first pitch: 6:40 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Adam Eaton (6-1, 3.35 ERA) vs Russ Ortiz (4-2, 5.11 ERA)
preview: Padres.com
Padres finally lost a series in May, dropping two of three to the Mariners in Seattle. The offense sputtered badly in the last two games and looks to get back on track in the desert.
AB BA OBP SLG
Eaton vs current Diamondbacks 159 .283 .363 .465
Ortiz vs current Padres 206 .248 .342 .359
Big damage from Luis Gonzalez (.370/.469/.815 in 27 AB), Royce Clayton (.455/.600/.636 in 11 AB), and Alex Cintron (.353/.421/.647 in 17 AB). Eaton has pretty well neutralized Shawn Green (.205/.250/.341 in 44 AB) over the years. Overall, opponents are hitting .259/.316/.448 (think Matt LeCroy) against Eaton on the season, but just .228/.286/.281 with RISP (weaker version of Rey Ordonez).
On the other side, Ortiz is struggling with Arizona in the early going but getting some wins despite poor numbers. He’s averaging fewer than six innings per start, striking out just 3.83 batters per 9 innings, and allowing the opposition to hit .305/.386/.465 against him. Lefties have put up alarming numbers (.374/.442/.551). Padres having the most success against Ortiz are Brian Giles (.429/.636/.500 in 14 AB) and Sean Burroughs (.455/.500/.545 in 11 AB). Dave Roberts (.143/.217/.143 in 21 AB) hasn’t done much, so maybe they’ll unleash their secret weapon, Xavier Nady. Then again, maybe not.
Eaton walks!
Ugh.
Bunt him over Dave.
Roberts sure can look bad sometimes.
What was Roberts doing swinging at that pitch? In the dirt.
Think he sees a fastball this at-bat?
That was ugly on all sides.
That was interesting. For those not watching, Roberts hit a grounder to first and tagged the bag then threw to second. Ball went into left field but Eaton had his back to the play and retreated to first.
He did get the fastball, but couldn’t do anything with it.
And Blum is up there hacking too! Take some pitches.
As Grace just noted on the telecast, the DBacks are paying a lot of attention to Eaton at first.
How does he get that 3-1 call to Blum? No matter, it’s a walk anyway.
That called second strike on Blum was ridiculous for someone with Ortiz’s control tonight.
Nice cut by Ryno.
The 2-0 pitch, not the 2-1 pitch.
That was a nice cut.
Nobody seems real interested in letting Ortiz dig his own grave out there. What’s up with that?
They shouldn’t be this aggressive.
Yeah, that’s what I meant. I must have a delay with the mlb.com tv.
Not very smart approaches at the plate these last two innings. Ortiz shouldn’t even be in the game.
Even if you get a pitch to hit, there’s the risk of making an out. If you take it, there are more pitches he’ll have to struggle to throw strikes with. I’m disappointed in their approach this inning (and last)
Giles swung at the first pitch. What’s that about?
Yeah they have really let Ortiz off the hook, but we shouldn’t be surprised. This is what they did to Meche the other night.
And wasn’t Roberts supposed to provide superior defense in center? That’s a catchable ball.
Nice play by Burroughs.
Deja vu all over again. Cruz leads off with a double.
I think it is obvious to say that Burroughs’ defense is the only thing keeping him in the lineup right now.
This game has taken a turn for the stupid.
isn’t “deja vu all over again” redundant? everyone says it, though.
Grace just made the ridiculous assertion that Eaton saved a run by knocking that one down from Ortiz. That ball wasn’t leaving the infield.
That was a brutal swing by Counsell.
Probably Eric, but I prove your point.
Wow that was a nervous play to end the inning.
Grace is mistaken. Eaton made himself face one more batter that inning by not either making the play or letting it get through to Blum.
Nice play covering on the grounder to second to end the inning, though.
Mark Grace was never the brightest bulb on the tree. That could’ve been a disaster since it would’ve been the 3rd out.
Re “deja vu all over again”, we can thank Yogi for that one:
http://www.tommcmahon.net/2004/10/the_origin_of_d.html
Nice job, Phil. It’s about damn time!
Nice. HR for Nevin, to right even. Maybe that is a sign that he can turn his slump around.
I’ll second that Geoff.
Good stroke from Eaton. Let’s see if Roberts can make something happen.
Did the Arizona manager fall asleep on the bench? How do you leave Ortiz in this long?
Abelated DONG!DONG!DONG!DONG!DONG!DONG!DONG!DONG!DONG!DONG!DONG!DONG!DONG!DONG! for Nevin.
The D-Backs are having their heads handed to them
“Excuse me, D-Backs. We have your heads. Would you like them?”
With 2 outs does Ortiz really think that Eaton is a threat to steal?
Just a terrible at bat by Roberts.
“Deja vu all over again” is a supposed Yogi-ism. I thought everybody knew that.
Sweet, we got the home run call from Lance!
Would someone teach Roberts how to at least foul off that inside breaking ball?
Eaton got away with one. Roberts did a much better job tracking that ball.
Nice play by Dave “Fifth Outfielder/Pinch Runner” Roberts. At least it sounded nice on the radio.
Perhaps I am nitpicking with Eaton, but is anyone impressed with his new so-called tighter curve or slider, whatever the pitch is? I miss the old slow curve even if it was sometimes wild or hung.
What does Eaton throw these days: 4-seamer, sinker, curve, cutter and change?
Good call, Bruce. I haven’t really thought too much about Eaton’s new breaking ball. What I do like is that he’s been more consistent so far this year.