Diamondbacks 6, Sacramento Athletics of Las Vegas, California 4

Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images

The Diamondbacks came into this game in a suddenly unfamiliar territory — with a chance to win a series. To do that, they would need another strong outing from the offense and a good start from Eduardo Rodriguez, which has been just as hard to come by as good offensive games for the Diamondbacks recently. In his last four starts he has given up 9, 4, 0, and 5 runs, the scoreless outing being a 6 ¹⁄₃ inning performance

His opposite number today was Jack Perkins, who was making his first MLB start,

though he did have eight relief appearances this season. Known for a killer sweeper, the A’s are expecting him to be a big part of their rotation going forward. That said, given he had only relieved so far this season, it was destined to be a short outing from him.

He kept that sweeper mostly under wraps in the first inning. It was all fastballs with just a couple change ups and a single sweeper out of the zone to Corbin Carroll and Blaze Alexander. Didn’t really matter much, though, as they both struck out. The next sweeper he threw was to Geraldo Perdomo. It was in on the hands, but Perdomo got around on it and dinked it into middle depth right field and hustled it out for a double. Nothing came of it, though, as Lourdes Gurriell Jr. flew out to the second baseman Luis Urias to end the inning.

E-Rod had his work cut out for him right off the bat. As the broadcast mentioned a few times, the A’s have more runs scored in the first than any other team, and Rodriguez has a 6.00 ERA in the first himself. Not the best combination, but Schuemann struck out to lead off the inning, and Nick Kurtz dribbled a ball back to the mound for the first two outs. He wasn’t able to finish the 1-2-3 inning and walked Brent Rooker bringing major annoyance Shea Langoliers to the plate. Langoliers battled and turned an 0-2 count into a two out single putting runners on the corners for the rookie center fielder Colby Thomas. Rodriguez bent, but did not break, getting the strike out and ending the inning with no damage done.

Top of the second rolled around, and the Diamondbacks did what they’ve done so many times this season and jumped on a a pitcher for a crooked inning. They loaded the bases with no outs, thanks to a McCarthy walk, Tyler Locklear’s first single as a Diamondback, and a single from Thomas. There was some justifiable concern that this still wouldn’t lead to any scoring, the Dbacks scoffed at our collective lack of faith. Conner Kaiser walked, Herrera hit a sac fly, and Carroll hit a single to bring in three straight runs. That’s all they managed there, though with Blaze striking out and Domo lining out 3-0 Dbacks

As I mentioned, E-Rod has a 6 ERA in the first inning. It’s even worse at a 7.00 in the second, and he got dangerously close to showing why. Austin Wynns doubled to start the inning. Rodriguez got an easy out on a Hernaiz groundout, but a JJ Bleday single and a Gio Urshela walk loaded the bases with just one out. Things weren’t looking great, but a hard hit ball to Blaze Alexander lead to the very traditional 5-3 double play and the inning ended without incident.

In a nice turn of events, the Diamondbacks offense did not get complacent and kept pushing in the third. Two quick outs, but Tyler Locklear drew a walk and then stole (?!) second base to get into scoring position for Alek Thomas. The latter’s stellar series continued and he singled and brought Locklear home to score. 4-0 Diamondbacks

At this point, Eduardo Rodriguez absolutely cruised through innings three and four. He faced the heart of the lineup, which had caused so many issues for the Diamondbacks so far this series and got a strike out from Kurtz, a ground out from Rooker, and a line out from Langoliers. The fourth was much the same. Both Colby Thomas and Austin Wynns struck out, and Darell Hernaiz lined out to center for a quick, no mess inning.

Rodriguez wasn’t able to keep it going in the fifth, though. Bleday and Urshella singled to lead things off. Max Schuemann bunted them to second and third, bringing Nick Kurtz to the plate. He singled and brought both the runners home, cutting the Diamondbacks’ lead in half. With the rest of the heart of the order up next, one would be forgiven if they wondered if that was all the A’s would manage, but E-rod pulled it back together and got a couple of fly outs from Rookers and Langoliers to end the inning. 4-2 Arizona

Meanwhile the Diamondbacks offense was pretty quiet. They went down in order in the fourth and fifth. They tried to put together something in the sixth, but some bad luck, bad baserunning shut it down. Locklear got his second hit, and tried to get his second stolen base. He had that stolen base by about five feet, but kept sliding right off the base and the shortstop Hernaiz stuck with it and kept the glove on him to get the out. It was a shame, since Alek Thomas’ base hit the next batter would have brought him home, but instead Thomas was erased on as part of a double play and the inning came to an end.

Eduardo Rodriguez went back out for the bottom of the sixth, but he gave up a lead off walk and Torey didn’t want to push it farther. E-Rod was pulled in favor of John Curtiss, who got a double play and a fly out to end the inning.

In the seventh, Blaze extended the lead with a solo home run and Andrew Saalfrank gave up his first ERA since returning from suspension. 5-3 Diamondbacks

Eighth was quiet, but the Diamondbacks weren’t quite finished yet in the ninth. Herrera lead off with single, and Carroll followed behind with walk. Blaze made it happen again with a single of his own, bringing home Herrara, then Perdomo singled himself to load the bases. Gurriel and McCarthy couldn’t get on base, though, and left them loaded. 6-3 Dbacks

Kyle Nelson was the chosen one to save the game for Arizona. Gave up a one out home run to Bleday to tighten things up a bit, but Urshela flew out and Schuemann struck out, ending the game. 6-4 Arizona

WPA provided courtesy of Fangraphs.com

Thomas’ big game was reflected in his 14.8% WPA. On the pitching side, Curtiss had a similarly impactful game at 13.4%.

Comment of the Day goes to Snake_Bitten for this prophetic thought right before the 5-3 double play in the second

Tomorrow starts a series against the Padres, and the Diamondbacks first shot at playing spoiler in this new phase of the season. First pitch is 6:40 PM Arizona time. See you there!

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