The Arizona Diamondbacks swept the Chicago White Sox in a three-game series at Chase Field on Wednesday. The Dbacks improved to 7-1 in interleague play and are 10-games over .500 for the first time since the last day of the 2011 season.
Baaa-ombs
Jake Lamb hit his sixth home run in eight games in Wednesday’s series finale. The bomb to left field in the fifth inning came off of White Sox lefty José Quintana. Coming into the series, Lamb was batting .156 against lefties, .342 against righties.
“I’m trying to get hits off of everyone,” Lamb said after Wednesday’s win. “I’m not putting any extra pressure on myself. I’m happy where I’m at mentally. I’m in a good spot. Hopefully the results will come just with more ABs and me continuing to work hard.”
Another @JakeLamb18 home run! #VoteLamb pic.twitter.com/XzJmutw8xy
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) May 24, 2017
Greinke
On Monday, Zack Greinke went a season-high 8 2/3 innings allowing one run on four hits, walking one, and striking out a season-high 12 batters.
Greinke’s solid outing earned him his fourth straight win. The Dbacks’ ace is now 6-2 on the season.
Zack Greinke: Everything was working. @Dbacks. pic.twitter.com/TdLqEmwJhu
— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) May 23, 2017
Hoover
JJ Hoover came out on Tuesday night in the eighth inning with one out, bases loaded and was able to work himself out of the jam to help the Dbacks get the win to take the series.
“I knew the situation and I knew I had to pitch to my strengths,” Hoover told Fox Sports Arizona. “I wanted to pick the team and Jorge (De La Rosa) up. Jorge has picked me up countless times this season, I just wanted to keep it where it was.”
HAVE A NIGHT @JJ_Hoover! Comes in, bases loaded and gets 2 huge strikeouts! Keeps it 5-4 @Dbacks. AND he won today's cow milking contest!🐮⚾️ pic.twitter.com/mECiyUdtMY
— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) May 24, 2017
The Dbacks’ bullpen has been the second-best in the MLB this past month. Hoover credits the success to coming together as one. The entire bullpen takes pride in being able to come in and get out of those tough situations, he said.
“We’re all down there as a unit and any given night one of us is going to step up and do the task,” Hoover said. “I think that’s what you’ve seen this year.”
Hoover’s fastball was the key in Tuesday’s outing. A mechanical adjustment he worked on with the pitch led to hitting his spots. Seeing the results of that adjustment in that pressure situation was “awesome,” he said.
On Wednesday, Hoover entered in the seventh. He went 1 1/3 innings allowing two hits with four strikeouts.
Spot Starts
Since Shelby Miller has been out because of an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery, the Diamondbacks have had to turn to Triple-A Reno and the bullpen for spot starts.
Manager Torey Lovullo talked after Wednesday’s win about the team’s pitching depth.
Pollock Update
A.J. Pollock remains on the DL after suffering a grade one right groin strain on May 14. The Dbacks placed Pollock on the 10-day DL May 15. As of Wednesday, Pollock will not be hitting the road with the team for their 11-day road trip.
https://twitter.com/KateLongworth/status/867463476418969600
The Diamondbacks kick off the trip in Milwaukee against the Brewers starting Thursday.
