Diamondback Review

The San Francisco Giants came to town and sent the Diamondbacks out of first place and into a tailspin. The Giants swept a four game series, the first time in team history that the Diamondbacks have been swept in four games at Bank-One-Ballpark.

The Diamondbacks took the final and rubber game of the San Diego series 9-6 on July 25 in Phoenix. Luis Gonzalez had three hits including homer number 41. Leadoff man Craig Counsell was four for four with a walk. San Diego committed two costly errors that led to three unearned runs and another “earned” only because the official scorer is not allowed to anticipate a double play.

The San Francisco Giants had five home runs, three off Diamondback ace Curt Schilling on their way to an 11-3 victory over the Diamondbacks. Barry Bonds hit two homers, including a grand slam, to run his league-leading total to 44. Arizona missed multiple scoring opportunities, leaving the bases loaded in each of the first two innings. The Diamondbacks had five hits, including a triple and three bases on balls in the first two innings and only scored one run.

The Diamondbacks fell out of first place for the first time in over two months with a 9-5 loss to the Giants on July 27. Brian Anderson gave up three more home runs to San Francisco batters, including Bonds’ 45th of the season. The Dodgers moved a half game ahead of the Diamondbacks in the NL West with their 4-2 win over Colorado.

Matt Williams homered to give Randy Johnson and the Diamondbacks a 2-1 lead in the second inning of the series finale and the Big Unit worked out of several jams to preserve the lead. Arizona wasted its only other real scoring threat in the sixth when they got the first two batters on base and decided not to sacrifice. Rich Aurillia homered in the seventh off Johnson to tie the game at 2-2. After a two-out walk in the eighth, reliever B. K. Kim surrendered a pinch-hit homer to Marvin Bernard. David Dellucci had a pinch-hit homer for the Diamondbacks in the ninth, but it was too little, too late. The Giants escaped with the victory in the only game in which Arizona was competitive in the series.

After taking July 30 off, the D-Backs entertained Montreal in a three game series. That was followed by three games with the New York Mets. Then Arizona was off on Monday and began a three game set with the Florida Marlins in Miami on Tuesday. The D-Backs will visit Atlanta for three games with the Braves over the weekend. A quick turn-around will find the Diamondbacks hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates to begin a six game home stand on Monday. After Thursday off, the ever-popular Chicago Cubs will be in for a weekend series.

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