That sucked. I know that this is one of those “you gotta tip your hat to the other guy” losses, but damn. It would’ve been better if the whole thing were pinned on Spaz’s diving gamble in the first inning, but then Brandon “IED” Backe had to go and forget that he wasn’t on a rehab assignment and throw batting practice for three innings on top of a a fairly reasonable performance by Mike Hampton.
Dan Haren was stellar for the D-backs, only allowing two hits en route to a complete game and his fifth win of the season. The only run came on a soloo bomb by El Caballo (his 11th of the season). Puma recorded the other hit, which I guess we’ll take as a positive sign that his slump is drawing to its inevitable close.
In the Series Preview, I said that we should consider this Brian Moehler’s last turn in the rotation, but after Backe’s performance and seeing Russ Ortiz’s success lately, I think that the best solution of all is to have a steel cage death match between Moehler and Backe (no tasers allowed), with the winner awarded a one-way ticket to Round Rock. Besides, with Double Dub getting stretched out down there now, the long reliever to replace Ortiz might be a familiar face.
Up next, Roy vs. one of the worst hitting teams in MLB. Not even going to tempt the BBGs by saying anything else. Plus: the return of Papa Grande! C’mon, we’ve got to find the silver linings where we can. If only there were something to cheer us up…ah, yes. Schadenfreude is spelled M-E-T-S.