Top Form
After having one their best offensive games of the season, the Arizona Diamondbacks will try to move back into first place in the NL West on Sunday when they close out a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies.
The Diamondbacks (76-61) are looking to win this series against Colorado (69-66) after bouncing back from Friday’s 7-3, 10-inning loss to win 13-7 on Saturday.
Tony Clark and Stephen Drew both homered, and Arizona strung together 14 hits, including five doubles. Clark tied his career high with five RBIs.
The Diamondbacks’ 13 runs also matched a season-high, tying the 13 they scored against Houston on May 25. Arizona had scored more than five runs just once since Aug. 19.
Oddsmakers from Bodog.com have made Arizona -225 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for today’s game, the over/under has been set at 8.5 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 81% of bets for this game have been placed on Arizona -225 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
With the win, the Diamondbacks remained just a percentage point behind the San Diego Padres for first place in the NL West. San Diego beat the Dodgers 7-0 on Saturday.
Arizona also leads Philadelphia by three games for the wild card.
After giving up all seven runs in Friday’s loss, the Diamondbacks’ bullpen also bounced back after being forced to help pick up starter Dana Eveland, who lasted just 2 2-3 innings after allowing five runs. Edgar Gonzalez received the win after pitched 3 1-3 scoreless innings and Arizona scored four runs in the third and two runs in the seventh to put the game away.
"We got obviously a nice cushion there," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "We kept adding on. It was nice. After it got to 8-5, there’s no question adding on was necessary."
After pitching 6 1-3 innings on Saturday, Arizona’s weary bullpen hopes starter Brandon Webb (14-9, 2.83 ERA) can bounce back from his worst outing of the season.
Webb allowed a season-high six earned runs in 5 1-3 innings on Tuesday in a 6-4 loss to the Padres. The reigning NL Cy Young winner entered the game having won six straight starts and was making his first appearance since his scoreless streak ended at 42 innings on Aug. 22 against the Milwaukee Brewers.
"It was not real good from the start, even in the bullpen," said Webb, who allowed seven hits and walked three batters. "I didn’t feel too sharp. I didn’t make the big pitches. All of that combined, I didn’t do too much."
It was Webb’s shortest start since he pitched five innings against the Baltimore Orioles on June 22. He also pitched just five innings against the Rockies on April 2, allowing five runs and eight hits. Webb did not receive a decision in that 8-6 win.
The right-hander is 0-2 with a 6.84 ERA in four starts against the Rockies this season. He is 4-1 with a 3.18 ERA in seven career home starts against Colorado.
Webb has had the most trouble with Brad Hawpe this year among the Rockies? hitters. Hawpe is 7-for-11 with three homers and nine RBIs against Webb in 2007 after entering the season just 4-for-23 (.174) against him.
Josh Fogg (7-9, 5.10) will take the mound for Colorado trying for his first win in four starts. Fogg allowed just one run and three hits in six innings on Monday against the San Francisco Giants, but he did not receive a decision after the Rockies lost 4-1.
It was a strong outing for Fogg, who had a 13.03 ERA over losses in his previous two starts.
The right-hander is 5-1 with a 3.78 ERA in 11 starts against the Diamondbacks, including 0-1 with a 2.50 ERA in three starts against them this season.
by: Michael Cash – thespread.com – Email Us
More MLB Baseball coverage from theSpread.com
– MLB news wire
– Current MLB Injuries
– 2007 MLB standings
– 2007 MLB schedule
– 2007 MLB Umpire sheet
– 2007 MLB stats
– MLB scoreboard
– Expert MLB picks
– Accuscore predictions
– Comments and discussion
– Signup for theSpread.com daily newsletter
– MLB home
