered to right-center field to break a scoreless tie in the fourth, Hudson helped his own cause by singling home Xavier Nady four batters later to give Arizona a 2-0 lead.

Hudson's counterpart Francisco Liriano contributed at the plate an inning later, on an RBI groundout to second base that scored Young to make the score 2-1.

Liriano pitched six innings and allowed two runs on six hits. He struck out four and walked four. The Twins are now 14 ½ games back in the A.L. Central.

"Unfortunately we didn't put too many good swings together," manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Miranda's fourth-inning home run marked his third consecutive game with an RBI, but he was plunked on the hand by reliever Alex Burnett in the eighth inning and was removed from the game.

"It's not broke," Gibson said, noting that he'll be re-evaluated when the team arrives in Colorado on Monday.

Speaking through teammate Miguel Montero, Miranda said the injury was nothing serious.

With the win, the D-Backs stand in third place, four games behind the first-place Giants and a half-game behind the Rockies in the N.L. West.

The team opens a seven-game road trip with a doubleheader against the Rockies on Tuesday.

"It doesn't get easy," Gibson said. "But you have to cherish the opportunity."

Fans poured out to Chase Field on Saturday

2011-05-22T23:27:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 05/22/11

PHOENIX -- D-Backs manager Kirk Gibson expects his team to play hard, regardless of the number of fans in attendance.

"If there's nobody in here or 40,000 in here, we need to come with the same intensity every day," Gibson said.

But, he admits: "It's a lot nicer when there's more people."

On Saturday, the D-Backs pulled in their second highest crowd of the season, when 39,776 people watched Kelly Johnson cap a thrilling come-from-behind victory at Chase Field.

"Having the fans get into it like that," Johnson said. "It's probably the coolest thing for any of us to experience."

Saturday's attendance was second only to Opening Day on April 8 against the Reds.

"It's something good," Gibson said. "I've talked about restoring positive affirmations and those are the types of things that add to the moment. It's fun."

Parra working hard to perfect his bunting

2011-05-22T23:26:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 05/22/11

PHOENIX -- On Saturday night, D-Backs left-fielder Gerardo Parra reached base twice on bunt singles.

The first bunt he'd done before, as he placed it perfectly down the third base line as Chris Young scored on a squeeze play from third in the sixth inning.

The second, though, he hadn't, as he popped a bunt over a pinched-in Danny Valencia in the eighth inning.

"First time I've seen it happen," Parra said. "I bunted it too hard and it looked like a fly ball, but it was a base hit so that was good for me."

D-Backs manager Kirk Gibson said utilizing the bunt is something on which the 24-year-old Parra has worked hard.

"We've been working on it since spring training," he said. "And Parra's probably been working on it as much as anybody."

Parra has three bunt hits on the season.

"Sometimes it's good to drop a bunt depending on the pitcher," he said. "You look to see how he moves."

Williams adjusting nicely as third-base coach

2011-05-22T23:18:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 05/22/11

PHOENIX -- For all the attention that Kelly Johnson's eighth-inning grand slam garnered on Saturday night, D-backs manager Kirk Gibson thought it was only the second biggest play of the game.

"I thought the play of the game was when Matty [Williams] stopped [Gerardo] Parra," Gibson said. "

Williams' decision came with one out in the eighth, after Ryan Roberts singled to left-center and as Parra approached third base.

"It was a real smart decision," Gibson said. "Because the way the game was going, with one out and the top of the order up, he had some pressure on him with the crowd getting into it.

"If you're not sure in that situation, keep the inning going."

Williams held Parra and one batter later, Johnson hit a grand slam to right field.

Gibson said that Williams' transition from coaching first to third base has been an easy one, but one on which the former All-Star third baseman has worked hard.

"It's been very smooth," he said. "He went down to instructional ball last year, did some games there and he's studied tons of tape. He spent the whole winter in here watching not only for the third base benefit, but studying the schematics of infield defense as well.

"He's been enthusiastic about it," Gibson added. "He wanted to do it and he's been on that side of the diamond as a player."