The Arizona Diamondbacks seem to be heating up, as the team won five of seven in the past week. During the week there had been speculation that a cancer in the clubhouse was removed and helped to rejuvenate the team. With the list pretty narrow, it is fairly easy to speculate who this might be. Between Conor Jackson, Chris Snyder and Dan Haren, if an elated response to a trade is any indication, then D-backs fans may know who to point the finger at.
The team clearly seems to be having more fun on the field, which always helps when winning. Taking both series in the past week should not be downplayed at all, considering the fact that the team faced a wild card contender and a National League leader last week. With pitching again being the story, run support behind pitches for strikes had helped the Diamondbacks immensely during the past week.
Luis Gonzalez's #20 was retired last weekend.
The week began with a series against the National League West-leading San Diego Padres, and the D-backs brought their A-game. The team won two of three by a narrow margin, holding the Padres at bay.
On Saturday, former outfielder Luis Gonzalez was honored, becoming the first Diamondback in the team’s history to have his number retired. The pregame ceremony was as memorable as the line to get into Chase Field, giving the D-backs their first sell-out crowd since Opening Day.
After the pregame ceremony, as the D-backs took the field, Gonzo ran with the team for what may very well be the last time in his career. Gonzalez serves in a management capacity in the Diamondbacks’ front office, and should be with the organization for a very long time to come. The D-backs went on to win that game, but lost a stinker on Sunday before heading to Milwaukee, where they nearly swept the Wild Card-contending Brewers.
During the stellar week, Stephen Drew earned his 250th RBI in his 600th game, becoming part of an elite group of D-backs, and being the quickest to do so. Chris Young also had an accomplishment of his own, as he became the first player in the Major Leagues in 2010 to become a 20-20 man with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases.
After struggling against the Washington Nationals, the D-backs will get another chance to face the team, as they begin the weekend in our nation’s capital. After the series, the team will return home to Chase Field for a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds.
| Last Week’s Games | |||
| Fri, 8/6 | Padres | W 2-1 | |
| Sat, 8/7 | Padres | W 6-5 | |
| Sun, 8/8 | Padres | L 1-10 | |
| Mon, 8/9 | at Brewers | W 7-4 | |
| Tue, 8/10 | at Brewers | W 2-1 | |
| Wed, 8/11 | at Brewers | W 8-2 | |
| Thu, 8/12 | at Brewers | L 4-8 | |
| This Week’s Games | |||
| Fri, 8/13 | at Nationals | 4:05 p.m. | Fox Sports Arizona |
| Sat, 8/14 | at Nationals | 4:05 p.m. | Fox Sports Arizona |
| Sun, 8/15 | at Nationals | 10:35 a.m. | Fox Sports Arizona |
| Tue, 8/17 | Reds | 6:40 p.m. | Fox Sports Arizona |
| Wed, 8/18 | Reds | 6:40 p.m. | Fox Sports Arizona |
| Thu, 8/19 | Reds | 6:40 p.m. | Fox Sports Arizona |
