The Arizona Diamondbacks are the first National League team since the 1907 Cubs to win their first nine series. The streak matches a team-best in consecutive series wins, also done in 1999 and 2007.
April 27: Diamondbacks win 5-4
April 28: Diamondbacks win 4-3 in 10
April 29: Diamondbacks lose 3-1
Ray strained oblique
Robbie Ray was removed from his start in the second inning on Sunday after he felt a pain in his side and wasn’t able to complete the pitch. Ray will have an MRI and meet with team doctors in Phoenix on Monday.
"I just felt my side grab. … It's just one of the those things (where) we'll have to see." — Robbie Ray on the oblique strain he suffered in the second inning Sunday. pic.twitter.com/aOfXnduFgt
— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) April 29, 2018
On Saturday, Patrick Corbin was hit in the hand by a grounder, but remained in the game and seemed to be fine. A breath of relief for the Diamondbacks especially given what happened to Ray today.
Bullpen
TJ McFarland came on in relief for Ray on Sunday. McFarland went 4.2 innings allowing three runs, two earned on five hits including two home runs.
Besides a tough situation for the Diamondbacks on Sunday, the rest of the weekend, the bullpen showed out.
In Friday’s win, Andrew Chafin allowed one hit in his one inning pitched, while Yoshi Hirano and Archie Bradley each had 1-2-3 innings and Brad Boxberger closed it out to get the save.
Boxberger worked his way out of trouble in the 10th inning in Saturday’s game after loading the bases to earn his eighth save of the year.
Pollock, Peralta come up big Fri/Sat
On Friday, AJ Pollock came a double short of the cycle, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs in the D-backs’ win. On Saturday, Pollock had the game-tying RBI single in the eighth. In the 10th, Pollock drew a bases loaded walk, bringing in the go-ahead run. Brad Boxberger came in to close things out and the D-backs sealed their ninth straight series win.
A.J. Pollock deposits an 0-2 fastball from Strasburg into the center-field bleachers as the @Dbacks strike first in DC. pic.twitter.com/IUNgBnJARj
— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) April 27, 2018
David Peralta had his first multi-home run game on Saturday in the extra-inning win against the Nationals. Peralta’s first shot came in the fourth, then in the sixth Peralta helped keep the Diamondbacks in the game with his second blast of the day.
Next Up
The Diamondbacks will host the Dodgers for the second time in 2018 at Chase Field starting on Monday. Probable starters for the four-game series are Zack Greinke on Monday, Matt Koch on Tuesday, Zack Godley on Wednesday and Patrick Corbin on Thursday.
