Diamondback Review

The Arizona Diamondbacks ended the pre-All-Star Game portion of the season on a disturbing note, losing five of their last six games including being swept at home by the Oakland A’s. The D-Backs still led the Western Division by 3 1/2 games, but a 13-game road trip to start the remainder of the season presents a formidable challenge.

Houston became the first team to win more than one series from the Diamondbacks during the 2001 campaign with a 5-1 victory in Houston on July 5. Roy Oswalt silenced the Arizona bats and the Astros clubbed three more homers to pave the way to the win. The Astros took two out of three from the Diamondbacks in both series played thus far.

Diamondback bats remained quiet on their return to Bank-One-Ballpark on July 6 as they fell 3-0 to the Oakland A’s. Oakland southpaw Mark Molder was near perfect as he faced only 28 batters, one over perfection. Danny Bautista’s single leading off the eighth turned out to be Arizona’s only hit and only base runner. Brian Anderson pitched extremely well, but was again the victim of anemic offensive production.

Oakland ace Tim Hudson kept the Diamondback bats silent in a 5-1 A’s win. Arizona did not threaten often and did not score until two were out in the ninth and the game essentially decided.

Curt Schilling pitched the type of game you expect your stopper to have in the series finale, but lost 2-1. He was the victim of the offensive famine plaguing the Diamondbacks of late. Arizona had several promising opportunities, but could not execute or get clutch hits. Oakland made the most of its few opportunities, scoring both its runs on a double, ground ball to the right side and sacrifice fly.

The first series following the All-Star Game began in Anaheim on Thursday with three games against the Angels. Then it was on to Seattle for three games with the Mariners. Seattle boasts the best record in baseball.

A brief two game series in San Diego begins tonight (July 18) and ends on Thursday. The 11-game road trip will conclude in San Francisco over the weekend with three games against the Giants.

A 13-game home stand will begin on Monday, July 23, with the Padres in town for a three-game set.