An Achilles' Heel for the 2008 D-Backs Rears Its Ugly Head in First Loss of 2009
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| Troy Tulowitzki's fifth-inning jack gave Colorado a lead it would not relinquish. |
Along with spotty defense, the Arizona Diamondbacks' biggest issue to rectify in the 2009 season is scoring production.
Yeah, looks like they should have saved some of Monday's offensive firepower for last night's game against the Colorado Rockies.
Facing right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez (1-0) -- armed with a fastball that consistently hit the 97-miles-per-hour mark, as well as filthy off-speed pitches hovering around 83 mph -- the hard-throwing hurler shut out the D-Backs through seven innings while only allowing four hits in the Rockies' 3-0 victory at Chase Field. Manny Corpas pitched a perfect eighth, and closer Huston Street worked the ninth to pick up his first save for Colorado.
Arizona starter Dan Haren (0-1) was equally, if not more, impressive. The right-hander also pitched seven innings, allowing only three hits while fanning nine and not yielding a single walk. But his one mistake occurred in the fifth inning when Troy Tulowitzki jacked a get-me-over, first-pitch curve from Haren into the left-field bleachers to make the score 1-0. Gas cans Jon Rauch (two runs allowed in 0.2 innings of work) and Doug Slaten (allowed an inherited runner to score) didn't help the D-Backs' comeback chances.
Stephen Drew led Arizona with a single and a double in three at bats.
The rubber match between the Diamondbacks (1-1) and the Rockies (1-1) takes place during a 12:40 p.m. afternoon tilt at Chase Field. Scheduled starters are Doug Davis of Arizona and Franklin Morales of Colorado. Go to www.dbacks.com.
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